Celebrating Life

I don’t know why, but I have really been pondering this whole thing called life lately. Part of it is probably because one of my dearest friends is facing the end of a long awful illness and her life. It is one of the most heartbreaking things I have faced so far and it is not nice to be in my head at times as I process what is about to happen. I just so desperately want life to be forever. But I know that part of life is death.

I have always loved funerals. Hear me out. I love them, because I hear all these amazing things about the dearly departed. I love hearing about how loved they were and how fascinating their life was. It gives me warm fuzzies to hear all of this. Of course the sadness and grief sets in once I remember that all of this nice stuff is being said about someone who is no longer with us. Why do we wait to say all the nice stuff when someone has gone.

Of course, people do write letters or cards or emails or messages to people expressing their love. But do we really celebrate each other often and to the extent that we could.

As a Marriage Celebrant in Perth, Western Australia, I have helped many marrying couples celebrate their love on their big day. There is a huge skill set involved in creating a beautiful ceremony all about two people and their love for each other, and being able to craft such ceremonies brings me absolute joy. It is such a vibe and I really am privileged to be doing this amazing thing marrying people.

It is often talked about, how special a wedding is, and how it’s the most amazing day of your life. So much is put into the preparation, not just money but also time, sweat and energy. I love this. I celebrate this. I wonder though, why is it that we have so few celebrations. I mean, sure there’s birthdays, special birthdays and graduations, and job promotions, getting into the state or national team etcetera. But can’t we celebrate more. I’m not talking about just getting together and having a party and getting sloshed on our favourite bevvies. But celebrating us, just because we are us.

Well I propose that we do. Let’s celebrate more. Not in a narcissistic way, but in a human way of celebrating how precious this life is. Not all of us will be a Serena Williams a Simone Biles or a Hugh Jackman. But we will each be us. Our unique self. That in itself is something worth celebrating.

Neuroscience and psychology alike teach us the importance of gratitude and how a daily practice of gratitude usually makes a person happier. Gratitude really is celebratory in nature. If we start our day with just expressing gratitude for a few things, we start the day positively. So if the day starts with I’m grateful for my warm bed I just got out of, and I’m grateful for my comfy car that will get me to work. How about we also say I am grateful to be me and for this shot at life. Imagine starting the day celebrating who you are, just because you are you. Just because you are.

I propose that we all write our own celebration piece about ourselves. Like a living eulogy. Why not! Why not write what we think is awesome about ourselves. I know this can be so hard for some people, so maybe lets outsource and ask our besties for their perspectives. I remember once when a friend of mine just spontaneously wrote down what she loved about me. It was so cool! I loved it. It was touching. I read it often. Especially if I feel a bit down on myself. How cool to know what others think of us and how much they love us. I was discussing this with my bestie who is a phenomenal psychologist. She said, “Annie, it’s a great idea. I love it. Have you thought of using your writing and celebration skills to help people and not just those who you are marrying? Maybe you should write “Love and celebration for yourself” Ceremonies.” “ Mmmmm”, I said. “That’s a pretty groovy idea. I don’t really know how I’d do it. But I’ll ponder it for sure.”

I’ve been pondering this over the last year and as time goes by, I love the idea more and more. How cool would it be to have a “Celebrate you” script that you can read anytime you want to celebrate yourself. Or it could be used for a particular milestone birthday and even kept for your eulogy. Yes that arguably sounds a bit morbid, but why not have a say in what is said about you.

As I think of my dear friend who has but months left in this life I felt compelled to write her a love letter. I want her to know how special she is to me and how much I have valued her and her friendship. I want her to know what I would say about her at her celebration of life service (funeral).

Lets celebrate life a bit more. The big things like weddings, but also the little things, like us. Like you. YOU are the only you out there and that deserves celebrating.

I leave this challenge with you, to write down a few dot points about yourself, about your life about the things we should celebrate with you and for you and should you need a more polished and professional tribute about yourself, get in touch.