Flip Back a Few Pages

When I was a student in yeshiva, I remember my rebbe illustrating with his hands while flipping through the pages of a Gemara.
"Don't look at how many pages you still have left to learn. Flip backwards and see how much you've already accomplished."

Yesterday was a difficult day. There was a certain challenge I was facing, and my wife made a list.

A list of some of the most difficult moments in our lives. Moments that at the time felt hopeless and overwhelming.

And somehow we got through them.
How Hashem got us through them.

It's very easy to focus on what's missing in our lives and what we still need to do. We can be quick to judge ourselves and our own shortcomings in the process.

Sometimes it's important to look back.

To see what we've already accomplished, the struggles we've already overcome, and how Hashem was with us every step of the way.

Today, think of a struggle you faced in the past and how you overcame it with Hashem's help.

Then smile.