Celebrate!

Celebrate: to recognize an important occasion by taking part in an activity that makes it special(1)

Many see this time of the year as a time to celebrate while others wince at the thought. Who really knows what burdens or pain that many carry behind their smile. While we are inundated with advertising, memes, quotes telling us how we should feel at Christmas, at times it can be too much. Some of us want to pull back, find that quiet space and drift into much cherished reflection time within the back room of our thoughts. Others may want to party while there are those who try to find strength to just slowly shallow breathe their way through this season to get to the other side and put 2018 behind them. Our perception and notably our emotions is our reality at Christmas. 

Some people are very good at participating in various celebrations,  throughout the year. Planning, decorating, shopping, and sometimes spending way too much. But what about celebrating those little victories each day to help us move forward? Though what may be a rough patch without perfect timing, hope must be eternal. Whether it's getting through a Hallmark-style Christmas gathering or a not-so anticipated family dinner, stolen moments to celebrate within one's self can be quietly delicious if we change the old story. Whatever your experience, I invite you to take this moment, of which you will never get back, to close your eyes and say yes to yourself; that you are important. Yes, that you are worthy. Yes, that you are kind, and that you deserve all that life can offer. It may not feel like it right now but, celebrating with a single deep breath and a gentle thought of self will encourage the feeling of eternal hope as it taps into the divine spark which is in all of us. Please take this time to celebrate you. 

May your seasonal experience, this year, be a lovely, positive one and with hope, 2019 be wonderfully fulfilling and sweet. 
Reana 



(1) (Definition of “celebrate” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)