When I was a teacher, I gave my high school juniors an assignment to make a collection of poems in different categories as a part of an introduction to poetry unit. Two of the ten poems were to be original, and the rest they were required to gather from books by other authors. The students had to thoughtfully comment on each of the poems, including the two they wrote themselves. One of those original poems had to be a poem that celebrates who they are. This was to be a spin-off of Walt Whitman’s “I Celebrate Myself and Sing Myself.”
It got me to thinking about celebrating and singing myself, and how many of my family and friends have inspired me and guided me to look for and feel the positive in life. I learned from them that we should celebrate ourselves regardless of what is happening in our lives…sometimes in spite of what is happening. No matter what the circumstances, no matter how easy or difficult the experiences, it is all worthy of celebration. Life is just life and life is good! I celebrate myself and sing myself.
The tune of my very own song is a joyful one, full of laughter and mystery. The people in my life surround me with love and I face my challenges with competence and confidence. I’m secure in the knowledge that failure holds the promise of true and pure learning. Oh yes! Lots of that!
I have a big, round life. Just when I think it’s going nowhere, it circles around and makes a satisfying a tie-in to its previous self. This is not a life that is going in circles though; it is a life in full circle, made of valuable, interesting and sometimes happy connections.
Mine is certainly a life worthy of celebration. And in addition to the inspiration from family and friends, I owe a lot of my energy for perseverance to nature. Those palm trees and other plants that, not only survived the hurricane a few years ago, but are going strong, growing new branches and hanging in there, are great mentors telling us, “Don’t let life’s storms get you down.” Consequently, I think it wise to stand with our shoulders back and our heads held high. Let’s greet each day with a happy dance. Gloom is for cowards. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
It’s easy to let difficulties get us down. The heroes are the ones who say, “Okay, bring it on! I can handle this!”
Somewhere inside each of us is a place we can retreat, be still, and listen to our own hearts. Then we can muster the necessary tools to dance with whatever life presents. Oh, and it might help to ask for help when we need it, to hold each other’s hands, and to listen to each other.
