100 Accomplishments I’ve Learned How To Be Proud Of

When I was in my teenage years, I was so lost. The media and society love putting millennials  down. What they don’t tell you about millennials is our generation has to work twice as hard as the previous one, while always feeling guilty about how little we’ve accomplished thus far. I was chatting with a younger friend of mine the other day. He felt like he was so far from where he wanted to be financially and career wise. I thought he was silly to put so much pressure on himself, so early in life. Then I remembered, it wasn’t so long ago that I was beating myself up the same way. Anyone who knows me knows that I struggle with giving myself any props.  I’m always putting unnecessary pressure on myself. So I decided to write this article as a positive exercise for myself, and to share with you guys just how much I have to be proud of. If you make a list every small thing you’ve accomplished the way I have, you may end up being just as surprised I was writing mine.

I’m not married or starting my own family. I’m not where I want to be professionally. I still have a long way to go in several different aspects of my life.. However, I think I have at least a couple things to be proud of.

Here is a list of a 100 accomplishments I’ve learned how to be proud of.

1. I made it out of school alive even though I didn’t like it.
2. I’ve learned how to learn, outside of the classroom.
3. I’ve only drank alcohol in triumph, never in sadness.
4. I’ve made it to 27, healthy, and without any major regrets.
5. I’ve never tried hard drugs or marijuana.
6. I’ve made my own opinions.
7. I’ve never let anyone make my opinions for me.
8. I’ve made my own decisions.
9. I’ve never let anyone make my decisions for me.
10. I’ve made my own mistakes.
11. I’ve learned from my own mistakes.
12. I’ve been there for my friends to celebrate the good times.
13. I’ve been there for my friends to support them in the bad times.
14. I’ve fought for a failing relationship.
15. I’ve gotten out of a bad relationship.
16. I’ve learned to forgive.
17. I’ve learned to let go of grudges.
18. I’ve learned to let go.
19. I’ve learned to move on.
20. I’ve succeeded.
21. I’ve failed.
22. I’ve learned to be proud of my failures.
23. I’ve learned to learn from my failures.
24. I actually finished Naruto with the fillers.
25. I tried things.
26. I’ve reached my bench press goal of 300lbs and bench press goal of 500lbs.
27. I’ve reached all my fitness goals without cheating or short cuts.
28. I’ve always respected women.
29. I’ve stood up for women.
30. I’ve been fair enough to call out women.
31. I’ve always respected men.
32. I’ve stood up for men.
33. I’ve been fair enough to call out men.
34. I’ve learned to accept the truth of mental health.
35. I’ve become an advocate for mental health awareness.
36. I’ve learned to fight depression.
37. I’ve beaten depression several times.
38. I’ve faced my fears.
39. I’ve matured year after year.
40. I’ve never hesitated from a fight to protect my friends.
41. I’ve walked away from fights.
42. I’ve given it my all at every job I’ve ever been at.
43. I’ve never said the words, “I hate my job”.
44. I’ve built my resume step by step.
45. I’ve started several companies.
46. I’ve failed in business.
47. I’ve succeeded in business.
48. I learned how to code.
49. I learned how social media works.
50. I founded Per Sources.
51. I found a second family within Per Sources.
52. I’ve made friendships in Per Sources.
53. I’ve made friends in different phases of my life.
54. I’ve taken the time to understand people.
55. I’ve taken the time to understand different peoples’ pain.
56. I’ve rediscovered myself many different times.
57. I’ve taught myself new hobbies like cooking and playing the piano.
58. I’ve been rejected.
59. I’ve experienced love.
60. I’ve learned how to love myself.
61. I’ve never taken a short cut in life.
62. I’ve been brave enough to choose the harder routes for better or worse.
63. I’ve made friendships with people I have nothing in common with.
64. I’ve given people a chance who I never would have in the past.
65. I’ve paid off debt.
66. I’ve been honest, for the most part. Especially with my loved ones.
67. I’ve wished people I hated the best, and meant it.
68. I’ve never given up on my Celtics, even in the bad years.
69. haha
70. I’ve never slept with a fat girl (I’m sorry politically correct America).
71. I’ve voted yay lol
72. I’ve never let people share my political views for me, even my family.
73. I’ve fought against racism.
74. I’ve made some right choices.
75. I’ve fought through adversity.
76. I’ve written some great articles.
77. I’ve gotten some great grades on tests… a few times lol.
78. I’ve taken the time to learn my friends at a deeper level.
79. I’ve learned to accept my friends with their weaknesses, rather than try to fix them.
80. I’ve learned to accept a few of my weaknesses, and focus on working on the ones that I really needed to.
81. Jalen Rose
82. I still open the car door for girls on dates, which sadly can feel like an accomplishment in 2018.
83. I’ve remained a good guy in a cruel world.
84. I’ve never changed myself for anyone.
85. I’ve learned that not everyone will like me. Most don’t.
86. I’ve learned that passion can trump wisdom.
87. I’ve learned the importance of intensity.
88. I’ve learned the value of integrity.
89. I’ve worked really, really hard. Even when there was no light at the end of the tunnel in sight.
90. I never lost my consecutive failures define me or defeat me.
91. I’ve learned how to be patient.
92. I’ve learned the value of, at times, not being patient. Being a go getter.
93. I’ve learned that learning things about myself, others, and life can be accomplishments.
94. I’ve learned the value of incremental success.
95. I’ve been selfless.
96. I’ve learned how to be a little selfish.
97. I’ve been supportive of my family.
98. I’ve learned to listen, to my parents’ lessons especially.
99. I’ve learned to appreciate the small accomplishments.
100. The one thing I’m proud of most, is above all else, I’ve never, ever, given up.

Life is tough. If you let yourself beat yourself up over every failure and put additional pressure on yourself, you’re going to experience some hard times like I did when I was younger. My advice is to try and learn the positive value and lessons that come with failure. This might have been the dumbest article I’ve ever written. It may have helped someone. I don’t know. Try making a list of small and large accomplishments just like this one.

Curious to see if you feel any better afterwards. Let me know, @TPRx11.

I promise you guys, it’s going to be okay.