I saw a comment recently online regarding publishing an indie video game that “nobody played” where people noted you set out to do your goal that very few people ever complete. You published. You’re a winner. You accomplished your feat.
I had similar stuff with music once in my life. It never went where I or others might have hoped. But we recorded and made albums. We played tons of shows. We had a few fans. We opened for big names we loved. I feel like a winner too.
I’m not really saying this to reply to you. I’m not even sure you need to hear it. But someone out there does. Don’t let others define what success or winning is. By setting out to accomplish something, and doing it, that’s a winner already.