Celebrate: Simple Every Day Things

Tuesday, December 30, 2008, by Leigh Anne & Sherra

We're moving! Visit us at Find Your Sock Yarn and re-subscribe to get the latest updates. Your favorite features like Question of the Week, Words of Wisdom quotes and fun giveaways will be there. Archives will remain here for now. Thanks for visiting!

We have designated Tuesday as a day where we will have different women share “Moments & Memories” in their lives.

We plan to feature women from all walks of lives – it may be in the form of an interview or as a guest writer. The column on Tuesday will be centered around our word of the month. We’d love to feature you as a guest writer. Qualifications: No experience necessary…just be willing to share a great moment or memory with other women. Send us an email and we’ll schedule a date. Our guest writers do not necessarily have to have a website or a blog as we want iLashGirls to be a place where every woman has a voice!

Sherra says…

A big welcome to our guest writer Teri Helms. I’ve known Teri for over a decade and she is one of the most colorful, creative people I know. She is an irreverent storyteller who never misses the details and a woman who has an opinion and isn’t afraid to use it.

****************

Teri is a wife and homeschooling mother of five boys ages 20 to 7. She and her family live in California and she loves bright colors, shiny things and laughing hysterically every day.

Teri is also our first guest who is actually sporting apparel to match our word for the month. We celebrate her enthusiasm!

Favorite color:

There are always two: Fuchsia and Black…sometimes apart, sometimes together.

Favorite food you associate with the holidays:

Must there be one?!? Any and all iconic foods for the holidays between September and December.

Pet Peeve:

dishonesty

What is something that no one knows about you?

Well, a couple of people know this, but since it’s the holidays and all…I personally met and chatted with Jimmy Stewart and his lovely wife, Gloria at a prestigious awards ceremony in Los Angeles. In those moments, it was truly “A Wonderful Life!” They were delightful. I don’t really share that; because I love people and don’t like to single anyone out due to fame or any other acclaim in life. Most people I’ve met and have the privilege of knowing are pretty great!

One word that describes you:

Creative

What’s your motto or mantra:

“The truth will set you free.”

What are the top three things that are most important to you—the things you love to do and are passionate about?

My faith
My family
My relationships/friendships with people

****************

Celebrate

Can we be honest here?

Given this all-too-familiar spot on the holiday timeline, many of us are currently mimicking a stocking, contemplating the merits of being hung!

Still others of us possess those not-so-convincingly waxen grins that could easily be likened to the remnants of recently snuffed candles in a menorah. We’ve braved the holiday sales, bringing home our latest and greatest conquests, sporting tags that gloat of savings success to the tune of 50-75 percent; while the act of celebrating is possibly taking a little more effort than we currently have left in the reserves to give!

But wait! Even better news is looming on the horizon for this upcoming week, where words like “resolution”, “examination” and “change” take a central focus!

We crave normalcy, routine and a semblance of order that for most of us, will also include some bonding with a new or somewhat neglected gym membership!

What is possibly the most effective way to practice a new resolve, to make a needed change or to examine oneself with great effectiveness?

That, my friends, is easy. We need to CELEBRATE!

You see, the Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines the word Celebrate as follows:

“To distinguish by solemn rites; to keep holy, to honor or distinguish by ceremonies and marks of joy and respect.”

Wow. There’s a genuine opportunity for effectiveness in the year ahead! Can you imagine if you weighed first your priorities, then your choices and ultimately your actions, by the definition above?

I think that we are often so busy “doing” life that we are no longer participating in the daily privilege of living it. In taking some time to savor this definition, the discoveries have been both challenging and profound.

You know that ritual, tradition or habit that you participate in “because you’ve always done it?” Is it still holy? Does it deserve to be honored or distinguished any longer by ceremonies and marks of joy and respect? And what about those gifts present in our lives that don’t sport a price tag—marked down or otherwise? May I share some of mine with you?

The spontaneous laughter of a child…
A sincere, warm hug from my 20-year-old or teenage sons…
The precious gift of presence from a friend who takes you to lunch and a movie during the holiday rush “because she couldn’t think of anything else that you really needed”…
A husband that tells me that I look great, even though gravity is currently rendering a differing opinion where multiple body parts are concerned.

Do you see the vast perspective that is lent by weighing every day occurrences and gifts against the template of a definition measured by your priorities, beliefs and goals? You define, evaluate and choose, which brings a genuine desire to celebrate!

It is also my sincere hope for each individual reading this that you celebrate a great community of women and friends, many of whom you may never meet. This community is also a gift and a continuous opportunity for connecting, sharing and celebrating.

And please…whatever you do, don’t make it ALL “about serious.” Speaking from personal experience, “joy” and “serious” don’t always mesh well together. In looking for some deep hidden meaning, we can overlook some of our greatest opportunities for celebration.

Example? (Come on, you knew I had to have one!) Recently, someone commented that my makeup was similar to that of Endora’s on “Bewitched!’ Well, glory, hallelujah, sisters! It sure beats the heck out of being compared to Mrs. Kravitz! Let’s face it, some of us, while posing as intellectuals glean immense satisfaction from the simple things in life. Hint: There’s food for thought there as well!

“Um, Mom? If you don’t want to look fat in this picture for your article, you may want to lift your chin a bit.”

The reverie of this celebration is officially over…for now.