Celebrate YOURSELF

With every year around the sun, the sense of gratitude and appreciation deeps. After all, growing old is a privilege denied to many, making it vital to enjoy every second of your experience of life. A constant reminder in this every changing world is to Live Life A Little Everyday because life doesn't stop for anybody.

One nice thing about getting older is that it bestows upon you a Perspective.

Say you grew up in a household that was “different” Maybe your name was hard to pronounce, you spoke another language or celebrated different holidays. Maybe you weren’t always comfortable with what set you apart.

As adults, we give ourselves a little more grace. It’s easier to see (and appreciate) what makes us special—and our culture is a big part of that!

Our histories and backgrounds shape who we are. When we engage in our culture and feel part of something bigger, it can help soothe anxiety and increase our self-esteem. Not only can we find connection, community and self-love—but we can discover new things about ourselves in the process.

So, let’s celebrate! Through small, meaningful daily actions, let’s acknowledge things that make us who we are and consciously lean in to, appreciate and celebrate who we are, where we’ve been and where we’ve yet to go.

Get nostalgic: Seek out mementos from your past that make you smile (photos, your favorite song or a scent). Sit with that feeling of love.

Growing up Diwali was my favorite time of the year. The mild winters of my hometown Pune in India; school vacations combined with lots of sweets (mithai) at home made for a memorable holiday.

Connect through food: Make a recipe with a deep connection to your culture. Share it with loved ones, telling them about the experience.

It is my experience that food is a way for generations to connect on a variety of topics, be it culture, history, family lineage. To this day, I cannot eat a samosa without remembering (and smiling to myself) that my grandmother never liked peas in her samosa. In fact I have relayed this piece of completely irrelevant information to my spouse and kids’ more than a thousand times.

Explore the arts: Doodle a bit, watch a film, listen to music or read work by someone from a similar background.

Lead-to-paper equals serenity for me. When I am drawing, I can block off everything and go to a place of peace and quiet. Sketching is my therapy and my escape. I strongly encourage you to find your passion. If you are able to connect with people who share your passion, you are in for a win-win.

Make a connection: ?It could be something about where you come from. Perhaps chatting with family (or your cultural community) and do a little research. Uncover something meaningful.

I find spending time with people who matter to me always replenishes me. Nothing beats a heart to heart with a loved one.

Travel: You don’t have to cross an ocean. Visit a sacred space, museum or viewpoint. A place to feel connected with something beyond yourself.

Start something of your own or something new: Taking inspiration from your culture, think of a meaningful, effective ritual that keeps you connected—like forming a club or learning a new language.

You are unique: Make note of the unique ways you contribute to the world. It doesn’t matter how small—you matter! Write it out when you doubt how special you are.

Taking the time to reflect on things that matter to you is a way to celebrating yourself.