Why Do We Feel Proud?

K
Koko

Owlo! Owlo! You have to hear what happened at school today. It was the best day ever!

O
Owlo

Well, come in, come in! You look like you might float right off the ground, Koko. What happened?

K
Koko

We had a drawing contest, and I drew a picture of our garden here at school. And my teacher put it on the wall for everyone to see!

O
Owlo

Oh, that is wonderful! How did that make you feel inside?

K
Koko

It felt like my chest was all warm and bubbly. Like I was going to smile forever and ever.

O
Owlo

That warm, bubbly feeling you are describing, Koko, that is called feeling proud.

K
Koko

Proud? What does proud mean, exactly?

O
Owlo

Proud is the happy feeling you get when you work hard at something and it turns out well. It is your heart saying, "I did it!"

K
Koko

Oh! So my heart was saying "I did it" because I worked really hard on that drawing?

O
Owlo

Exactly right. You practiced, you tried your best, and something good came from it. That is exactly when pride shows up.

K
Koko

But Owlo, sometimes I feel proud when my little cousin learns to hop on one foot. I did not do that. She did!

O
Owlo

What a beautiful thing to notice, Koko. That is called feeling proud of someone else. It happens when you care about a person and you see them do something great.

K
Koko

So proud can be about me, and also about someone I love?

O
Owlo

Yes, it can! Pride comes in two lovely flavors. There is the pride you feel for yourself, and the pride you feel for the people you care about.

K
Koko

Two flavors! I like that. Like mango and strawberry.

O
Owlo

That is a very sweet way to think about it. Now, let me ask you something. Have you ever felt proud before today?

K
Koko

Hmm. Yes! One time I helped my mom carry all the grocery bags inside without dropping a single one. She said she was proud of me, and I felt proud too.

O
Owlo

That is a perfect example. You worked hard, you helped someone you love, and that made the proud feeling even bigger.

K
Koko

Does everyone feel proud, Owlo? Even grown-ups?

O
Owlo

Absolutely everyone. I felt very proud the first time I taught a student something new and watched their eyes light up with understanding.

K
Koko

Was that me? Did my eyes light up?

O
Owlo

They light up every single time, Koko. Every single time.

K
Koko

Owlo, is it okay to feel proud of yourself? My friend said it is a little bit like showing off.

O
Owlo

That is such a thoughtful question. Feeling proud of yourself is very different from showing off. Feeling proud is quiet and warm, just for you. Showing off is when you try to make others feel less.

K
Koko

So proud feels good inside, and showing off is not very kind to others?

O
Owlo

That is exactly it. You can celebrate what you did without making anyone else feel small. That is the kind of pride that feels really good.

K
Koko

I think I want to draw another picture tomorrow. And maybe an even better one next week.

O
Owlo

And every time you try and do your best, that proud feeling will be right there waiting for you. It is one of the best rewards for hard work.

K
Koko

I really like this feeling, Owlo. I want to feel it more often.

O
Owlo

Then keep trying new things, keep helping others, and keep being kind, Koko. Pride follows all of those things around like a happy little shadow.

K
Koko

Okay, before I go, can I tell you what I learned today? I want to try to say it all by myself.

O
Owlo

I would love nothing more. Go ahead, Koko.

K
Koko

So, proud is that warm bubbly feeling you get when you work hard and do something well. You can feel proud of yourself, and you can also feel proud of people you love. Proud is not the same as showing off, because proud is kind and warm. And the best way to feel proud more often is to keep trying and keep being kind. Oh, and next time I want to feel proud, I am going to draw an even bigger picture of our garden. Maybe with a tiny owl in the corner.

O
Owlo

That tiny owl better look very handsome. I am already proud of you for that plan, Koko.