Celebration is a Lifeline

Photo by Brad on Unsplash 

A few years ago, I couldn’t stand up long enough to cook myself a meal. Walking to the mailbox was not possible. I couldn’t sleep at night. I was dozing off in public places. 

I lost two close colleagues, my age, within a year.

A massive budget gap at work meant that another round of layoffs followed on the heels of earlier losses. 

I eventually learned that the pain that had been limiting my mobility was a sign of fibromyalgia. My body was breaking down, while at the same time, I lost access to the tools that had helped me deal with stress and stave off burnout. 

Research shows that burnout is the number one challenge organizers face. Even knowing this, I still felt like a failure. I cried through cycles of shame, grief and fear.

Beginning to recover included changes, like quitting a job I was really proud of. It also included noticing and naming mundane good things that happened, despite the pain and shame. 

With each tiny celebration, I grew my ability to take in the good again. 

Fast-forward a couple of years, and I’m in a different place. 

I’m not “better”. I am healing.

My celebration practice isn’t about overriding difficulty. 

Racial capitalism, white nationalism, ableism and other oppressions still surround us. Even within those realities, I can notice and generate joy, appreciation and delight. Each of those moods sustains my organizing and helps me stay involved in my community. 

As Scot Nakagawa writes in Mass Trauma and Authoritarian Capture,

“Individual healing and collective action aren’t sequential - they must happen simultaneously, with each strengthening the other.”

I’m continually working on this.

Increasingly, my celebrations are big. 

For example, when something really good happens in my small coaching and consulting business, I go into ecstatic dance moves. 

The moves look something like those dancing balloon “people” retailers display. You know the ones, they repeatedly flop up and down. Luckily, only my dog sees the dance (and occasionally my partner). 

Doing my part in the fight for a better world requires me to be well. Your wellness is essential, too. I know so many organizers, changemakers and leaders who quietly go through their own burnout. I share all of this because I know I'm not alone in it — and neither are you. 

In my work, my clients often feel lonely and stuck in conflict. They want clarity, self-confidence and support. 

If that sounds like you or someone you know, I’d love to help. 

Together, we’d build your confidence and effectiveness so you can feel lit up and proud of your work, even in these uncertain and complex times. 

I offer a free one-hour session where we can get to know each other and decide if we’re a good fit for what you need. 

I’d love to connect with you more.

Changemaking is hard. Reaching out is vulnerable. Celebrating can feel frivolous. And each one is totally worth it. You are worth it.

I invite you to try out a celebration practice today. If you do, I’d love to hear about it. Email me and we can connect directly. I don’t trust the robots, so you’ll get a real response from me.

Sending you warmth. 

P.S. I send gratitude to my coach, who encourages all her clients to take in what’s good even when so much is hard. Thank you, Katherine Golub!