While it’s all well and good to have lofty life goals — you know what they say about shooting for the moon and landing among the stars and whatnot — but let’s not forget that the little things are worth celebrating, too. Kids are sometimes able to grasp this concept a little better than adults do… which is probably why there are so many little victories all ‘90s kids understand. In fact, we didn’t just understand them; in many cases, we lived for them.
Admittedly, our joy over these tiny, simple joys probably had something to do with the fact that most of us didn’t live very high-stakes existences when we were young. I suspect this is why we often like to indulge in nostalgia as adults; it reminds us of a time when we had most of our basic needs taken care of for us without much additional effort on our part. And as the HSE’s #LittleThings campaign reminds us, taking joy in… well, the little things really can make a difference for our mental health — so if one of those little things is taking five minutes out of the day to let some good old-fashioned nostalgia wash over us? So be it.
All ‘90s kids loved these little victories, and my guess is that most adults who used to be ‘90s kids still love them, too. Have fun, everyone!
1. Getting All Great Whites In A Package Of Shark Bites
I’ll be honest: I’m not convinced this is has ever actually happened. The odds against it are astronomical. But we can dream, right?
2. Calling Your Crush And NOT Having Their Mom Pick Up
It’s the flip side of that great ‘90s fear of calling your crush and having their mom pick up the phone instead.
3. Peeling Your Entire Fruit By The Foot Off The Wrapper Without Tearing It
So satisfying.
4. Maxing Out The Counter On Your Skip-It
Only if you managed to do it all in one go, though. Breaking it up into multiple rounds of Skip-It was cheating.
5. Getting Your Ideal MASH Outcome
Also without cheating. Pretty much anything you could accomplish without gaming the system was a victory.
6. Getting Through The Day Without Losing A Butterfly Clip
They may have looked cute, but functionally, butterfly clips were more or less useless — particularly for people who had thick hair. They fell out. A lot. And often, you never saw them again once they went missing.
7. Finishing Off Your Favorite Lip Smacker
Knowing you got as much out of that little tube as you could made you feel bizarrely accomplished.
8. Successfully Raising Your Tamagotchi To Adulthood
It was a big deal, OK?
9. And Successfully Making It To Oregon Without Anyone Dying On The Trail
Easier said than done.
10. Making Your Push Pop Last Far Longer Than It Should
Immediate gratification is all well and good, but there’s something to be said for delayed gratification, as well.
11. Finally Figuring Out How To See That Dang Magic Eye Picture
IT REALLY IS MAGIC!
12. Learning All The Words To Your Favorite Radio Jam Of The Moment
A feat that was all the more impressive if you didn’t actually own the album.
13. Programming Your VCR Without Needing To Ask Your Parents For Help
And subsequently being able to watch episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? taped off of TV whenever you wanted.
14. Crafting The Perfect Away Message
It was truly an art.
15. Snagging Your Favorite Mr. Sketch Marker Before Anyone Else During Art Class
I mean, sure, you had to relinquish it eventually — but the joy of getting first crack at it should never be underestimated.
16. Unearthing A Prize From Your Cereal Box
Was it a great prize? No. But it was a prize, and that was all that mattered.
17. Three Words: “You’ve Got Mail!”
I do? Whatever could it be???
18. Winning A Game Of Minesweeper
Not for the faint of heart, that one.
19. Matching Your Jellies To Your Scrunchie
And also probably to your stirrup leggings and oversized sweatshirt.
20. Or Your Starter Jacket To Your Baseball Cap
Because we all had to be walking billboards for our favorite teams, even if we didn’t actually follow sports. It was just a Thing You Did.
