Celebrate yourself for lasting benefits

Do you need a break from the holiday rush? Notice how people are talking faster, shopping faster, driving faster and it seems like everything is moving faster. We wanted to slow down and really enjoy the celebration of the holidays so we went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

There were beautiful lights everywhere inside and out with the special light displays they have on weekends – even the reindeer were lit up. We were in awe of the poinsettia tree with 525 live poinsettias on it. We enjoyed the holiday music playing and all the creative decorations. We had lots of fun but in retrospect, our visiting the Arboretum had a deeper meaning. It was really a way to celebrate our efforts and reward ourselves. Research shows that there are some very good reasons for everyone to celebrate themselves and their lives.

Celebrating you is not arrogance – it’s thankfulness and it’s a reminder to be grateful. Studies show that people who celebrate themselves and life by being grateful are more creative, resilient, have better social relationships and a stronger immune system. Celebrating you also has the benefits of conditioning your mind for success and reminding you to enjoy the journey – not only the doing but also the being so you don’t miss out on beautiful moments in life. When the holidays or other special occasions are over, you can avoid a big letdown by focusing on celebration and gratefulness for who you are and for your life.
So, what are some ways to celebrate you and your life? Take time to reward yourself, even for small things. This can be especially difficult if you are currently facing some challenges or have faced some in the past year. Recognize your strengths, like the courage it took for you to make it through tough times or what strengths you will use now to help you. Notice how you share your gifts and talents to bring joy in your life and to the lives of others. As you think about these areas, we are sure you will discover many things that you can celebrate about yourself.

We decided to ask some people how they celebrate themselves and their lives so that the celebrating times continue for more than the holidays.

We met Dana Dumas who told us, “I celebrate me because I am resilient. Just now, through the holiday season, I am going through a divorce. We then asked how she remains resilient with the challenges she is facing. Dana shared, “I come to places like the Arboretum and look at all the holiday lights. I like to watch other people have a good time with all this. Just watching other people enjoy this is how I keep it going.” We mentioned that it’s important to keep in mind that this challenge would not go on forever and the good times would come back again.

Then we met Gary Gardner and Louise Fines and asked them how they celebrate themselves and their lives. Gary said, “Music is a big part of my life and this Sunday I will be joining the Minnesota Choral for the Messiah sing-a-long. I also spent a lot of time painting in the last few years. I do botanicals and landscapes and that’s a big part of my life, too.”
Louise shared, “I do a lot of work on glass mosaics. It’s one of my favorite projects to do. I mosaic bowling balls and I’m working on a glass mosaic on a board. I do a lot of gardening. I just love to get out and walk and see what’s new in the gardens, what’s old, what’s blooming and where the birds are. The Arboretum is a beautiful place to do that. We love to come here often.” We agree that the Arboretum is a great place to come any time of the year.

Whether they are facing challenges or things are going well, the people we talked to found ways to use resilience and artistic talents to celebrate themselves and their lives. What do you celebrate about you and your life? You make a difference in the world as you use and celebrate your strengths.

Here’s a challenge: Oprah Winfrey said, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” We encourage you to take time to enjoy and celebrate you and your life. As you do so, you can avoid the holiday letdown, gain the benefits and celebration can be an everyday habit that lasts.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are Success Coaches and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2017 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.