Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. ~ Dr. Suess

Do you celebrate the people in your life? I don’t mean celebrating birthdays and anniversaries but everything. The people in our lives weather they have been part of it for a short time or long. Weather they are family you were born into or family your created through long lasting friendships. How about those people who were only part of your life for a season and moved on.

I feel that I have done a lot of thinking in regard to the people who have shaped who I have become, who I am today and who I will be tomorrow. We are constantly growing because frankly once you stop growing, you start dying. I have always been a person who analyzes themselves, although there were times that it would have been more helpful before the fact not after, every experience is a lesson. Being wise enough to look at your situation and to learn from it is a gift. Their is growth in failure as long as we look forward and strive for more.

Not everyone has the tried and true connections of the families they are born into. Some have destructive, toxic relations and cutting those ties are not only life altering but life saving measures that can be painful but also freeing and inspiring. Breaking that cycle of negativity can push someone forward to do great things. This also applies to other people who come into our lives as well. Someone you see as an ally one day suddenly no longer puts any effort into your relationship. What do you do with that? You can try and understand it but in my opinion, for your own wellness, you have to accept it and move on. Now of course there are those people who you know even if you barely speak with will always be a celebrated part of your life and those relationships will ebb and flow. Adult children I guess fall into that category, as least for some of us. As my kids mature and move into adult lives I know I won’t hear from or see them as much as I would like too and of course I will be the one putting the most effort into those relationships for a time but that, for them, is part of growing up and nurturing who they will become. I’m talking about cutting ties with the hurricanes, those unexpected storms that took out the bridge without warning. I’m sure we probably all have had those people in our lives. They come into our lives when something happens and you may need them. They are there, they comfort, care, share and then “BOOM” without warning that season is gone. They too should be celebrated.

We all go through different seasons in our lives. Childhood, those awkward teenage years, young adulthood, marriage, children, career; they are all different seasons in our lives. Childhood friends, some we remember fondly others not so much. They were there beside us to learn together, grow together, to share experiences with but most of the time we move on from those relationships. It can be the same for each season of our lives but I think it’s important to stop and celebrate all of it because without the seasons, without the coming and going of different relationships throughout our lives we don’t learn, we don’t grow, we would be stagnant with no adventure or drive for more. No anticipation of the future or dreams to make reality.

Being that today is Valentine’s Day I thought it was a good day to reflect on this subject. Spread the love if you will. My parents have been married 57 years today. That is two people who through the ebb and flow of life grew together and celebrate each other. I’m not saying it’s all chocolate and roses. It’s work. Relationships take work. Anything worth celebrating in my eyes takes work. Getting over heartache takes work, surviving through grief takes work, accepting life’s changes and challenges takes work. I sit here in this moment as my kitchen table typing this and I am smiling. I have many wonderful beings in my life to celebrate. My parents, my husband, my children, my cat, our rabbit, old friends, new friends, siblings, the guy who will pump my gas today in 34 degree weather, nieces, nephews, cousins. Even the people who hurt my heart, the people I invested time, energy and love into who are no longer an active part of my life. I am a better person for all of those experiences. I gave of myself and in return I learned lessons, I grew. I am who I am because of ALL I have gone through in this life and the choices I made to work through each lesson. I hope if you are reading this it is helpful to you in some way. Much love and Happy Valentin’s Day ❤

xo