I once read something like this: “Aim for the stars, and if you miss, you’re likely to reach the moon still.” Or something like that…

But what if the moon is not where you want to be?

Last week, I had one of my best runs in nearly three years. It was my third-best time and pace ever. I’ve worked incredibly hard for this run to go so well. Every stride, every breath, and every drop of sweat has been a testament to my dedication. Achieving this time is an amazing milestone, especially considering the challenging year I have had thus far. It’s a reminder of my progress and resilience.

On paper, it sounds like I should be over the moon with happiness, and yet, I find myself grappling with a mix of pride and disappointment. How can one do so well and yet feel a twinge of letdown?

The thing is, I missed my personal best by just a few seconds. And it is that personal best time that I was aiming for. I was aiming for the stars and landed on the moon. And I hate how those elusive seconds have a way of overshadowing the broader achievement.

It feels silly, and I worry I might come across as ungrateful or even spoiled for not being ecstatic. It’s odd how you can’t make yourself feel a certain way, even if you know you should. Feelings are strange things…

I wonder when I lost the ability to recognise and celebrate incremental progress. One of the things that helped so much with motivation on my 80kg weight loss journey was to focus on just the next 8kg to lose and celebrate each increment properly. There is no way one can work hard all the time, week in and week out, year in and year out, without celebrating the milestones along the way.

Somehow, I am slipping back into that perfectionist side of me—and I need to stop it. While it’s natural to aim high, it’s equally important to acknowledge how far we’ve come. And no one, surely, should know that better than me.

So, what lesson do I take from this? It’s a lesson in perspective, and understanding that every step forward, no matter how small, is already a victory. It’s about balancing ambition with gratitude and finding joy in the journey, not just the destination.

Celebrate landing on the moon!

This week’s newsletter marks one year of writing newsletters! This is a project I am thoroughly enjoying. Thank you for reading my accounts of all my mental ramblings, and for all the supportive feedback I receive with each new edition.