This past weekend I was lucky enough to be in town for my cousin's wedding. It was beautiful, and throughout the whole night the focus was able to remain on love. Maybe because it was a simple wedding, maybe because the bride and groom are so in love, and so lovable, maybe because we had all night to spend time with other people that we love who flew across the country to celebrate.
A lot of love was celebrated during the ceremony and after and Its always easy to be happy when you're surrounded by good people and a dance floor. It's also easy to laugh and stay present when you keep sending your little cousins to check on the cake.
I want to live my life like a series of celebrations, as a happy life deserves nothing less. Here are some of the ways I've been trying to practice happiness and embrace it, even when there's not a super magical wedding to attend.
1. Be Grateful
Gratitude is the best thing I've ever learned, and the greatest gift you can give yourself.
2. Just Be
Center yourself and breathe. Embrace where you are even if you want to move on. The time will come to leave, but now you are here.
3. Let yourself Laugh
We have all told someone "wow you have a great laugh," only for them to disagree. I know my favorite laughs are the really loud ones, the obnoxious and unapologetic laughs. Imagine if we all embraced our laughs, small or big, high pitched or low, we would create the most genuine expressive chorus there ever was.
4. Laugh at Yourself
t myself. I have always felt the best around others when I didn't take myself seriously, and it's such freedom to have people that allow you to be carefree. Laugh on. Let yourself be wrong and silly and let yourself laugh about it.
5. Move Freely
Notice your back, is there tension? Sit up straight, hold your head high, relax your jaw. You'll feel better physically and mentally.
6. Dress For the Occasion
Wear clothes that fit you and make you feel good. Don't feel comfortable in a dress? Don't wear dresses. It's pretty simple. Feel better dressed up all nice? Go for it. Life is too short to be self-conscious for something as minuscule as clothing.
7. Embrace the Quiet
Those silences within a conversation, I have come to love them. Let yourself think, let yourself be awkward and real. The only place they don't have those little quiet spots in a conversation is a movie script. Take it all in, the conversation and the quiet.
8. Eat Good Meals
Some of the best celebrations I've ever had were over dinners. Life celebration dinners. I remember having a Taco Tuesday in Italy with my friends. We weren't celebrating anything in particular but so much at the same time. There's always something good to celebrate. Find it and make a taco dinner out of it.
9. Listen to People
Don't see anything to celebrate in your own life? Hear a story. Friends sharing stories is always something to celebrate. Listen, like really really listen. Hear them out, clarify. You will learn if you let yourself.
10. Reflect on What You Have to Celebrate
Start a "highlights journal," where write down good conversations, cool events, big events, small things, anything that you want to remember. You can only focus on the good in life if you remember the good, so write it down, or snap a picture.