Stop Celebrating -

In recent months the meaning of the word celebration has changed for me.

What it used to mean:

– it meant birthdays, weddings, graduations, baby showers, bridal showers. Celebration was about the big life makers.

However after the passing of my 93 year old grandmother the meaning of the word celebration began to shift. As the family gathered, we were not remembering birthdays, weddings, or graduations, we were remembering the moments. While some of the moments happened at the celebrations, most happened during everyday life.

At the end of the each school year, the seniors reminisce about what they remember, what they will miss, and funny things that happened. Rarely do they discuss the large events like homecoming, prom, or the pep rallies. They remember the funny the things that their teacher said, the people that demonstrated they cared, they remember the everyday moments that added up to create their high school experience.

What I mean is that, celebrations are good, they’re fun, but sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the celebration that we miss all of the wonderful moments that lead us to the point. I remember little about my wedding, however I remember in great detail the moments that lead to that day.

Both high school and college graduation came and went in a blur, but I could I share story after story of the moments with friends and family that lead us all to graduation.

In business we are often focused on the big celebration, waiting to land the perfect media coverage, hitting our first six figure year, or getting the call that lands us on TV. We can be so focused on the big picture that we miss all of the small moments that we should celebrate, and the moments that we will truly remember.

Yes, I will remember that day that I opened my computer to find images of me on the cover of a magazine being shared over and over again on facebook. However, what I remember more, what brings a smile to my face and makes me laugh is the day that I came home and my husband ( who was trying to help) had yards and yards of yarn spread throughout our entire second floor in an attempt to get a knot out. Or the day that I realized that the directions that I was following were missing pages, setting me free to design without rules. I remember the day that I sold my first scarf much more than when I sold my 500th ( in fact I don’t remember that day at all) The day that Pat Buckley Moss literally bought the scarf off of my shoulders, is much more vivid than when I graduated from grad school.

Yes we should celebrate, but perhaps we should do it more often, not waiting for the life makers that tend to come no matter what we do. Celebrate life, friends, dreams, even failure. Make sure that you’re not so caught up in the big dream and big game that you miss all of the amazing steps leading up to the moment, because it will come and go, and most likely it will come and go quickly, leaving you with only the moments to celebrate.

“The Declaration of You, published by North Light Craft Books and available now, gives readers all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique, and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s BlogLovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 200 other creative bloggers. Learn more — and join us! — by clicking here.”