Here’s your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Message of the week for Sept. 10 - 16, 2023.
Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the week for Living Life Better.
CELEBRATE
Honor with delight and happiness. Make friends with your life.
Definition: Honor with exuberance, Yabba, Dabba do.
Other: Party (like it’s 1999), expressing gratitude for a person or event with energy
Opposite: Ignore, down-play, repress, stifle
We have celebrations of life when people pass but shouldn’t we celebrate their lives while they are here amongst us?
At a celebration of life, we focus on the good things our loved ones did in their lives, we don’t nitpick or think about all the ways they may have failed our expectations.
Shouldn’t we celebrate the gift of our own life regularly?
Shouldn’t we celebrate the good things in our lives and give ourselves grace for our shortcomings?
That’s what “make friends with your life” feels like to me. Spending time honoring the gift of our life. Honoring the precious gift of our life while we are here to do so.
My word of the year is Celebrate. For me, it’s a perfect word as daily I focus on what in my life is worthy of celebration. EVERYTHING, big and small is worthy of celebrating.
It is a gift in itself to be alive, especially in light of the fact that last year I looked death squarely in the face as I walked in the valley of the shadow of death.
Each day, I record what it is that day I have celebrated. Here’s a sample of some recent causes for celebration:
• The gift of warm sunshine on my skin. • The smoke-free sky and gentle breeze after so much heat and raging fires nearby. • The gift of the sunset. • A friend’s excellent medical report. • Receiving unexpected money in the mail. • Talking with my parents who are both in their 80’s and in good health. • Laughing with my sister. • Sharing a tender moment with my beloved. • Snuggling with my beloved pooch. • Enjoying a special group connection via Zoom. • A yummy meal I didn’t have to cook. • Having a deep conversation with a treasured friend. • Making a difference in someone’s life because I have lived. • The accomplishments of my dreams and desires. • The plethora of abundance of many types in my life. • The tools and technology like bring ease to my life.
Becky was going to select the word Celebrate for her word of the year for 2017 but her beloved husband passed away unexpectedly in December 2016 and celebrate was not the right word for her.
Instead, she chose the word Steady although she certainly celebrated the gift of her husband and his legacy countless times during that year and continues to celebrate him to this day.
In closing, I leave you with these parting words from Kool & The Gang and I dare you to read them without breaking into song as you contemplate all the goodness and grace in your life.
There's a party goin' on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you Come on now Celebration Let's all celebrate and have a good time Celebration We gonna celebrate and have a good time It's time to come together It's up to you, what's your pleasure? Everyone around the world, come on Celebrate good times, come on Let's celebrate, come on now Celebrate good times, come on Let's celebrate
How can celebrating Living Life Better through peace, love, joy, and peace benefit you this week?
Find the Good. Becky and Janette
Originally posted on Sept. 9, 2020, written by Janette Stuart.
Check out the Words of Wisdom Guidance Cards HERE. 52 Inspiring words and messages to help you live life better.
Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long self-discovery program to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us. This month we focus on ADAPT in September.