Hey there, friend -
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I've been quiet because this broken ankle business has been quite a bit trickier than I anticipated.

• I've had to ask for—and accept—help. 🤮
  
• I'm unable to drive, so I feel trapped at home. 🪤
• I can't concentrate when I'm in pain 😖, but pain meds knock me on my ass. 😵‍💫

I don't mean to complain.

I have decent health insurance and sufficient savings to navigate my deductible and co-insurance. My husband is a saint. My home is knee-scooter friendly. And although my dogs are obviously missing their three-mile-a-day walks, they haven't resorted to destroying furniture.

But my definition of success has changed pretty dramatically over the past six weeks, and I'd been feeling pretty lousy about it.

Until I remembered this...

Pep Talk #028: Let small wins be big wins.
A lot of my pep talks have to do with cutting yourself some slack. That's because so many humans I know hold themselves to suuuuuuuch high standards.

Like, impossibly high standards.

Before you argue with me: I'm not saying we should just cash it in and spend our days watching game shows and eating bonbons. I'm not saying it's OK to do C-minus work. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to live purposeful, intentional lives. And I'm certainly not saying that if something's hard we should just... not do it. Plenty of things are worth the struggle.

What I am saying is it's OK for your "best" to look different from one day to the next. Let little wins be big wins.

Any by little wins, I mean:
> If you got up, cleaned up, and showed up today—you're doing great.
> If you wrote an B+ email in painkiller fog—way to go you. (Me.)
> If you met with a client even though you reallllllllly didn't wanna—that's amazing!
> If you made it through three Zoom meetings—you're on fire. Even if you were supposed to make it through four.

And look, , if you think this pep talk doesn't apply to you because you feel like you too often let yourself off the hook, lean in and listen closely:

I don't know a single human whose standards for themselves are too low. Not one. Not even you.

Give those overly high expectations the middle finger,

Kelley

P.S. Today's my first full day unmedicated, so if this pep talk felt a little all over the place, that's why. I'm doing my best. 😉

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