Take The Time To Celebrate It All!

I believe in celebrating the little things. I still get excited when I find a four-leaf clover or a penny (although I’ve become more discerning about picking up stray coinage).

Major holidays deserve our enthusiasm, but I think we’re missing out if we don’t learn to celebrate it all – the ordinary along with the special.

No single socks after the laundry? Hurray!

A drive-through parking space? Yes!

Fresh sheets on the bed? Whoop!

I’m not saying we should willy-nilly fling buckets of sunshine. Not at all. Because don’t you know people who are ridiculously happy about everything? Ugh. That borders on obnoxious.

But! I can make a case for intentionally looking for the good. Some days you won’t feel like you’ve found the good until you’re tucked in the sheets, whether they’re clean or not.

While we’re discussing sheets…

One evening as I scrolled Instagram, I was met with that ever-present temptation to BUY something.

Having only one set of king sheets, I justified tapping that Shop button. In two seconds, I was the purchaser of famous, highly-endorsed linens from Cosy House.

Well.

I cannot tell you how comfortable they are. Getting into bed is like sliding into a vat of butter. Is that gross? Okay, it’s like slipping into a luxurious, silky gown. My only complaint is that now our other set of sheets feels like sandpaper.

But I digress. Back to celebrating.

My friend Cathy Hancock (I’ll introduce you to her soon) does something simple but fun to celebrate her loved ones. Whenever a family member walks through the door after having been gone, she cheers for them. Wouldn’t it make you feel terrific to have someone hollering “Hurray!” when you returned home? I love that idea!

It makes more sense than hollering at the television when your favorite team plays—although I do that, too. I holler a lot, in fact. In a good way. You know, in a way that motivates the team playing on television to win.

So, what are some ways to celebrate the little things?

DANCE (all by yourself if necessary)

I took a Zumba class for years and, I can

 admit this here, I was exceptionallygood…Until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and my mental picture collided with reality. Still, I learned some wicked moves that are now part of my solo repertoire. I don’t even bother to close the shades when I dance by myself. My neighbors are very tolerant people.

Here’s my latest favorite dancing shoe.

I wear these ALL THE TIME. With everything. And I always get compliments! 

WHIP UP SOME YUMMERS

I’m all about celebrating with good food. And desserts are at the top of my “this is special” list.

Here’s a SIMPLE recipe for Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s single-serving mug cake. You stir the ingredients in a mug then microwave to ooey-gooey perfection.

My friend Brenda introduced me to this dangerously easy temptation. By the way, Ree Drummond doesn’t have anything on my friend… Brenda’s got an entire cookbook of her own making. You’ll see it in an upcoming post!

DIG IN THE DIRT (or ring-a-ding a florist)

Every time you look at flowers you’ve planted, you’ll be reminded of a joyful moment. If you’re not a gardener, pick up a bouquet at the market. I have often thought delivering flowers would be a great job. Wouldn’t it be fun to see people’s faces light up when they answered their door?

USE YOUR BEST WORDS (or borrow some)

Once after I returned from visiting our grandkids (KB-1 couldn’t get away), I came home to a house filled with sticky notes. 

I’d open a cabinet door and there would be a note. I left a few scattered around the house, but I collected the others and stuck them to the bottom of my computer screen. I smile every time I sit down to work. Notice what they have in common?

Leave a comment and I’ll let you know if you’re right!

INDULGE IN GRATITUDE

That’s really what the heart of any celebration is—thankfulness. I keep a running list of what I’m thankful for in a pretty journal, but that’s not a requirement. A list on your phone or a legal pad works, too.

On days when four-leaf clovers stay hidden, I like to read my list and remind myself of my blessings.

One of my entries is what I found today in the laundry.

 A five-dollar bill! (BONUS—all the socks matched).

Since it’s the rule in our house that whoever does the laundry is the new owner of any money found, I yipped, “Woo-hoo” and immediately designated that Lincoln for a future fancy coffee.

And in honor of the socks matching, I carried my plans even further. I’m going to share that coffee with a friend!

By the way, if you do your family’s laundry and do not confiscate any money found, you’re violating the core principle of Finders-Keepers. Big mistake. I hate to call you out on it, but I must. Over the years I’ve collected enough to invest in the stock market. And the return I rake in is going to finance a trip to Italy.

I’m going to celebrate laundry by tossing one of the quarters I’ve found into that famous fountain in Rome.

So, how do you celebrate? Any special (or quirky) traditions? And do you know what the sticky notes have in common?? Please share in the comments. We’d all love to hear!