Kool and the Gang put out a song in 1980 titled, Celebration. It’s the ultimate Raise Your Beer song. It’s the ultimate Look What Amazing Thing You Did song. And it should be the song we sing when we succeed, even with the little things … especially with the little things.

Did you get out of bed this morning? Celebrate it.
Did you get dressed this morning? Celebrate it.
Did you make it to work or school this morning? Celebrate it.
Did you make someone laugh today? Celebrate it.
Did you write a song today? Celebrate it.
Did you write a story today? Celebrate it.
Did you write a paragraph or even just one line? Celebrate it.
Did you draw or paint a picture? Celebrate it.
Did you graduate from school—any school? Celebrate it.
Did you get a new job? Celebrate it.
Did you do something new? Celebrate it.
Did you do something you were afraid to do? Oh, celebrate it.
Did you do something you thought you couldn’t do? Celebrate it.
Did you do something you’re good at? Celebrate that, too.
Did you cry because something made you sad? Celebrate the emotion.
Did you help someone today? Celebrate kindness.
Did you stop holding a grudge today? Celebrate maturity.
Did you do a workout for the first time or the thousandth time today? Celebrate progress.
Did you do something for yourself today? Celebrate you.
Did you not let something bother you that usually does? Celebrate tolerance.
Did you dance for the first time today? Celebrate it.
Did you arrive to work on time today? Celebrate timeliness.
Did you realize you’re an amazing person? Celebrate the awesomeness of you.
Did you fall in love? Celebrate that with all your heart.
Did you stay in love for a week, month, year, twenty-five years, fifty years, more? Celebrate endurance … and patience.
Did you learn something new today? Celebrate education.
Did you say goodbye to something toxic? Celebrate renewal.
Did you say goodbye to a loved one who is no longer here? Celebrate their life.

There are so many things we can celebrate every single day, but we’re too focused on bad things, on failures, on the things that bring us down. We’re too focused on not being good enough for a person, for a group, for a job … for ourselves. Life is full of small successes, things we pay little attention to, but things that matter more than we tend to believe.

Celebrate all the small things (did you read that as if you were singing a Blink 182 song?). Those small things so often lead to bigger successes. We should make celebrating these things a part of our daily lives. I’d celebrate that.

Until we meet again, my friends, be kind to one another.

A.J.