Celebrating Milestones

 So today – 17 April 2022 marks 18 years since I walked down the aisle with my beloved Sweetheart and Wife - Gertrude.

Prior to the wedding, there were several hurdles we worked through, including: arrangement of the dowry negotiations, preparation of the traditional wedding and later the white wedding we held on this day 18 years ago.

Coming from different cultures, we had to quickly acquaint ourselves with each other’s’ cultural dynamics.  At the same time we had to (and have had to) chart a unique course for ourselves acknowledging our respective cultures while mindful of how to celebrate our love towards each other.

I still recall our wedding day like it happened yesterday. It was wonderful; and it went fast! Our family and friends joined us to witness our exchange of vows.

Through the years, we have done our very best to live those vows – through thick and thin. Today we are Celebrating this Milestone of our wedding anniversary.

We have heard stories of people who could not stand each other for eighteen seconds. For others, eighteen minutes was unbearable. Some have even broken up after eighteen hours, and several within eighteen days. While a number have made it through to eighteen weeks, some did not make it in eighteen months.

We thank the Almighty for the grace of eighteen years. We celebrate this milestone.

As a Coach, I have become aware that as individuals we intentionally or unintentionally become oblivious to even the small milestones in our lives. The questions that come to my mind are:

  •        “What is stopping you from celebrating your achievements, no matter how small or big?”
  •         How does it feel like for you when you celebrate your achievements?
  •         How does it feel like for your when you ignore acknowledging your achievements?

As individuals and Organisations, we should make it a regular habit to celebrate our milestones.

I remember while we were at university, we made it a habit of making Friday our celebration days. We made-up excuses for celebrating everything and anything: from handing in assignments on time, achieving the test pass-marks, just getting through the week, a birthday and whatever else we could think of. It was our way of making it through each Semester till we successfully graduated. It motivated us, and kept us focused throughout our study days.

Celebrating milestones does not have to wait for the very BIG achievements. In fact recognizing the small achievements leads one to the bigger milestones. Celebrate your milestones!

I have also witnessed as a Coach that as soon as one’s attention focuses towards the recognition of milestones achieved, there is an immediate shift in the energy towards positivity and the desire to achieve – even more.

In every individual, there is an underlying desire to be better, do better and have better. By recognizing and making time to look back and see how far we have come - in whatever area of life - we are able to appreciate our progress.

And when we realize how far we have come – from where we were – or used to be - in whatever size, form or shape, we are Celebrating Milestones.

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 20, 2022 at 11:39 PM

    Happy wedding anniversary Joe and Getty. May God continue to bless your marriage.

    From your story I have picked that it's important to celebrate the milestones in our lives. Thanks for sharing your story. God bless you and your family

    ReplyDelete

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