5 universities, 4 long breaks, 3 different majors, 2 kids, and sixteen years later I crossed the bumpy road and flew across the edge. Whew, done! My degree is finally in my hand (well up on the wall and proudly showcased). When I started my college studies 16 years ago my focus was heavily in the performance and visual arts. Over time and with each break from school that I took I noticed that my focus and values in life shifted. Slowly my degree began leading towards the health sciences.
It’s as if the university system was my chrysalis and every few years I would peak through and say, “Nope, not yet. I want to tweak this here and reach over there. If I do that, what will happen?” And in the end I broke through the shell and was securely able to fly in the ‘right’ direction for me. During my last push to finish my degree I realized that graduating was much more than obtaining a piece of paper. It was about my exploration of self. In the end my degree perfectly mirrored my goals and growth in the rest of my life.
The graduation ceremony is customarily the grand event that celebrates this monumental moment. It is the platform that highlights your achievements to the world. Unfortunately due to other events that were happening in my life at the same that I was unable to properly celebrate. As the month went by I quickly was engulfed in another project that demanded my full attention (as much as a mother of youngsters can give). Time slipped by…rapidly.
As a coach I see how important it can be to celebrate others achievements. In fact, I continually ask clients, “How would you like to be celebrated?” It is about witnessing someone’s process. On the flip side celebrating your own achievements is about allowing yourself a deep in-breath and a healthy way to honor your goals before transitioning on to the next step. I skipped my in-breath.
The cool thing is that it is never too late to go back and celebrate past achievements. Do you have a life event that you would like to celebrate (or many events)? My challenge to you is to compile your list then look at each event and decide how you would like to celebrate its completion. A celebration could be anything as long as it means something to you.
Here are some ideas:
a journal entry
a high five
a massage
a special dinner
a vacation
quiet time in prayer/meditation
even buying yourself flowers…Do what makes sense to you.
So tonight I will be honoring myself, my hard work, journey, and my completion. From here I can trust that it is done. I can release that process and approach the next step with an empty cup.
How about you? What are celebrating?
In celebration,
To a Confident, Sexy, Love filled life!
Kimberly Lindsay, BA, CPCC, ORSCC, IBCLC
Mental Fitness Coach for Spiritual & Creative Moms:
Who are ready to ditch their saboteurs so they can show up
as the partner, parent, and person they want to be - getting back to self and back to roots.