Back when I used Twitter, I made a simple header image for my profile. It was a reminder to myself of the philosophy I wanted to carry from my life onto the platform. The picture showed a Venn diagram of two overlapping circles. In one circle, I put the words “work hard.” In the other, I put “be nice.” In the intersection, there was the word “win.” Word hard, be nice, win. That was the idea.
It’s been years since I deleted that account, and while I absolutely still believe that working hard and being nice are not only the way to win but the right way to win, I would now amend my words to an even more durable mantra: Work hard, be nice, sleep well.
For all our efforts and kindness, winning is not guaranteed in this life. Sometimes, it takes a lifetime to win. The key to being okay regardless whether your rewards grow at warp speed or a snail’s pace is seeing the way to win as a win in and of itself.
At the end of each day, knowing you did your best, resting in the warm glow of having been kind, and getting a good night’s sleep might only be little wins—but maybe they’re all the wins we truly need.