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Last week I had a ball celebrating entering the 40’s decade. Along with the mini celebrations with family and friends, I also had a business promotion celebration. For me, the turning of a decade represents a huge milestone in life. It gives me a time to appreciate where I’ve been in the past 10 years and to reflect on where I want to go in the next 10 years.
The soul searching time is especially appropriate turning forty with the mid-life crisis stigma it brings. Author Matthew Kelly has some interesting concepts around celebrating. According to Kelly, “A soul searching question is’what are you celebrating’ because you can be certain that we are becoming whatever it is that we are celebrating.”
I had never thought about it this way, we become what we celebrate. And I believe that this is what happened to me. Throughout the year I’ve been reflecting on what really matters to me now that I’m starting a new decade. Overwhelming what matters most to me is God, my marriage, my children and family, my friends, my work, my community.
Ironically a couple of the tribute/appreciation gifts that I’ve developed were used to celebrate me. My intention when creating these products was to let my loved ones know how much they matter in my life and the lives around them. Then when I received these gifts doing the same to me, I know that in those lives I’ve made a difference. Priceless!
I would love to hear from you who or what do you celebrate? Share your comments below.
Kelly says it beautifully, “I believe the best way to celebrate life is to live our own lives to the fullest – to embrace life with arms wide open, to lay our lives enthusiastically at the service of humanity, to love deeply the people who cross our paths and above all, to embrace God.”
Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.
