When coming home from a recent trip, I was excited to see little black cat and ghost decorations lining the driveway. My daughter, Amanda, had come over and gotten out the Halloween decorations. We had fun the next day putting more out in the house and outside to welcome guests.
It hit me that I have not embraced celebrating holidays these days as I did when Amanda was a little girl. Yet, when she encouraged me with decorating together to celebrate Halloween, it was so much fun. We smiled, laughed, danced, and hugged.
As another Amanda (Swanepoel) of BrightStar Lifestyle said, "Celebrating is part of the joy of living and even thriving. When we find reasons to celebrate, we express gratitude and remind ourselves that there is hope in every season of life."* The ability to celebrate even little things helps release dopamine which lifts your mood.
Try This: Simply Celebrate!
It may seem silly, yet why not take advantage of a simple shift to happy like celebrating a win, a completed project or just being alive! Here are some ideas:
- Have a "you" day by treating yourself to something special like a favorite food, treat or drink.
- Set a reminder on your phone for at least 3 times during the day you can stop, stand, and strike a celebratory pose.
- Find time to do a craft like a new Halloween decoration and invite others to join you.
A favorite way to of mine celebrate is to strike a pose to feel brave and strong which is hands on hips with head held high. What's something that gives you a good feeling and shot of dopamine?
*BrightStar Lifestyle quote: https://www.brightstarlifestyle.co.za/power-of-celebration/#