What does celebration look like to you?
Think about the last time you got ready for a celebration. It could have been any celebration. A life achievement maybe, a new job title at work, getting one year older. Think about the preparation you put into yourself. We adorn our best outfits, maybe even build in an extra half hour to style our hair meticulously or save up to splurge on that evening’s attire.
And this practice, this ritual, of dolling ourselves up is not unique nor a phenomenon. Across all cultures and societies, we dress up to celebrate. In Morocco, women adorn themselves in amber in silver jewelry for weddings. In Mali, certain tribes wear their finest clothes and dance to send off members of the town in style. During Carnival, Caribbeans celebrate independence days decked out in feathers that can take half a year to design.
In my own family, this ritual was less common. It is not that I did not grow up wearing my Sunday best for church or a freakum dress on my 21st birthday but celebrations were more frequent in my household. I learned how to celebrate from my mother who was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you ever get the chance to visit New Orleans, you'll see the city's unbridled passion for life - even now, they're still celebrating their 2010 Superbowl win, playing the game in the airport 24/7, 365 days a year.
My mother celebrated even the smallest accomplishments in my life. The passage of time was something to be proud of. For instance, when I transitioned from elementary school to middle school, my mother would congratulate me. When I turned 15 and became eligible to get a driver's permit, she would say "Mazaltov!". When I decided to apply to grad school, she would exclaim "Opa!". These little wins were the milestones of my life, and they gave us reasons to take breaks from cooking and order takeout or toast with champagne. I was lucky to have a mother who taught me to appreciate and celebrate life itself. After all, every breath we take is a miracle.
The memory of a night in the early stages of my business with my mom still brings a smile to my face. Surrounded by my closest friends, we were gathered in what would become the first venue of this business. It was a night of celebration, albeit with a cheap bottle of champagne and paper cups, as I had just been let go from my job that same morning. But the joy of the moment was not dampened by my recent job loss. We were happy to be together, toasting to this new adventure, and grateful for the opportunity to pursue a dream. Looking back, I realize that no matter the occasion, there is always a reason to celebrate and feel grateful for the moment. And the best accessory we can wear to any celebration is a smile.
