What Have You Done Today To Make You Feel Proud?

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Still so many answers I don't know
Realise that to question is how we grow
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

We need a change
Do it today
I can feel my spirit rising
We need a change
So do it today
'Cause I can see a clear horizon

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
'Cause you could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today
You could be so many people?
Just make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

Proud - Heather Small

Back at the beginning of the year when I was writing in my old blog for a while I made an effort to find one thing each day to be proud of and to record that thing in my blog. It was inspired by the above song which (surprisingly enough) is called Proud and is by Heather Small.

I loved doing it. I loved that each day I could find a sense of achievement be it getting out of bed, taking a shower and my meds on a very low day or something huge like doing something really big and important for a client. I think it was good for my self esteem and I like to think it helped me to recognise good things I had done easier. It definitely helped my depression. And I wish I'd kept it up.

Today I met with the disability employment adviser for the first time in two years. I made the comment that it was pretty stupid of me to give up on the idea of working for two years and let myself stagnate. Her response to that was Why? And she then went on to challenge me about that, asked me if I am in a better position now than I was and feel more able to work.

I was able to answer that I am moved into a more accessible, more central flat that is much better for me. I have a relatively stable support network of carers etc and I am getting out more all of which is helping to control my depression. Plus, two years at CAB has shown me what I can do and has improved my confidence there too. So I was able to answer here second question with a resounding Yes.

When I stopped and thought about it I have achieved a lot during those two years and have many things to be proud of.  But I need to have those things more obvious in my life.

So I will be listing what I've done each day that I am proud of.

Today I am proud of myself for going to see the DEA and for then following thru on her suggestions immediately.  She gave me some “homework” to do and suggested that I needed to do it by Tuesday.  I got home at 12 (having stopped at Sainsburys for something I needed for it) and by 3pm my “homework” was done and I don’t have to think about it now.  I am VERY proud of myself for that!

What have you done today to make yourself feel proud?  Tell me in the comments, I'd love to know!