May is often a month filled with celebration.  As the school year comes to close, we look forward to celebrating high school and college graduations as well as the hard work of the past 9 months and the transitions to elementary school, middle school, or high school. 

While honoring these big accomplishments and milestones is important (and fun!), it is also important to take the time to celebrate the little milestones that occur every day.  This can be hard when juggling busy schedules, school, sports, homework, after school activities, and the craziness of today’s family life.   

But, in the midst of the busyness of life, be sure to pause to take in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches of life.  Feel the touch of your child’s hand in yours.  Listen for the laughter coming from your children playing.  Smell the aroma of fresh cut grass or the wildflowers on a nature walk with your family. Taste the flavor of summer fruit or a cup of relaxing tea.  Watch the smile on your child’s face when they try something new or do something kind for someone else. 

Here are some other ways to acknowledge and celebrate the joys of life every day: 

• Begin your day with a sense of gratitude and celebration, setting the stage for a great day with a positive outlook. 
• Celebrate connection with others.  Whether it’s after reading a favorite book with your child, taking a walk with your teenager, enjoying coffee with a friend, hugging your partner, or exchanging a kind word with a stranger at the grocery store, every interaction you have each day is the opportunity to meet our human need for connection. 
• Celebrate the small daily wins and kindnesses by creating a gratitude journal.  This can be done on your own or create a family journal or jar to document the year.  Here are 5 practices to create a grateful family culture. 
• Celebrate trying something new, the persistence of sticking with a task that is difficult, or overcoming a challenge.  When we acknowledge the things we do well and our hard work and effort – both big and small – it improves our mood and self-esteem. 
• Be mindful.  Mindfulness helps to relieve stress, reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and increases our sense of calm and connectedness.  Learn more about 23 benefits of mindfulness for the body and the brain here. 
• Pause.  Take 3 deep breaths.  Feel. 
• Appreciate and acknowledge acts of kindness - your own and those of others.
• Celebrate taking care of yourself in mind, body, and spirit.  You are a role model of self-care for your children. 
• Celebrate others!  Everyone wants to be acknowledged and your celebration or words of kindness or thanks shows that they are seen, appreciated, and valued.  

Remember – celebration is not just about a party or gifts or get-togethers.  Celebration is an attitude of gratitude, mindfulness, acknowledgement, and kindness.  So in this busy time, be sure to pause and take the time to celebrate the everyday goodness in your life and model a life of celebration to all those around you.   

Kyle Kick