Confession: Last Tuesday, I texted my group chat a photo of a slightly less wilted houseplant with the caption: “POV: YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE CEO OF NOT KILLING A FICUS!! 🥳🎉” Five minutes later, my friends showed up at my door with a $3.99 grocery store cake that said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEPHANIE!” (my name’s Chloe) and sang off-key until my neighbor banged on the wall.
Let’s rewind: Two years ago, I’d have cringed at this. My celebrations were reserved for Big Deals™️:
- Promotions
- Engagements
- That one time I successfully parallel parked on the first try (still chasing that high)
Small wins? Pfft. “Congrats on doing your laundry before it fermented? Who cares?” My friends and I were drowning in a highlight reel culture where anything less than “I QUIT MY JOB TO BACKPACK BALI” felt like failure confetti.
The Breaking Point: A truly cursed Monday.
- Woke up with a zit the size of Everest
- Spilled coffee on my only clean shirt
- Got ghosted after a “Hey” on Hinge
- Then: My toaster committed arson on my last croissant. The final straw.
I texted the group: “Croissant: deceased. Send memes or I’ll adopt 17 cats.”
Expecting 🤣 reacts? Got this instead:
Maya (3 min later): OMW. DO NOT MOVE.
Ben: Croissant funeral at yours. Dress code: pajamas & rage.
Priya: Bringing emergency chocolate & that wine that tastes like regret.
🌀 The Twist: My Meltdown Was Their Parade 🌀
They arrived like a SWAT team for sadness. Ben blasted “Taps” on his phone over the charred croissant. Maya draped a napkin “shroud.” Priya poured wine into mismatched mugs. We held a 10-second silence. Then burst out laughing so hard, my abs hurt.
My micro-anchoring thought, sticky as chocolate fingers:
“Turns out, friendship isn’t just celebrating your mountaintops—it’s sitting with you in the burnt croissant valleys.”
🌱 The Takeaway: Tiny Wins Are the Glue of Resilience
That stupid croissant funeral rewired my brain:
- Little Joys = Armor Against Adulting: Life isn’t one big promotion. It’s a million paper cuts. Celebrating micro-wins (“I emailed back Karen!!” / “Remembered my reusable bag!”) builds emotional Kevlar.
- Vulnerability is the Real Vibe: Texting “I’m proud I showered today” feels ridiculous… until your friend replies “CUE CONFETTI CANNON 🎊 YOU SMELL LIKE VICTORY!” Suddenly, shame dissolves.
- It’s an Anti-Comparison Vaccine: When Maya celebrates finishing a spreadsheet and Priya cheers for microwaving noodles without explosion? You stop measuring your life against Instagram’s lie.
🎢 Why This Hits Now: The “Delulu” Generation
We’re drowning in “hustle porn” and toxic achievement culture. But look at the rebellion brewing:
- TikTok’s “Delulu” Trend: Gen Z faking confidence until it becomes real? Celebrating small wins is “delulu” in action.
- “Soft Life” Demand: People craving ease over grind? Toasting a folded laundry pile is soft-life activism.
- Viral “Friend Celebrations”: Videos of pals cheering for someone paying off a $50 debt or walking into therapy? Exploding. We’re starved for real support.
- The Loneliness Epidemic: A study shows 60% of young adults feel “seriously lonely.” Your “I unclogged my drain!!” text? That’s a lifeline.
🌈 The Loop Back: Bring the Cake (Mispelled Name Optional)
That grocery store cake? We ate it off paper plates while watching trashy TV. The “Stephanie” became a running joke—now we misname everything ironically.
Today? We celebrate:
- Ben’s “I Didn’t Cry at the Post Office” win → Confetti cannons (emoji version)
- Priya’s “Asked for Extra Guac—AND GOT IT” → Virtual mariachi band
- My “Said ‘No’ to a Zoom Happy Hour” triumph → A single, majestic GIF of a sloth
Your mission:
Next time you:
- Survive a work call without screaming
- Remember to water a plant
- Eat a vegetable (voluntarily!)
TEXT YOUR FRIENDS.
🎉 Your Turn: The Tiny Win Revolution
Alright, share your microscopic victories!
- What’s the SMALLEST win you’ve celebrated? (Bonus points if it involved baked goods or crying)
- Best friend celebration fail/win? (Mispelled cake? Confetti in your couch? Spill!)
- Still think “small wins” are cringe? Fight me in the comments! (Respectfully… with emojis)
- Got a friend who deserves a victory parade? TAG THEM 👇
Drop your tiny triumphs below! Let’s flood this place with confetti, misspelled cakes, and proof that joy lives in the crumbs.
Your fellow croissant funeral director 🥐⚰️,
Signing off to text Maya: “I REPLACED THE TOILET PAPER ROLL. CALL THE PRESIDENT.” 🎖️