Celebrate - Joan

 Summers are a time of great celebration. There are graduations, weddings, births and even celebrations of life scheduled when it may be easier for families and loved ones to be together. Yet, it's not only the big moments that deserve recognition. Cause for celebration exists in the small moments as well. A family BBQ, a day at the beach, a walk in the woods, the reduced traffic in the city while others are on vacation are all to be savored.

         It's easy to get caught up in the more is better column of life, but that's not always a good thing. I'm trying to practice the less is more approach to life, but that's not always easy. The truth is in my world, sometimes it doesn't even feel possible. I have so much for which to be grateful. Less is more takes intention, in part because there are many demands, some real (like those nasty bills that keep coming and need to be paid) and others imagined (like I am personally responsible for everyone else's good time), that I place on myself. If January is a good time for making New Year's resolutions, then summer is a good time for self-assessment and re-calibration.

          I am striving to remember to capture the joy of the moment that I feel whenever I find a great parking spot in each of my experiences. As many of you know, when my father passed away more than 25 years ago, I gave him a job. He worried about me driving hither and yon, whether it was daylight or in the wee hours of the night. Driving never bothered me, I enjoyed finding new places and connecting with the people I met along the way. What did terrify me was the necessity of entering one of the large and creepy parking garages. Dark stairways, blind corners, hidden figures, all conspired to make me nervous. I knew dad would want to continue to offer his loving protection and so I dubbed him my very own Parking Angel. Like many other of his previous jobs, with the exception of home repair, it is a job where he excels. Finding my preferred space, no parking garage necessary, is cause for routine celebration thanks to dad. It is a way of continuing our connection in a concrete way and without fail it brings a smile to my lips.

          These are the moments I cherish, parking spaces, the warmth of the sun, the companionship of friends, the laughter of family members, and with luck finding my lost luggage from one of my recent trips (please feel free to add your own prayer to St. Anthony). Not all celebrations require fireworks, some are more simple, merely bringing a smile. These are experiences that are subtle, free and available all year long. It is good to know it is enough.