[_cudgel]

I came here to say "that and $5 at starbucks would buy you a cup of coffee"... but I see your boss already mentioned that.

I will say this: Congratulations! You appear to have set a goal and attained it! This is a good thing for you, and you should be proud of it.

You also appear to looking for some validation for your efforts. Here, I think you're going to be disappointed. But you don't need external validation for this to have meaning. Enjoy what you've accomplished!