Celebrate your milestones

“Success leaves clues”, so says one wise man who willingly and always shared wisdom on what it takes to be successful in life. One of the clues is celebrating achievements no matter how big or small. Every small milestone reached is a step closer to the bigger milestone. 

Think of it as running a 96 kilometer marathon. Every meter the athlete reaches is a step closer to the next kilometer mark. And so it continues till the entire 96 kilometers are covered. Alas the big milestone: completing the marathon. The whole race.

It does not take much to celebrate the milestones in-between. By simply recognising the minute milestones, it becomes easier to acknowledge the big milestone. So, celebrate milestones. 

Many-a-time even the small milestones are hidden. It takes conscious effort to seek the small milestones. I recall a certain meme that was doing the rounds during the COVID days, that said, “remember to dress your best daily. Do not reserve good clothes for Sunday only. Each day is a celebration that you are alive.” 

The fact that we wake up each day and go about our chores is something that we can easily take for granted. Such a milestone can be hidden completely from our sight, yet it is a milestone that can and should be celebrated, daily. Each day lived, brings one closer to the next birthday or anniversary. The birthday and the anniversary are the big milestones to be celebrated, having celebrated the many other small milestones - such as making it through the day. 

Poet Edgar A. Guest wrote the inspirational poem “Don't Quit” in the 1920s. It's a gentle reminder to us all that even the most trying of times will end, and there are sunnier skies ahead. This is one of my favourite poems. During the days when things seem hard, I recall the words of the poem in the first paragraph: “When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit ”

In the last paragraph Edgar, ends the poem with a power punch statement. He writes, “Success is failure turned inside out – The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
You can never tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –  It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”

To a certain degree, Edgar advises us to celebrate milestones. They brings us closer to the finish line. It is in the moments when things seem so hard, that one should keep going, and not quit! 

In that way the celebrating bigger milestones becomes momentous. What are you going to do today to celebrate your milestones?


Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 21, 2024 at 2:18 AM

    Incredibly powerful words once again! This is the absolute truth. Celebration is a great way to give gratitude. A grateful heart is one that is ready to receive an abundance of goodness and grace.

    Thank you Joe, today tomorrow and the next day... just got better🙏

    ReplyDelete

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