you're invited...

it's one of those weeks where there are an abundance of birthdays happening. while i owe gratitude to facebook for reminding me about many of these, one of my resolutions for this year is to attempt to mail out a birthday card instead of posting a quick virtual greeting.

i love getting mail. the envelope that has your name handwritten with love and intention. growing up i was spoiled by beautiful notes sent by my grandma and throughout college i believe i got a letter each week from my mom. and it's a trait i've happily inherited from them now. i always have a collection of cards on hand for a special occasion.

with these birthdays always comes the talk of celebrating. it seems the older we get the more hesitant and resistant we become towards celebrating our lives. i'm sure this stems from a variety of reasons...not wanting to acknowledge your age, feeling that parties are silly and unnecessary, birthdays stirring up more thoughts of what you haven't accomplished rather than gratitude for the life you've lived, etc. i know i was dismissive of celebrating my birthday this year. but i have great friends who wanted to love on me, celebrate me. and you know what, i loved it. sure i was little overwhelmed by the month of celebrations that occurred. but i received it. and i challenged the messages in my head that told me i'm too old for parties or it's rather indulgent of me to have all this attention.

i don't think in the end we will ever regret the abundance of celebration we engage in. but we lament that moments that we didn't tell people how much they are loved, appreciated, valued. it's a common sentiment at funerals...the regrets of all the things we wish we could have said.

what does it look like to invite celebration into your life? whether you have a birthday coming up, a new job, baby on the way, or a wedding. and how do we celebrate the ordinary days and moments? or how you will create a moment of celebration for those in your life? even the most simple gesture, if sincere and intentional, personal and connected can bring delight into someone's day.