Detour Ahead

I think this post is actually my New Year’s Resolution coming together. I like to take my time with these things. 🙂 “Celebrate” is definitely my word for 2015.

Let’s take a step back for a second. We live in such a crazy world at a crazy pace that we rarely celebrate our accomplishments along the way. Who has the time to stop and celebrate? If you’re like me, you’re probably your own biggest critic. I don’t take time to sit back and look at all the things that have gone right. Always looking forward, I find myself cruising right through the good stuff.

My initial thoughts around my New Year’s Resolutions were this: To not be so hard on myself and others. To give myself a little grace. And by extension, others around me. I think that resolution has expanded a little bit…

Superman here has dealt with floods and robbers in just the last week, on top of his daily work tasks. (Oh you didn’t hear – one of his buildings got robbed in broad daylight. He’s installing new security cameras, talking with cops, and working on general building security.) How he manages to always keep a smile on his face, and encourage others to do the same, is far beyond me. That alone deserves an award! Joe, like myself, is quick to focus on producing. “How can I make an impact? What’s next?” Action. If there’s work to do, we put up our blinders and go. Always problem-solving.

*one of Joe’s building’s sprinklers defected and flooded two floors

But what if we equally valued celebrating the good? Recently we were talking and I reminded him of all he’s learned over the course of last year; it’s a lot to feel proud of. It was like a light went on. He sat back and though, “Yeah, I really have done a lot.” Likewise, I recapped some things I’ve made strides in, and felt a glow inside of me.

They say to know where you’re going, you need to first know where you’ve been. And I think it helps to write these down, or talk through your accomplishments (and struggles) to get a sense of the direction you want to go. Without feeling sheepish or guilty about it. It’s just self-effacing to do otherwise. This is a challenge for me, but I’m going to try writing down weekly achievements, no matter how big or small, and just acknowledge that I did something well. Celebrate.

By celebrate I simply mean think about it. Feel gratitude for it. Appreciate the lesson for a moment. Let it soak in. To clarify, I don’t mean getting lazy and resting on laurels. And I don’t mean running out to Dairy Queen for making it through the week. But I will try to congratulate myself for making a contribution, big or small. And really see other people’s accomplishments and celebrate in them as well. What if we were all a little gentler on one another? I’m trying out this Passion Planner to help me out. I think it will be great for incorporating reflection and personal goal-setting, not simply beasting through checklists, which is my modus operandi.

I don’t know what compelled me to write all this, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this idea of celebrating in small things. Nobody’s going to celebrate your victories for you.

Here’s a quote I found that I love.

“When we plant a rose seed in the earth, we notice that it is small, but we do not criticize it as “rootless and stemless.” We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed. When it first shoots up out of the earth, we don’t condemn it as immature and underdeveloped; nor do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear. We stand in wonder at the process taking place and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development. The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. It seems to be constantly in the process of change; yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is.” –The Inner Game of Tennis 

So, nourish yourself. Stand in wonder. Be perfectly all right as you are.