Get You're Party On!

The only way I actually remember all the things that I have accomplished thus far in my life is by keeping a list. I have an official document that is entitled “Awards and Accomplishments” that is probably about three pages long at this point. I only look at it when I go to add something new or send it out with and a resume or application for an award but I’m always surprised when I look at how much I have actually done.

I always feel that I competing with time, every human’s most precious asset. I know in my mind that it’s a race I could never win but yet in still I have tried. I think sometimes that I am so behind in life I need to do more, accomplish more. But a good friend reminded me once that - I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. The challenge is to remind yourself of that when you feel a little under the gun, and you wish you had more done. After careful contemplation of how I could possible do this I came to a very simple answer - Celebrate the moments of your life.

As I scroll down my growing list of awards and accomplishments I could probably count on one hand the number of times that I have actually taken time out to enjoy whatever it was that I achieved. Most of the time, before I would actually have the award in hand I was already on to thinking “Well, what’s the next thing I can do”. I don’t think that many of us take the time that is necessary and really spiritually required to take in, even the small successes.

My biggest break threw was a few years ago when the guy I was dating for six years decided he wanted to break-up. We had stopped seeing each other once before and I went through a lot before I got over it. I realized at that moment that I had a choice to make. I could go through the same thing again or I could change the way that I looked at things. After talking with a friend I decided to have a break-up party. Yes, you read it right, A break-up party. I called some sister friends over and served pink chocolate and strawberries, wine and a host of other treats. We talked about life, our futures and relationships but there was no male bashing allowed.

This was a time to celebrate; a moment that I could have looked at a bad situation, had actually been a blessing. It forced me to realize all the positive things that were happening in my life. I was just about to start business school, I was running my own business, and I really had a lot of great things going. The party turned out so great the Philadelphia Inquirer got word of it and wrote a story about it!

Taking the time to celebrate the moments of your life doesn’t always mean when something good happens because some people feel that those times are few and far between. But celebrate it all, because it’s yours. Don’t wait for friends or family or any one at all. In fact if necessary have a private party and invite the person that means the most, You. Everyone won’t always recognize your accomplishments or see them in the same light and frankly they don’t have to. But you do.

A life is so precious and even though we all may not have yet achieved our highest earthly goal just know that as long as you stay the course you’ll get there. In the meantime, Party On!