March 13, 2004

I must confess that I adore celebrating events which might be getting to ridiculous levels but let me explain.

When I first started working on my own as a writer, I thought that when I got my first published article the world would celebrate it. I thought when I made my first $10,000 the world would celebrate. I thought when I got my first book contract, the world would celebrate.

The world didn't celebrate anything because they didn't know. And frankly, a lot of the world didn't care.

Although I disliked the cheesy celebrations that my corporate office used to have (the sad little certificates to celebrate one year of service, the pens that never worked to celebrate 2 years) I missed them. I missed recognizing good moments so I decided to start celebrating myself and my successes - no matter how small.

When I queried my first magazine, I celebrated with a nice sized specialty latte and a piece of cake. When I got my first magazine article, I celebrated with a dance in the flat and a dinner at a cheap cafe around the corner. When I put together a web site, I celebrated. When I did something little that was an accomplishment to me, celebrated. Huge things? Oh I celebrated!

The point is, there's a lot of celebrating going on in my house. Things that seem little to other people, I make into huge deals for me by eating a cupcake, buying a new book, a fancy pen or some art supply I want. Sometimes it's just shaking myself silly to music. I learned that if I don't celebrate my accomplishments, no one else will. It's so important to feel like you're achieving something instead of just waiting for huge public milestones. It's also much more satisfactory and you get more confidence doing it yourself. And the best part is that you feel like you've done something instead of feeling like you haven't because no one made comment.

But, the bigger point to this is when there is something huge to celebrate, share it. And what I really want to share is the 2 year anniversary of the Another Girl at Play web site (which really happened at the end of February but I was gone, celebrating!)

I wish I convey how much fear I had about creating this site. I thought the idea was good but the fear of asking people to join it was overwhelming. I was so afraid of looking stupid, of being rejected of being told, "Who are you to do something like this?" It took me several months to work up the courage and when I asked the first person and they accepted, I, of course, celebrated.

Two years later, the site is thriving and it's one of my happiest accomplishments, despite never making money from it. I love the sense of community it's taken on and the amazing people I've met because of it. And for that, I would like to set aside a moment tonight to celebrate it.

Thank goodness there's some sweet wine chilling!