Articles

P Katz May Celebration Log

© Patricia Katz MCE CHRP, Optimus Consulting

2006 marked my twentieth year in business. To commemorate the occasion, my friend and colleague, Maggie, gave me a wall stencil with the word 'Celebrate'. I affixed that to the wall in my office and declared the year 2006 to be a year of celebration.

In 2006 I celebrated my 54th birthday and my 32nd wedding anniversary. My children reached 26 and 21 years of age; and my eldest daughter married. Major milestones always stand out, but my intent was to find something to celebrate every single day of the year.

This log is the expression of that intent. Day by day, I recorded experiences, events, and conditions - large and small. Despite life's challenges and disappointments, I always found something to celebrate.

I'm sharing this with you in the hopes that it might help you notice and celebrate more of the good things to be found in your everyday life, too.

Appreciatively yours, Patricia

PS - Why not try this yourself? Download one of the Celebration Log templates and create your own record of appreciation day by day. It's available in two forms with my compliments:

May 1 - Today I celebrate ... my beautiful 21 year old daughter. Happy Birthday, Lindsay.

May 2 - Today I celebrate ... class act clients - like Harvard Development - who know how to do things up with style and panache.

May 3 - Today I celebrate ... changing weather, and the adventure it brings to our lives. Wind, wet, whatever the weather!

May 4 - Today I celebrate ... details, details, details. My ability to stay afloat and not drown in the detritus. Now, there's a word for the day!

May 5 - Today I celebrate ... being able to string together a run of errands without backtracking all over the place.

May 6 - Today I celebrate ... my abilities to organize. This was supply shopping day for the upcoming Backyard Work Bee.

May 7 - Today I celebrate ... the discipline of hard work and practice and the results it can create.

May 8 - Today I celebrate ... Brian's ability to interpret my ideas for illustrations, drop his ideas into the mix, and come up with something wonderful. The book design work is coming right along.

May 9 - Today I celebrate ... the successful recording of my reworked keynote with a three camera shoot in front of a live audience. Awesome audience! Awesome experience!

May 10 - Today I celebrate ... the practice of Appreciative Inquiry. Fanning the flames of success.

May 11 - Today I celebrate ... that easygoing ability to engage a group - a skill that I first honed in my days as a 4-H staff member. That grace and warmth have held me in good stead on days like this - providing the opening networking session for a Community Leadership program.

May 12 - Today I celebrate ... Tristan and Marc's friends - Mike, Ryan, Nick and Jen. What a crew! So generous and good humored - giving up 4 days to help get the yard in shape for their friends' wedding.

May 13 - Today I celebrate ... the vigour of youth. Ryan trenched nonstop through 20 feet of tree roots, without a complaint.

May 14 - Today I celebrate ... the joy of spending Mother's Day with both my daughters, and being able to visit my own mother, too.

May 15 - Today I celebrate ... surviving a series of five meetings in a row. Glad I don't do that every day.

May 16 - Today I celebrate ... a day to simply plow through the paperwork and dispense with details.

May 17 - Today I celebrate ... a simple lunch with Lindsay, and time to catch up on each others' news.

May 18 - Today I celebrate ... the opportunity for full fee speaking engagements in my own backyard. It's lovely to work in Saskatoon.

May 19 - Today I celebrate ... my brand new bicycle. The thrill never wears off. How sweet it is to go for a turn around the neighborhood, recalling the freedom of first wheels.

May 20 - Today I celebrate ... the delights of greenhouses and nurseries in spring - the blast of color, the musty smell of damp earth, the whiff of optimism in the air.

May 21 - Today I celebrate ... the joy of digging in the dirt as I start the summer's planting.

May 22 - Today I celebrate ... that second sense that stopped me from walking out of the airport convenience shop without paying for that bottle of water. Too much on my mind, not enough in my mind!

May 23 - Today I celebrate ... being able to enjoy dinner with my two good friends in Ottawa. We're working for different clients ... in the same town.

May 24 - Today I celebrate ... the serendipitous happenstance that would - without our knowing it - place my speaker buddy, Jeff, and myself in the same conference center on the same evening. Great to have the company and a visit.

May 25 - Today I celebrate ... the delicious taste of Sicilian Scampi at the Olive Garden, and the good fortune to be called upon to work in a mountain setting. Glorious peaks!

May 26 - Today I celebrate ... a husband who took the entire afternoon to create a CD containing all my favorite love songs.

May 27 - Today I celebrate ... the fun in mixing and matching plants to create beautiful garden planters. Artist at work.

May 28 - Today I celebrate ... my mother's 73rd birthday. She has been and continues to be such a treasure in my life. Loving, giving, spirited - a great model of caring for others.

May 29 - Today I celebrate ... the wisdom that comes from discussing business issues with my GEMS colleagues. How helpful it is to have the questions, reactions and suggestions from others to redirect my focus.

May 30 - Today I celebrate ... the presence of the boreal forest and northern lakes in my life. What a treat to drive to Waskesiu to deliver a program, and to enjoy the lake, the trees, the journey, and the company of a good friend.

May 31 - Today I celebrate ... the lushness of the garden. With all the rain of the last few days, the greens are everywhere. Feels like Ireland on the prairies.

© 2007 - Patricia Katz MCE CHRP of Optimus Consulting is a speaker, author and consultant who helps groups and individuals restore the rhythm of renewal to work and life. Contact her at www.patkatz.com or toll free at (877) 728-5289.
The text of this publication or parts thereof may only be reproduced with the written permission of the author. To inquire about reproduction, contact:
Patricia Katz, MCE CHRP Optimus Consulting 315 O'Brien Place, Saskatoon, SK Canada S7K 6S9
P: (306) 934-1807. F: (306) 242-0795.
Toll Free: (877) 728-5289 (pat-katz)
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