“Undo your corset and let’s celebrate.” ~Bev Pugh

It warms my hearts to say the word celebration. Throughout my earlier years I saw celebration as an activity; something you do. I would dress up, go out, kick up my heels and celebrate. It was in reaction to something good happening. Now in my growing wisdom I see it as a way of being; as a way of living our lives…and it is not dependent on an external situation. It is inside of all of us, all the time. For me, it is a conscious choice. I don’t’ wait for something to happen. It is a way of thinking and feeling that I have learned through my own personal growth. It “trumps” worry and fear.

I have brought a whole new meaning to the word celebrate. It has taken me years to really get this one, but I have it now. I know that true health and happiness is an inward state of being, rather than looking to our circumstances to dictate whether we celebrate or not. Like gratitude, celebration is a state of being. It is a way of life, an opening of the heart and an invitation to look for the gold threads, or positive aspects, that run through each moment.

I have discovered there is always a gold thread, even if it is not at all obvious in the present moment. When I can’t find one, I turn to the word patience. It will show itself. It’s like whenever I lose my watch. I know with patience it will show itself. Gold threads become obvious over time.

Trusting there is a gold thread can be a big ask and challenge for many of us. It’s easy to do when things are going our way, but not so easy when we have strong emotions about what has happened. Yet, if we turn our “noticers” within, we can look for and focus on at least one positive aspect.

Now don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean that we deny our feelings in the moment. But if we shift our focus, we can respect all the aspects in that moment.

For me, this is not a mental activity, it is a feeling deep inside like a thermometer that is set at my willingness to find a moment of celebration in the present. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if celebration was our pivot point, rather than negativity or distraction. We humans major in the latter. It is part of our wiring that we need to change to really grow on all levels – physical, emotional, mental, and philosophical or spiritual.

This Christmas season, I invite all of you to embrace the feeling of celebration inside of yourself. Rather than making this celebration time about external activities, feel the feeling of true appreciation inside of you. What does that feel like for you? Are you connected to the feeling or too busy?

It’s a beautiful season with the lights, the music, and the open hearts. It is a very fertile time for us to practice turning our attention inside to our hearts and feeling the feeling of celebration…a deep appreciation and gratitude.

This month is a great month for remembering what it feels to celebrate. Move the feeling to inside of you and breathe it into your body and heart. Invite it to be a way of life!

Happy December everyone! Have a special month, and be kind to yourself by pacing yourself.