If there’s one thing that brings me great satisfaction, it’s checking items off a to-do list. Santa isn’t the only one makin’ a list and checkin’ it twice. I’m doing it any day of the year.
Making a list isn’t a bad way to keep track of what I need to do, of course, but what is undesirable is my tendency to fly from one task to the next over long stretches of time without pausing to honor progress made along the way. Because celebrating takes time and effort, y’all. So I skip over the celebrating part and move right into the next checking off part.
How very, very sad.
Slowly, but surely, I’m moving to change that–in large and small ways. After all, celebrating isn’t just for birthdays and big days. It’s for the small milestones, too. For myself and those around me, I want to bring back the generous art of celebration.
So when I meet a writing deadline, I head to Starbucks and treat myself to a Valencia orange refresher.
When one of my kids gets over a difficult hurdle, we head to Sonic for a happy hour treat.
When I notice the budding peonies about to make their debut, I snap a picture of them.
When I quit avoiding the laundry and get it folded, I grab a spoonful of peanut butter and chocolate chips.
I don’t bring out the streamers for everything, but I am slowly becoming aware of how I can bring them out for more things. And in doing so, I find these acts of celebration not only show kindness and generosity to myself and my loved ones, they are also a way I invite God to the party. They are a way to say thank you through actions rather than words for his daily attention to me and faithful care of me.
And they are also one beautiful way to add a little carefree attitude to the uptight to-do list.
What big and small things are you generously celebrating this week? This month? This summer?
The writing will be sparse ’round these parts for the rest of the month while my family vacations *and* my husband and I enjoy a very special celebration of the bigger variety. Join me on instagram to find out first what it is! I hope you have a wonderful start to your summer, dear friends! So much love to you. xo
Peanut butter and chocolate chips!? Yummy! Our MOPS group will be learning how to celebrate lavishly motherhood and I’m looking for ways to share with them. Thank you for the suggestions. Enjoy your summer!
Enjoy yours as well, Lisa.
Kristen,
I find it is important to celebrate the little things in life! Too often we get so busy with daily living that life passes us by. We need to celebrate our accomplishments–birthdays, laundry done, good grades, etc.
I’m celebrating my dad’s much improved health–other than dementia he is fine this year! Big improvement over last year!! Later this year my family and I will celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday!
Blessings 🙂
I know it’s been quite the difficult time with your dad, Beth. I’m so glad he’s doing better. Tell him happy birthday from me!
Just the other day we had a conversation with our younger son about one way we use to celebrate. We were talking about cheesecake and he mentioned that he remembered going to Bakers Square frequently when they were younger. I told him we’d go there whenever his father or I received a raise. His response, “You must have gotten a lot of raises!” lol
Not really a lot but it made me smile over the way they remember things. In their minds there were tornadoes all the time in a particular town we lived in and I think there were only a few warnings while we were there and it was only 30 minutes from where we live now.
Blessings to you, dear friend.
xoxo