The end of the year is a wonderful time to look back and celebrate your past years blessings and successes, as well as the successes of others who have worked with and for you. Last night I had the pleasure of watching on TV the Kennedy Center Honors Program from Washington, where Shirley MacLaine, Carlos Santana, Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock, and Martina Arroyo were honored. Former Free Press columnist, Susan Ager, commented about the event on Facebook and said,
“I found myself wishing that every workplace, from Walmart to GQ to the UofM and Detroit Free Press, held an annual event honoring its greatest contributors. How much better we would all feel to be appreciated like this.”
I couldn’t agree with her more, and I would add that we also need to celebrate the accomplishments of our friends and family. Additionally, I also think its important to acknowledge our own accomplishments, or things that have gone well, because too often we focus on our deficits or painful things that have occurred.
I believe that this is not what life is about. Life is about the joys, both expected and unexpected, that occur on a daily basis in our lives.
So today, I encourage you to focus on those things which have gone well this year, to celebrate what you have done well, and to honor those around you have done well in their own lives.
Here’s a few tips on how you might do this:
- Write a note, send an email, or make a phone call to important people in your life to tell them how much you appreciate something they’ve done this year.
- If you’re on Facebook you could post a question, as I did, asking your friends what they think the highlight of their year has been. For me, it was nothing that I did myself, but rather that my son Adam and his fiance Sarah are expecting a baby in the spring.
- Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, think about what would make you happier in the next year in the three key areas of your life: family, health, and work.
I want to tell you, dear readers, how much I appreciate you taking the time to read my tips and keeping in touch on a regular basis. Wishing you, and your family, a healthy and joyous new year!