The more you celebrate your life, the more there is to celebrate.
The above photo appeared in Mind Body Flow Yoga’s first-ever newsletter (which was released seven years ago today). At the time, I was 5 months pregnant with my second child and the studio had just celebrated its 6 month anniversary.
Today, October 1st, 2019 – we mark the seven-year anniversary of the studio’s newsletter and Mind Body Flow Yoga is now seven and a half years old (as of last month, on September 12th). Simple and factual as that may sound – it is cause for celebration!
When was the last time you celebrated? I mean, really truly celebrated? How about this – when was the last time you celebrated for no reason at all? More than likely, you haven’t. That’s because as we age, our plate becomes fuller – we adopt greater responsibilities and forget to celebrate the little things in life. When we were children, life was more carefree. We had fewer inhibitions, took more risks, and were daring – you had nothing to lose. As an adult, you have everything to lose, or so you think.
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Celebration becomes sparse as an adult and we easily get stuck in life instead of living it. Celebration thus becomes something you preserve for times you’re celebrating someone’s birthday, an anniversary, or rooting for your favorite team – it’s only allowed into very specific time frames in our lives and if we’re not in that frame, we don’t celebrate.
But the reality is, you don’t need a specific time or event to celebrate anything. You can celebrate the smallest of things – such as celebrating that you’re even alive! When you adopt an attitude of gratitude and celebrate for no good reason – well, that’s a good enough reason! And if you rejoice with life, it will rejoice with you.
Seven and a half years ago, I was 6 months into owning Mind Body Flow Yoga, pregnant with my second child, and a mom of a 23-month old baby girl. I have come so far in these years as a wife, mom, teacher, leader, and business owner. Celebration and acknowledgment is a must! Not just at the studio’s annual anniversary celebration, but every day!
I would be willing to bet that you’ve made progress in your life’s journey as well, but are often too focused on what remains to be done, to see it – let alone, celebrate it.
I invite you to start giving yourself credit for the hard work and achievements you have – both on and off your mat.
Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments.
At the end of class, I will often tell students to acknowledge themselves for showing up to their mat and doing the work and I sincerely mean that. 2 The fact that you showed up alone and had an able body to do so in, is worth celebrating. It’s so important to give ourselves credit.
Whatever you are working towards, and however far you still have to go, I encourage you to take the time to bask in everything you have achieved thus far.
It doesn’t matter what pace you’re moving at, only that you keep moving. And the best way to ensure that you continue to do that is to celebrate each step along the way, be it big or small.
Want to know something that’s worth celebrating and smiling about? It is because of YOU, yes, YOU who is reading this article right now, that we even have a yoga community, called “Mind Body Flow Yoga.”
It is because of YOU that we have hit this milestone of Mind Body Flow Yoga reaching seven and a half years.
It is because of YOU that this newsletter has been going out on the 1st of the month, every month, for seven years today!
YOU are a part of something beautiful.
YOU are a part of a community and an important part of it at that!
YOU help make it possible.
One of my favorite teachers would always say, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” YOU make up that whole. And for that, I thank YOU and I cherish and celebrate YOU!
Keep smiling and keep celebrating it all – the big, the small, and everything in between.
