How to Create a Celebration for Yourself

One of my favorite personal ceremonies was a graduation for me. When my children were suddenly both 21 years old, I was having a tough time moving from my role as mommy to my new role in adult relationships with my children. I created a mommy graduation for myself!

I wrote my own diploma and my own graduation speech -- focusing on the fact that in the future I would try very hard to keep my nose out of my kids' business and let them live their own lives. I formally released them to the world. I thanked them for being my beautiful children and I ceremoniously released them.

I found an old graduation robe and a cap. I rolled my diploma with a ribbon. I made a copy of the Pomp and Circumstance music and I invited my sister Betty and my dear friend Marsha to help me.

At the appointed time, I marched in with dignity and my head held high - wearing my ceremonial graduation robe and cap. I was in tears as Pomp and Circumstance played in the background. I read my prepared speech, my pledge to my children, and Betty and Marsha presented me with my diploma!

I don't think any of the three of us have ever forgotten that day. And any time I am tempted to tell my children how to live their lives, I just remember -- I graduated already!

When our little boy was about 4 years old, we lived in an apartment building. We seemed to have birthday parties every week. But one summer we hit a dry spell with no parties. My little fellow woke up one morning and begged for a birthday party. So of course we had an "unbirthday" party. I bought a little cake and I decorated the picnic table outside. I grabbed some old party hats and horns and we had a party. We played games, we ate cake and ice cream and we had fun! There were no presents involved at all. But when I think back to those days, that one party is the one that stands out in my mind. We all had fun -- mommies and kids - on a random summer afternoon!

I do hope you don't just go buy seeds and plants and put them in the ground laboriously. Make a ceremony of it! Make it a meaningful time of thanksgiving just for you.
Decide to roam through the garden store at your leisure. Buy yourself a pair fancy new gardening gloves. Invite a child to join you.

Dedicate the seeds. Say a short prayer of thanksgiving. Out loud. You don't have to close your eyes. Just be thankful in the moment.

Sing a song of joy as you plant that first flower or vegetable. Think of ways to celebrate. How can you make a ceremony of picking your first flower each spring?

Balloons can make an ordinary day a ceremony easily! Would you like to release your worries?

Go to the grocery store and buy 5 or 6 helium filled balloons. When you get home, write out your ceremony of release. Write one worry on each balloon.

Then go to a big field or to the oceanside or lake side, and release those balloons one at a time. Watch your worries literally float away.

PS I read recently that there are now laws about releasing balloons, so do check your local laws before you try this one. But I can tell you, I have done it, and there is something wonderful about watching your worries float away.