Life is for Celebrating
by Justine Toms • Northern California

I am more and more convinced that life is meant to include lots of celebrations. When we fail to celebrate, we fail to notice our own lives. As I look at my own life I realize there are days on end when I don’t make merry about the beauty and abundance that surround me. I can go for days and days being busy in my work, thinking about timelines, rushing from appointment to appointment, trying to keep up with my emails, my concerns, my political actions. Life can become overbearing with the business of solving problems and earning a living.

As odd as it sounds, it seems much easier for me to put my nose to the grindstone than to celebrate. My tendency to prioritize work over play became apparent to me recently when I attended a “Falling Awake” workshop led by Dave Ellis. I was shocked when he started the workshop with a celebration. I thought to myself, “This is going to be hard.” Usually workshops put the celebration at the end, and I often wander off before the party starts, just so I don’t have to participate in all that merrymaking. When Dave put such a priority on celebration, it made me stop and think. Later, when I came across that phrase “when we fail to celebrate, we fail to notice our own lives” in one of my old journals, the truth of it went straight to my heart.

There is no universal rule that tells us we have to wait until the end—of a workshop or a workday or a work year— to celebrate. We must choose celebration along the way. We don’t have to wait for those special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or that longawaited promotion. Nina Wise, a performance artist and teacher, tells the story of a time in a hotel room in India when she was feeling very lonely and isolated. Immersed in her sadness, suddenly she heard voices singing just outside her room. She looked out her window and saw that the happy sounds were coming from some people who were living on the streets, who had very little in terms of material wealth. But there they were, celebrating the joy of one another’s company.

I suggest you take a piece of paper and write down these words: “What I love in my life is _________.” Take fifteen minutes and let yourself write whatever comes to mind. Don’t think about it; just let the words flow onto the page. This is a truly wonderful exercise to do with a circle of friends. After you write, read your list aloud to the circle or to a friend. I know you’ll be amazed at what comes to you. I’m sure it will lead to more fun in your life.

Reprinted with permission from Small Pleasures: Finding Grace in a Chaotic World, pages 141-142 by Justine Toms© 2008 Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Charlottesville, VA.

Justine Toms is cofounder and managing producer of New Dimensions Media/World Broadcasting Network. She leads workshops on “Living Life on Purpose” and is co-author with Michael Toms of True Work: Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do. Visit: www.justinewillistoms.com.