Celebrate and Appreciate the Small Wins: Lessons from the Spirit of Adventure

In life, we often find ourselves celebrating the big milestones—graduations, promotions, or major achievements—while grieving the obvious losses. Yet, we sometimes overlook the value of the small wins and the lessons they carry. Reflecting on my own experience as a teenager aboard the Spirit of Adventure, I’ve come to realize that it’s in the small wins where true growth and resilience are built.

I was part of the maiden voyage of the Spirit of Adventure from Auckland to the Marlborough Sounds and back to Wellington—a 10-day journey that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. Onboard the ship, I faced challenges I had never experienced before: rough seas, sleep deprivation, freezing swims, and squally night watches. The lessons I learned from those hardships helped me appreciate small moments of joy and ultimately shaped my perspective on life.

Here are three key lessons I took away from this experience that can help you, too, learn to appreciate and celebrate the small wins in life:

1. Loss Builds Resilience

Before embarking on the voyage, I had a limited understanding of resilience. The challenges onboard quickly taught me how loss can fuel growth. Whether it was the loss of sleep, loss of privacy, loss of comfort, or even the lack of food that I enjoyed, each hardship shaped my character in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Losing these comforts pushed me to adapt and develop new coping skills that built resilience over time.

2. Small Wins Matter More Than You Think

In the midst of uncomfortable and challenging conditions, it was the small things that brought me joy. Dolphins swimming by the boat, the warmth of the sun on deck after days of cold rain, and the friendships formed with others on the voyage became the highlights of my experience. These small wins didn’t just brighten the journey; they shifted my entire mindset. Instead of focusing on what was going wrong, I learned to savour what was going right.

3. Perspective Shapes Your Experience

The voyage aboard the Spirit of Adventure was tough—it was the furthest thing from my normal life. But as I reflect on it now, I realise that it wasn’t the difficult moments that defined the experience, but rather how I chose to perceive them. Instead of focusing on what I lost, I started to focus on what I gained: resilience, friendships, new skills, and an appreciation for nature and the open sea. It wasn’t just about making it through the voyage; it was about seeing the value in each part of the journey.

As you navigate your own journey, remember to celebrate the small wins and appreciate the lessons hidden within the challenges. When you do, you’ll find that life becomes less about surviving the storm and more about appreciating the sunshine that follows.

Helpful Tips:

Life inevitably brings losses—whether they’re small inconveniences or significant hardships. However, it’s through these moments that you grow stronger. When faced with challenges, shift your mindset. Ask yourself: What am I learning from this situation? How can this loss help me become more resilient?

It’s easy to get caught up in waiting for the next big thing, but small wins have immense power. Whether it’s finishing a task, reconnecting with a friend, or simply enjoying a moment of quiet, take time to appreciate the small victories. They’re often the moments that carry you through tough times and keep you motivated when bigger wins seem far away.

Perspective is everything. When faced with difficult situations, remind yourself that you have the power to shape your experience by adjusting your outlook. Even in challenging times, look for the silver linings—the lessons, the growth, the small wins. By doing so, you’ll find that life is richer, even in the face of adversity.

 "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."— Robert Collier

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Written By: Paul Fawcett.