OK, so it’s been a pretty mild winter here on the coast.
No measurable snow. Lots of predictable rain, but no real records set or broken. Uneventful in that regard, but on the home front, it is a different story. Let’s just say that I am so grateful for a surprise burst of summer in the middle of April. The sun is warm, the flowers are amazing, people are happy and it makes my heart sing. On the home front, things are changing again. Some things for the good, some, not so much, but the best thing is that we are about to be grandparents. So exciting. It is hard to explain the feeling, but we are at that time in our lives where new life is the chance to look at new beginnings.
We are planning new gardens, opening doors and windows blowing out the winter dust bunnies, putting away the heavy sweaters and pulling out the summer sleeveless tops and planning baby showers. Did I mention I was just a little excited?
So with the planning of the new, I am starting a new eating routine. I’m tired of the plateau that my body seems to be way too comfortable at, so I am going to shake things up a little. Burst through that barrier. But wait, what do I do about the upcoming celebrations and parties with the new baby? Yeah, I am well aware that it is not me having this baby, but I plan on being as helpful as I can and that means my routine will be upset too. I will be visiting their house lots, I will try to help with their meals, they will be coming to our place, and then there will be entertaining people that want to visit babe and mom and how do I make my new eating routine a priority and how do I allow myself the opportunity to celebrate?
With most things, planning ahead is the best thing you can do. If there are meals prepared, you don’t go hungry. If it is truly that important to you, you will make it work. But, I was thinking about the whole celebrating thing. I know in our family, celebrating usually comes with cake, pies, snacks, wine, beer, and the whole party aspect. But can we celebrate our successes without food? Sure, if you want to. We need to remember how important celebrating is to the human condition.
Ecclesiastes 3:18, A Time for Everything
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under
heaven
2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is
planted.
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time
to shun embracing.
6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw
away.
7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to
speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.
So, let’s think about ways to celebrate that are not necessarily about food.
- Buy yourself something. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but it does need to be something that you will remember why you bought it and it should make you smile. It could be a new purse, piece of clothing, especially if it is a new size, coffee mug, anything really, anything.
- Spend some time doing something just for you. What do you never take the time to do? That’s what you should do. Sit on the beach, walk in the park, go to the art gallery, get fully absorbed in a new or very old album that you love.
- Share your achievement. For most of us, that means putting it on Facebook or other social media, (even our facebook page would be a great place) and that is great. People truly love to hear of other people’s successes, as a matter of fact, we need more of them instead of all the hate online. But, if that is not for you, share with a friend. Your happiness is contagious and you really should share the love.
- Splurge on a food item. I don’t mean eat a whole tub of ice cream, as good as that sounds, I mean, pay a little more for that tea you don’t normally buy, get that fancy coffee, go somewhere special and order just a dessert, or that glass of scotch your friends don’t appreciate.
- Throw yourself a little ‘happy party’. Why wait for someone else’s occasion. Hooray, it’s Thursday works. Put up balloons, turn the music up a little louder, put on some party clothes and JUST BE HAPPY.
You deserve to celebrate, so do it.
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. – Oprah Winfrey
