This coming Wednesday, August 18th, is my birthday. YAY! I get excited about birthdays – mine and everyone else’s. For me, it’s my personal New Year. I take stock, look back over the last 12 months, and celebrate the things I learned and did that helped others or brought them joy, happiness, satisfaction, success and/or love. I look at things I did that brought myself or others pain. I also look at when I was witness to or recipient to joy and sorrow that I did not consciously have a hand in, and how I responded.
After taking these inventories, I express gratitude for each learning and opportunity – and for the good that was experienced as the good, bad and even ugly. Then I answer the question, “Now what?” I mean this is good stuff. Reflecting on 12 months of deliciousness that I digested easily and sometimes that gave me heartburn. After all of that, how will I use what I experienced and learned to experience each day of the next 12 months even more joyfully, more lovingly, more completely. These things are not resolutions, they are much more than that. They are commitments and covenants I make with myself, with God, with creation. The goals are high – I can do it! And as a wise person once said, if you set your sights on the stars, you may fall on the moon, but you’re still on higher ground.
So, this Wednesday, I have a date. A date with myself. The outcomes will provide the direction and goals for the coming 12 months.
Now, of course, after all that work, I can’t just celebrate for one day. Oh no. I believe in celebrating my birthday for 6 months. Then, I begin practicing for the next 6 – how I will celebrate on the next birthday and the 6 months thereafter. Part of the 12-months of celebration is to celebrate everything, all holidays, all birthdays, all anniversaries – everything I can. Notice the energy of people who are celebrating. Infectious in a totally phantasmagorical way! I encourage you to join me. Let me know what you celebrate so I can put it and the date on my calendar!
LIFEWORK:
1. Identify the things in your life that are special, exciting, that you’re grateful for. Any and all of those things.
2. Identify how and when you will celebrate them. Who’s involved? When and how will you celebrate. Remember to include days and times where you celebrate alone. That’s a very powerful, intimate, celebration that strengthens in ways that may astound you.
3. Simply, enjoy your life. Be grateful and go on a gratitude hunt. What’s in your life to be grateful for? If sorrows or regrets come to mind, acknowledge them, then say, “ And, I am grateful for … .” Always finish with a statement of gratitude, no matter how the statement begins. Notice the change in your energy and subsequent experiences.
I love you!!
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