Feelin’ Myself: Celebrating Successes With Intention
As the end of this decade nears, I have witnessed various conversations alluding to the belief that we are obligated to grind until the clock strikes one on New Year's Day, just to turn around and throw another vision party and commence the “hustle”. While I believe in the value of hard work, and am fully committed to living out my purpose on this Earth, I believe that it is valuable to take a moment to reflect on our journeys this year and celebrate our accomplishments.
As Women of Color navigating higher education and professional spaces, it is so easy to become engrossed in the humdrum of checking off our to-do-lists and bucket lists, without taking a moment to come up for air to pat ourselves, friends and loved ones on the backs for not only surviving, but thriving. In an article I recently read, “Why Don't We Celebrate Earning the Doctorate the Same Way We Celebrate Getting Married?”, the author inquires about society’s proclivity to celebrate women who “achieve” gendered milestones such as marriage or childbirth, while presenting less enthusiastic about other accomplishments (i.e, educational achievement, professional achievement, homeownership, etc.). The article proceeds with real-life stories from women who share how they celebrate personal accomplishments/successes, as well as those of women in their tribe. In alignment with this article is the notion that we do not have to wait until we have reached our elephant-sized goals to be proud of ourselves, as there is power in our wins, both “big” or “small”. As we make it a habit to celebrate our successes, we gain momentum, confidence, and fulfilment, which permeates into our daily lives and creates a cyclical effect. As the great Oprah Winfrey enlightened, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate”.
If you, like me, are seeking to become more intentional about celebrating your accomplishments, Live Happy presents us with a few approaches that we can put into practice:
Take a break- Indulge in a vacation or staycation in an effort to change your scenery/routine and avoid potential burnout
Write a gratitude to your self- compile a list of things that you are grateful for in yourself (i.e, your persistence or resilience, financial fortitude, etc.) Refer to it when you are feeling down to infuse positivity back into your day.
Unleash your inner child- get moving and pursue an activity you have been to try out (i.e, indoor/outdoor skydiving, painting with a twist, dance classes, etc.).
Have a “Celebrate Us” gathering- Link up with your tribe and plan an activity, such as a potluck dinner or happy hour meetup and toast to your relationships and accomplishments!
Be responsibly “irresponsible”- Allow yourself to go to bed later, wake up earlier or take some time within your day to relax and do “nothing”. This could encompass a Netflix binge, a hike outdoors, or a coffee and people watching session. Whatever your choice, be present and relax!
Buy something beautiful- Whether it be fresh flowers for your home or office, or a splurge on that must-have item you have been eyeing all year, purchase something tangible that brings joy.
Be kind to yourself- Be as attentive to yourself as you would be to a spouse, child, friend or employer. Focus on your desires and make them a priority.
How do you plan to celebrate the hard work and dedication put forth this year? Drop us a line below!
