2020 showed up looking like a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie, and then one bite… BAM. Oatmeal Raisin.
The economy is in the outhouse. Tens of thousands of people have died. Jobs have been lost. Our loved ones missed prom, graduation, the chance to say goodbye to their friends and the life they knew. We are all sheltering in place. Yesterday, I watched the departure time for the flight to Austin I had been looking forward to come… and go…
So much of this spring sucks out loud. Which makes it EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to celebrate the heck out of the wins we get- big and small.
Last night, I made dinner, and all my kids ate the asparagus. Without complaint. (with ketchup, but that’s neither here nor there). THIS IS A WIN. We may or may not have had a post-dinner Kids Bop dance party.
6 weeks ago, we adopted our son. REALLY BIG WIN! We partied like rockstars by ordering Domino’s Pizza and having a pizza party with his friends on Zoom.
If we feel gauche celebrating the joyful moments, big and small right now, we are cheating ourselves. We are also cheating others around us out of seeing the small moments of comfort that surround them. Your good news does not bring bad news to others. Your light does not cast a shadow in the next room.
This is a terrible, awful time in our collective history, and we need the parade of good news right now. Show us the new puppies, squishy babies, positive pregnancy tests, and seeds that sprouted. Shout from the rooftops when you hear about a friend with a new job, an award that was granted, or a goal achieved. We all are looking for the good news amongst the bad right now.
What are you feeling embarassed about celebrating? What news have you held back about sharing because you don’t want to seem to be bragging, or rubbing salt in other’s grief? Perhaps your news is the hope they need. Perhaps acknowleging that your news matters is an affirmation that you need too.
JoyPlusGrace 