THE ETERNITY OF CELEBRATIONS

As we head into July/August, there is an expectation of great things to come. We will celebrate Canada Day on the first of July in Canada and on the fourth of July the USA celebrates their birthday. There are two great things happening in one week. Then we are off to have beach days, drinks on the patio and so much more. It all depends on what makes you happy as to what you will do. Each of us has our own celebrations in mind and we do what makes up feel good and is traditional for us. It is so important to keep this in mind as we head into the summer months and we know that we only have a short window of time to enjoy our personal pleasures and to share them with our family and friends.

Once you are an adult, you have lots of traditions and things that make us feel special and help us to stay grounded and aware of your place in the Universe. Everyone has them and it is that individual approach to our lives that enriches us and the people around us. We pass down traditions and have legacy moments for each celebration. This is the stuff that dreams and love are made of. Having a BBQ on your deck with the foods that you love and then adding in foods for the family's tastes and friends' liking. Now we have a party. This is just the tip of the iceberg in the celebrations of life. Making special occasions last and having something to look forward to is enriching and soul-satisfying. It is the difference between truly living and going through the motions

Celebrations are not limited to weddings and funerals. I have heard so many people say that the only time they see family members or friends is at a wedding or a funeral. This is so sad. Not making the time to have food or a drink with people who matter to you is nothing short of stupid. Time is the one thing that we do not know for sure how much we have of it. The arrogance of forever is a fairy tale. Living in the now and present is the way to go, the only way to go. Do not keep avoiding things because it is too much work, too much money or just too much. Have a potluck. Let everyone bring a dish that they love and share the traditions as a community. Most people will bring wine or beer to an event they have been invited to. Stop putting of doing something that will benefit so many people. I love watching dogs running around and kids playing. Seeing life in the best way possible makes it all real for me and helps me to avoid being cynical. Life is a tutorial. We all learn and we all teach. You do not realize how much you can learn from a gathering. I am not talking about gossip that is a pointless reality of life. I am talking about the things that many people close to us have done or are doing. You can learn what their hopes and dreams are and their struggles. What they want to be when they grow up no matter how old they are. This is the value of community and sharing and it is what makes us all stronger and more connected.

I am not saying that celebrations should be limited to the summer. I just know that good weather and great food and company are a wonderful incentive to start the proverbial ball rolling. If you only do one thing, make it something where you host an event or invite people to participate at a patio outing. Size does not matter in this case. It is quality and not quantity that will win the day. There are so many free places to go to and to explore and it is a sin not to utilize things in your own city that people fly to from other places to see. Take advantage of what is already available to you and others and make the time so much fun that you will want to do it again. Learn from the experiences and plan for the next ones using that knowledge. Truly know that your input and your presence makes a difference in the art of celebrations and when you lead by example you set the tone for a wonderful and happy time to come.

August is a month of endings and new beginnings. Summer comes to an end sort of. School starts shortly after it and a fresh start to life is upon us. We can use the ending as a beginning and the beginning as a springboard for a fall to truly look forward to. Getting the scene set for late night coffee out on the patio or having a great dinner with friends is a way to see the positive in the oncoming months when the leaves start to turn. As you plan a night out at the movies include some friends and have them all meet at the theatre to see a movie decided upon in advance. People pay for their own admission and food but the company is something that they did not have to pay for. It is free and it is great and they will want to do it again. The best in life is the simple approach and the only way to do that is to truly keep it simple.

Farmer’s markets, wine tastings, food classes are just some of the things we can look forward to as the month of August passes by. Taking the time to volunteer to help out locally at shelters or a library are options also. Joining in places you may have thought about joining but have not such as the Legion or a pottery class and maybe a book club are options for you to consider. No matter what you choose to do just know that something is better than nothing unless you have a rich and fulfilled life at this time. Have the courage to step out of your comfort zone and be a part of something bigger than you. Be the solution and lead others to see the path of legacy living. Creating celebrations that last for all eternity is a noble and selfless thing to do.

I am someone that truly believes in the eternity of celebrations as it keeps me connected to my life in the past and allows me to live my best life in the present. I do not want to remember all of my past but I have a lot of wonderful memories that are very special to me. Celebrating them in a special way makes it even more special and closer to my heart. Create your own way of making your lives feel more relevant. Have family and friends around to celebrate milestones or just Saturday. They will learn the value and joy these events bring and you have now made community come to life. At the end of all of this I just want to say to everyone to enjoy your summer and look forward to your fall and winter. It is coming whether or not we want it to and we can just be our best selves and throw a snow party. Happy Summer 2024 Everyone. Enjoy.

Diane E. MakarowskiLife Enhancer Let me help you to navigate the areas you struggle with and share some life experiences and knowledge to make the sun come out again. Let me be there for you and we will learn together on your journey to a healthier and happier life.  dianemakarowski@bell.net