by Tania Carriere
December 15, 2014 - 8:38am
There I was, enjoying the sunshine streaming through the window of my favourite café, when my friend said “I noticed that your posts and your retreats are all about living from a place of gratitude, joy, beauty…you do know there is more than that, right? There is suffering, there is pain, there is ugly”.
I sat up.
I was stunned to realize that he thought my celebrations were avoidance. That to “Celebrate What’s Right in the World” was to walk around with lenses focused only on the good and simply not look at the bad.
He couldn’t have been further from the truth.
As a photographer, Dewitt speaks of training your technique. Like Dewitt, I have tried to develop an “eye”- a keen awareness of all that is going on both around me and within me. As a result of his teachings, I’ve learned how to be fully present, awake and alive in each and every moment. I see and feel it all, the good AND the bad.
But the discipline of celebration allows me to hold it all in a larger context. A context where I don’t deny what’s wrong but see that there is so much more that’s right; a context that shows me possibilities rather than hopelessness; a context that fills me with energy rather than draining me.
I intentionally put time into practices that build this mindset. Like building muscles, I build the capacity to be in gratitude, to explore my vulnerability, to taste joy, to create flow and balance, to hold acceptance for “What is” and not run from the discomfort, to see how the glass is also half full.
These practices have become a way of life; they are not accessories. I live them constantly, deeply, with discipline, courage and joy. They are constant, holding me present in all the moments - the good ones and the bad ones.
As I stand in these moments. Dewitt’s question “What is the Next Right Answer?” whispers itself into my ear. Like a mantra, it brings with it an ability to quiet my mind. It is because “Celebration” is my resting place, my baseline, that I am able to live through and not avoid those things that I wish I didn’t know.
The practice of celebration is a balm of my soul. It inspires joyous laughter, beginner’s mind, belief in possibility. It holds me steady but more importantly, reaffirms my sense of wonder. To practice celebration is not avoidance - it is a life practice. It is the most disciplined thing I do – every day. A conscious choice to seek abundance and beauty and an intention that I set as the inspiration of my day.
And for that, I Celebrate!
Tania
Ready to say YES?
Join Dewitt and me in two inspiration-infusing adventures in Hawaii; The Re-Imagined Self and The Art of Seeing Possibility. We only do this once a year and there are only 20 spots open. We can practice being adventurous together! http://www.advivumjourneys.ca/retreats
Advivum Journeys
An immersive adventure for those who are ready to explore life’s biggest questions. Come prepared for deep work and deeper connections as you experience a beautifully curated sanctuary in Hawaii. Your creative journey, through exclusive and hidden locations, will inspire your inner journey, guided by an experienced personal coach team invested in helping you to renew yourself, your sense of who you are and what you can accomplish. Each sabbatical is obsessively designed down to the last detail, ensuring that you leave feeling both joyful and transformed. www.advivumjourneys.ca/retreats