CELEBRATE!

I remember flying into JFK in New York years ago after a long travel day.

I made it to baggage claim and huddled around the the carousel with all the other travelers on my flight, not talking or making eye contact.

I was intently watching for my bag when I saw this cute little pink suitcase sliding down the chute and a little girl started cheering and physically jumping up and down! That little girl knocked me out of my learned social skill of zoning out in big crowds, especially at the airport, and she made me smile so big!

Don’t we all feel like celebrating when we see that our bag made it!!!

It’s a little thing and it happens for most of us when we travel … not trying to trigger anyone here about that one time you got to Park City, Utah on a ski trip and opened up your bag to find some men’s flip flops … oh wait … that happened to me.

ANYWAY … I honestly don’t know if I’m talking to you or me … but stop for a second.

What’s something you can think of from this month that’s worth celebrating?  

I’m not very good at celebrating.  Even on my birthday, I get uncomfortable if it’s one of those years where friends want to do something.  I don’t know … I just don’t make a big deal about stuff.  But I think I’m totally missing out!  

Why would we not celebrate more? 

I’ll celebrate something with you now … here goes:

This month, I decided to have my first in-person writer retreat at my home.  

The back story is that I got to build a house and that was a dream for me.  I created a really beautiful space with the help of some talented people.  

Another one of my dreams from 20 years ago was to build a creative retreat.  I wanted to buy land and build cabins and a main house where people come when they got to a stopping point with their creative project. BUT I didn’t think I’d have the money to do it, so I let go of that dream.

… Until my Mom brought it up to me one day.  

“Whatever happened to that creative retreat idea you had?  I thought that was so neat!” she said.

She got the wheels turning again.  I wrote about it in my journals and drew some pictures, talked to a few friends, but when 2020 happened and LP Creative Therapy was born on Zoom, I thought – THIS IS IT!  It’s the retreat!  It just looks different than I thought!  Cool!

Well, back to the in-person retreat.  

The day of the event, I see my friend Guy walking up to the front door and I ran to welcome him.  Guy is 6’8” and the sweetest person ever.  He walked in the front door … took one look straight out the back window, through the patio, to the surrounding trees outside and his shoulders physically dropped away from his ears.  He let out an audible sigh and said:

“This already feels like a retreat.” 

You see, on the day I planned the in-person retreat, July 22nd, it was the 2nd anniversary of my Mom’s passing … and when Guy said that, I felt a message from my Mom … you did build a retreat after all.  

It’s like everything was suspended in time while that was sinking in. 

I felt like I was floating in this manifestation of a dream the whole day. The writers were all in great spirits and they created beautiful songs.  We had really good food and we played music at the end of the day.  Things couldn’t have gone better.  

I want to celebrate the community, the connection, and especially the spiritual element that happened that day with my Mom being so present in my heart.  So many things had to come together for that experience to take place.  And that’s just through my eyes.  Think of each person who attended and what actually got them to the point of being there!  What are their stories like? 

A new friend of mine, Stephanie, said “This is the best day of my life!”  That sounds celebratory to me!   

There’s so much to celebrate and be in awe about. 

The many encouragers, the ones who gave me a chance to sing with them, or do a job and learn the business … and sooooo many influences in music … I’ve learned from every songwriter I’ve been blessed to work with.  I celebrate them all!  

And I celebrate you, the LP Creative Community!  

I celebrate India Ramey for releasing a whole album this month, getting to play Americana fest, having her album cover plastered on a wall, and for being so determined to put everything she’s got into it! #babtizedbytheblaze

I celebrate Sacha Visagie for getting nominated for a CCMA for her song “Hey Mom I Made It”! 

I celebrate Emily Ann Roberts for going on an amazing tour opening for Blake Shelton and for sticking to her guns creating the music she wants to make!

I celebrate Ryan Price for getting Certified Gold Single plaques for “Please Don’t Go”, but most of all for getting back on stage this summer and performing live at the LP Creative writer round! 

I celebrate Maria Ellis for booking a private session to talk about turning her poems into songs! 

I celebrate Jolene Harnish for running a business AND managing to get her song recorded this summer and preparing for a release. 

I celebrate every one of you who finished a song, came to town for the first time to write, got music out on streaming, joined your first workshop, wrote with a new person on zoom, or who simply took the summer to replenish so you can be more creative in whatever lane your creativity is now taking! 

I particularly celebrate those of you who experienced a failure.  

It’s just guiding you to the next thing and getting you closer to your authentic voice.  So yes, I celebrate all those failures! 

Celebrate the fact that you’re still going and getting better!!!  You’re doing it!! 

Try this:  Make yourself a Victory List.  

Write down everything that made you happy this week, this month … the big stuff, the small stuff.  You’ll be surprised how much you can celebrate.  And it’ll be there for you to read over when you’re looking for inspiration, positivity, and encouragement.  

You’ll realize everything that’s working in your favor.  

Celebrate!  I’m proud of you.  

P.S. Send this to someone you want to celebrate!!!  Sign up for newsletter

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