Why We Should Party More

Yesterday I made a showing at a party for a family friend that was turning 90-years-old.  We probably only stayed 5-10 minutes, partially because we didn’t really know anybody else and partially because it was a crowded party indoors, and with Covid, I wasn’t super comfortable with the safety precautions as people were eating and not wearing masks.  In all honesty, I wouldn’t have been comfortable at this party in pre-Covid times because I’m an introvert who has trouble in those situations.  I’m pretty good one-on-one or in small groups, but in large groups, I feel like the wallflower standing at the side of the room waiting for somebody to ask me to dance.

So why did I go at all, you may ask.  Because this particular lady has attended so many of my celebrations, and most of the time, she has come by herself into a group of people she didn’t necessarily know.  She has also remembered both my birthdays and my kids’ birthdays as well as Christmases by sending us greeting cards.  She is such a special person—so caring and loving. I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her thoughtfulness all these years.  Plus I wanted to make sure she knew that the reason my parents didn’t come was because they weren’t feeling well and not because they didn’t want to see her.

Celebrating life through these types of special occasions has become more important to me lately as my grandmother has just recently passed as has my mother’s best friend.  It has made me realize that I may have more funerals ahead of me than happy celebrations like weddings, graduations, and birthdays.  I want to make sure that I take every opportunity to celebrate all the good times life has to offer—like my daughter’s birthday lunch today.

Recently I have been putting pictures into photo albums.  There are so many pictures of happy times we’ve had over the years.  Sometimes the pictures make me smile because they take me back to the good times I’ve had with my family and friends.  I realize how fast time has flown, so sometimes these same photos make me a little sentimental.

Life is often full of irritations and inconveniences:  taxes, car inspections, paying bills.  (My kids call it “adulting” and don’t particularly like it.)  It’s funny how when you’re a kid, you think that being an adult is going to be so great, and then when you’re an adult you realize how great you had it when you were a kid and didn’t have so many life responsibilities.  Then I realize how important it is to just appreciate today and all the adventures it offers.

I think it’s helpful to try to have fun every day and laugh.  It’s one of the reasons I write jokes and send my coworkers memes when appropriate.  We also need to celebrate all the good times we can so that hopefully when we leave this world, our loved ones will have fond memories of us. 

Joke:  Don’t think of it as getting older.  Think of it as another excuse to party.  

Quote:  “Every day of your life is a special occasion.”  –  Thomas S. Morrison 

Advice:  Look for things you can celebrate in life, and you will find them.