What Is There to Celebrate?

2020 has been a roller coaster. As the end of the year approaches, many holidays are coming up — yet some people are asking themselves what there is to celebrate.

It depends on where you look, because what you focus on grows.

You could start with the little things. As I always say, it’s important to celebrate everything, not just the big things.

Did you finish a project this year?

Did you get organized — or at least more organized? (Remember: Strive for progress, not perfection.)

Did you get through the election campaign without throwing things at the television?

Did you help somebody out, read a good book, or learn a new recipe?

Those are all WINS worth celebrating.

Then look at the bigger picture. Do you have a roof over your head? (On any given night, millions of people don’t.) Do you consistently have food in the refrigerator? Do you have a job, or the prospect of one? Do you have access to transportation? Are you relatively healthy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have reason to celebrate.

When you look at nature around you, do you see beauty? Maybe you experienced the heavy rains of this season’s weather but you are safe right now. Perhaps you can celebrate the falling snow that snuffed out threatening forest fires. Depending on whether you’re in the southern or northern hemisphere, you might be seeing warm fall colors or you might be seeing bright blossoms of late spring.

What about advances in technology? Consider that in 1985, one gigabyte of memory cost $40,000. At that price, today’s iPhone would cost more than $2.5 million. Today, computers and cell phones are relatively inexpensive and accessible.

Go back a little further: With the incandescent lightbulb of Thomas Edison’s day, 72 hours of illumination would cost you about 60 hours of labor. With today’s LEDs and the growth of personal income, 60 hours of labor can buy you enough light to last hundreds of years.

We can celebrate the advances in medical science that catch diseases earlier than ever before--there’s even a vaccine on the horizon for COVID-19.

And of course, all of you can celebrate the fact that you have chosen to improve your lives — and you are taking action to do so.

You’ve sought information and help for dealing with ADHD and executive function challenges. Perhaps you have downloaded the free resources on the Dr B website, are listening to the Living Beyond ADHD podcast or engaging with others in the private Facebook group?

Wherever and however you are choosing to expand your knowledge of ADHD and executive function skills, you have taken a step forward to improve your life.

And isn’t that worth celebrating?

I urge you to continue this learning process—a process which is also healing for many people— so that next year at this time you’ll be another step further ahead of where you are today. (No matter what happens in 2021.)

And remember: Celebrate what you can, where you can, when you can.

You’re worth it.