Celebrate everything!

Sherri T.

These are the wise words of Alice, mother of special friend Maureen.  Alice not only speaks these wise words.  She lives them as well.

Every holiday comes with its own unique decorations, costumes, food and drink.

To this day, Maureen receives St. Patrick’s Day cards from her mother.  For many, this occasion is special because it provides an opportunity to crack open a pint. But for Alice, it represents far more.

Time to check in.

Time to say I am thinking about you.

Time to send love.

Unfortunately for some, holiday events mean only one thing: exhaustion. The planning, cleaning, shopping and cooking are enough to make you want to hide from all the ‘fun’ for which you are endlessly preparing.

For others, celebration is a synonym for stress. The two concepts are interchangeable. They are an equation in which the first word equals the second.

Religious holidays are fast-approaching for many this month.  Too bad that the spirituality of the moment often gets lost some place between the fridge and the oven.

For all its joy to the world, Christmas is known to be particularly challenging.  Out-of-town guests, money woes, shopping and overeating are all part of the mix.

Every holiday brings new ‘opportunities’ – for tensions, arguments and many reasons not to see these people ever again. Until next time. 

In fact, a new breed of advisers has emerged to help us dial down the holiday knob.  Start earlier, breathe deeply, save money by gifting time.

But while celebrations can be hard, life without celebrations is even harder.

They are a way of saying you belong.  Whether honoring a neighborhood, mutual pursuit or religious belief, special occasions remind us who we are.

And where we are.  With others who share a common interest and common bond.

Special occasions are also a way of saying: stop the treadmill.  Or at least step off for a few moments. Take the time to take it in.

Finally, celebrations are both bookmark and landmark.  Bookmarks make us pause.  Landmarks make us think.

Time to pause and think about the important things in life.  And at the end of the day, what and who really matter.