Fresh starts rarely happen overnight. More often, they’re built one small decision, one brave step, and one little win at a time.
When I got divorced, my “fresh start” felt more like falling off a cliff. I had no car, three kids, and a credit score of zero. Yep, zero. Not even a pity 200.
The Car Dealership Disaster
I thought buying a car would be one of those “adulting” things divorced moms just figure out. I signed the papers, drove it for a day, and then the dealership called me back in. Something
didn’t “go right.” They wanted to re-negotiate.
NOPE.
I walked into that showroom, set the keys on the counter, and walked out. Then I walked myself home.
Here’s the thing: I hate being lied to (thanks, cheating ex). I hate being pressured into fast decisions that leave me sick with regret later. And that day, I realized something powerful—I didn’t tolerate it.
Reframing the Moment
At first, I spiraled. “How am I going to negotiate life itself and keep three kids alive?” I even caught myself talking to me the way my ex used to—harsh, critical, belittling.
But then it hit me: I stopped it.
I stood up for myself. For my kids. For our future. And that wasn’t failure—it was a small win.
God’s Reminder: Stones as Altars
In the Old Testament, God’s people built altars out of stones to remember His faithfulness—those little moments that turned into big milestones.
So I asked myself: What if I could build my own altar out of small wins?
Here’s what I did:
- Started a win jar. Every time I had a small victory (paid a bill on time, didn’t spiral after a hard day, chose peace over panic), I wrote it on a slip of paper and dropped it in.
- Stacked stones at year’s end. By December, the kids and I painted rocks with those victories. We literally built an altar in the backyard.
It was messy. It was imperfect. But it was ours. And when I looked at that pile of stones, I saw something I never thought I’d see again—growth, strength, and hope.
Why Small Wins Matter in Healing
Here’s the truth:
- Small wins build momentum when life feels stuck.
- Small wins train your brain to notice progress instead of problems.
- Small wins become the “little stones” that stack into a mountain of healing.
When you’re walking through divorce recovery, co-parenting chaos, or the endless overwhelm of single motherhood, small wins make the difference in climbing out.
Takeaway
Your life doesn’t have to change overnight. You don’t need a new car, a new house, or a new relationship to prove you’re moving forward.
You just need to stack your stones. One small win at a time.
xo
Kristi