Recently, a guest asked me a simple question during the two minutes we had together at an Authentic Relating workshop.
“What’s your biggest achievement in your life?”
I paused. I thought about my studies, my career, my yoga training. None of it felt like the right answer.
The truth is, my biggest achievement isn’t a specific accomplishment. It’s not a milestone that would fit neatly on a resume. The question made me realize that what I’m most proud of is what I’ve built within myself over the years, through the small moments when I didn’t know how to move forward, through unexpected changes and challenges that felt too big to face.
One of the biggest shifts I made was choosing a different path. I stepped away from a career in law that I had once been passionate about and moved toward something more aligned with who I am now. At the time, it was uncertain. Like most major life decisions, there were no guarantees. But looking back, I’m deeply grateful I made that choice.
If you had asked me this question ten years ago, I would have said, “My biggest achievement is working in law.” Back then, that was my goal…
Sometimes I wonder what my life would look like if I had stayed on that path. Perhaps I would have reached certain milestones, but I don’t think I would feel the same sense of fulfillment I have today.
I’ve always been someone who cherishes small things. Moments most people might overlook. Finally finishing a task I’d been avoiding for days. Teaching a yoga class and thinking, Wow, I feel so much more confident today than yesterday. Waking up early for a walk after weeks of putting it off. Noticing that my French has improved since last week.
Most days, nothing big happens. I’ve grown through teaching and speaking in front of others. I’ve learned something new every day. I’ve made mistakes and cultivated wisdom through them. And slowly, quietly, those small moments have shaped me more than any milestone ever could.
It’s not one big achievement. It’s a collection of hundreds of small ones; cherished, learned from, and carried forward.
