Celebration

I have been thinking a lot about the value of celebration in my life. Before I even saw the article posted below, I had decided that I was going to focus on celebrating more often the good occurring in my life -- and there's a lot of it. I may be driving my husband a bit crazy because I'm always asking him what we're going to do to celebrate. We've got a new tenant... how are we going to celebrate? I have a new job. My job has ended. It's Friday. It's sunny. It's raining. We just ran 8 miles. You get the point. What are we doing to celebrate? We're actually having fun celebrating and in celebrating more, there tends to be more to celebrate. Isn't it great how that happens?

Enriching Your Life By Creating Rituals and Celebrations

“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” —Margaret Young

We live in a contemporary society that values high-tech, the faster the better, and product stream; how fast can I make my widget? How many can I sell? How much can I sell them for?

It's time to stop, look and listen:

* Stop doing and start being,
* Look inside instead of outside of ourselves, and
* Listen to our inner voices in addition to our “heads.”

Common Rituals and Celebrations

Rituals and celebrations are one way to intentionally create meaningful connections with special and important events and people. Many of us already celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and various holidays including rituals we may not even recognize as such.

Common celebrations and rituals are:

* Graduations
* Bachelor / Bachelorette parties
* Bon Voyage parties
* Promotion / Retirement
* Bridal and Baby Showers
* Wrap parties in the Entertainment Industry
* Funerals, Memorials, Celebrations of Life
* Throwing coins in a fountain
* Placing an extra candle on a birthday cake
* Bride and Groom feeding each other cake
* Sending cards to remember special occasions
* Hanging up bird feeders during winter

You Can Create Easy Rituals and Celebrations

I invite you to decide today, right now, to create a ritual and celebrate one event or experience every week for the next 4 weeks. What you choose to celebrate is less important than the act of celebrating! When you get in the habit of experiencing the richness in your life and creating celebrations and rituals to mark those events, your life will be transformed forever!

Celebrations and rituals do not have to be involved, complicated or expensive. It is the simple act of marking out the event and honoring it with your attention. A celebration or ritual can be as simple as lighting a candle and making a wish, saying an affirmation or bringing your attention to something (or someone) for which you are grateful; making a cup of tea and listening to the trickling water of a fountain; playing a certain musical piece and enjoying it in the same comfy chair.

Try it. It’s worth it.

Remember, only You can make it happen!
Posted by Dr. Jackie Black in Newly-married & Long-time married at 10:12