October 29, 2026
Celebrate the Wins No Matter How Small
Forward is Forward
When my girls were little, we would spend our early evenings walking around our local pond. I was always struck by what their little hands and eyes would find. The attention to the smallest things – an ant carrying a crumb, a turtle popping his head out of the water, a caterpillar crossing our path. Their attention captured details that were easily overlooked by an adult’s eyes. As adults we can be in such a hurry to get to where we are going that we forget the beauty in the present. I love the reference image of my girls and our dog as they run to jump in a pile of leaves. Such joy in the moment!
I think this also applies to progress in therapy. Adults want results, big gains, and can get impatient if their child’s progress is small and slow. As therapists we can also get impatient and ultimately question our ability to generate change. I use the phrase “forward is forward” frequently in my practice. I work hard to celebrate the smallest of wins. When you only have 10 words and you learn one new one, it is a big deal and something to highlight and honor!
Let’s celebrate the wins no matter how small with our families. Let’s enjoy looking at the world through the eyes of a child and enjoy incremental progress. Forward is forward!