Years ago, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just 9 months to live. So I know what it means to appreciate and celebrate life, because I do it every day. But you don’t need to wait for a significant emotional or physical event to kickstart your daily appreciation of life.
Here are 10 good reasons to get started. Who knows, you might be lucky enough never to experience a life-changing emotional or physical event – but you can still reap the rewards of celebrating life! If you don’t have all the 10 reasons in your life you must celebrate the ones you do have with double the enthusiasm.
You are alive! This is the most important reason to celebrate every morning. Many successful people across the world start their day being grateful for the day ahead. Spend the first 5 minutes of your day fully appreciating your life.
Family. Having family members to support you, and to share your joy and happiness with, will give you confidence and inner strength. If you are lucky enough to have family, celebrate them and tell them you love them often.
Friends. If you have even one friend you are rich indeed. Celebrate your friendships, because sharing good things enhances your own pleasure. And when you share sad or difficult times with someone else it reduces the pain and impact. It really is true: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.
Seeing. If you have the gift of sight you have a massive reason to celebrate. With your eyes you can see all of life’s splendours in Technicolor; you can stimulate your mind by reading books, looking at works of art, or just enjoying a movie.
Hearing. With the ability to hear, you can enjoy wondrous experiences: the joy that music brings, the sound of wind in the trees, the sound of waves crashing on the beach, the sound of your loved ones telling you about their day. You can even celebrate the sound of silence.
Touching. To experience touch is a very powerful reason to celebrate life. You are able to feel the softness of an animal’s fur, the heat of passion, the coolness of water as you enjoy the rain on your face, the lightness of the sun’s rays on your skin.
Singing. Celebrate your voice by singing your favourite song, by telling someone how much you appreciate them, by saying thank you.
Smelling. Celebrate being able to smell the roses, a newly-baked cake, freshly-cut grass, coffee percolating or your favourite perfume.
Tasting. How wonderful to be able to taste a glass of good wine, the taste of a spicy meal, or the lips of your loved one.
Freedom. Having the freedom to choose what you want to do, and being free to do it, needs to be celebrated every day – as there are many people in the world who do not have this luxury.
Celebrate your life and celebrate the fact that you can celebrate it!
Achievement: Cancer Free for 20 Years by Curly Martin is out now, available from Amazon, priced £13.48. For more information go to www.achievementspecialists.co.uk.
