Celebrating Through the Hard Times



It seems like everywhere you turn these days there's bad news starting us in the face with all the natural disasters and acts of violence and terrorism. This world is so full of hatred and darkness and most days it can consume me if I allow it to. I've began to struggle with anxiety in the last year and I contribute it to the ugliness of the world. Sometimes the feelings of anxiety hit me while I'm standing in the middle of the aisle at Target, trying to pick out new make up or a pretty new outfit. Sometimes it hits me while i'm in my car, listening to my favorite music on the way to pick my son up from school. The thing is anxiety shows up when you least expect it and sometimes, for a reason I can't understand.



I've been raised to trust my instincts and get myself out of any situation that doesn't feel right so I abandon my Target shopping trip, leaving everything right there in the middle of the store. Sometimes I talk myself through it and drive to my son's school and park and wait on him to get out. Usually focusing on my breathing helps but it's not a cure all to this horrible thing that I allow to creep in and take control of me. My anxiety isn't always brought on by an event happening in the moment; i've never been in any situation where violence was being used. Maybe that's blessed or lucky, i'm not sure but I do know that this world seems like a scary, mean place lately and we hear more about the bad than the good. It makes it hard to feel like celebrating when there's so much devastation going on but I believe that we need to still celebrate because it feels like a good way to fight back; to say that we aren't giving up and we aren't backing down.

I'm celebrating through my anxiety and through my fears because life is so worth living and it's worth living happily. I have to celebrate for my son. I have to celebrate for my husband and our parents. I have to celebrate for my nephew because life is too short not to. Because I believe that we need to add to the love and goodness of this world, not to give into our anxieties and fears and the meanness of the world. I'm not saying we shouldn't be vigilant or grieve when horrible things happen, we should, it's how we heal but we can not let it be the thief of our joy.

I want to laugh and snuggle and have more Tuesday night pizza nights with friends and family in our pajamas in the middle of a messy home. I want to lay in the floor and get covered in kisses from my puppy. I want breakfast dates with my husband on Saturday mornings to our favorite local Farmer's Table. I want to celebrate my son's successes and my nephew's birthdays. I want to step outside of my comfort zone and meet new people, learn new things and hear their stories. So from now on, when the anxiety creeps up on me, i'm going to look it in the face and tell it, "not today" because life is worth celebrating and I truly believe in creating a life you love so I'm going to do just that.

As we start a new year, I hope we do remain vigilant and that we do say a silent prayer for all those going through hard times. I hope we can give a little extra time or money when we have it and lend a helping hand when someone needs it but most of all, I hope we don't lose our joy and that we keep celebrating and spreading love and cheer because the hate and anger in the world can not win. There's such beauty and goodness in the world and I want to celebrate that.

What are you celebrating in your life today?


In case you need something to celebrate, I thought i'd share some fun national holidays for the rest of this month.

January National Celebration Days




I'll continue to share them each month here, as well. Feel free to participate in as many as you'd like and share them with me on Instagram using the hashtag #celebratewithpeaches.

I look forward to celebrating with you.


14 comments

  1. I couldn't love this more! I am all about celebrating and we do need to push through tough times. Not every day is easy and I deal with anxiety too so I totally get what you're saying. This is such a great, positive reminder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You, Doll! I love the support that blogging gives me! You are a wonderful friend. Pushing through the hard times is so tough but I truly believe in finding something to celebrate, even in the hard times. Anxiety is tough but having friends and support makes it bearable.

      Delete
  2. I can relate to this since I have bad anxiety too. I love the holidays for January - I'm definitely going to have to take advantage of plan for vacation day since I'm traveling the end of February!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Becky. I am so sorry to hear of your struggle with anxiety. I feel like it's becoming too common for all of us, that's why I want to focus on celebrating through it all. I hope you enjoy your Plan for Vacation Day and your trip!!

      Delete
  3. Hi Leslie <3 I suffer from anxiety too! It's so hard to keep under control, but I totally agree with not allowing it to steal the joy from our lives. It's a serious thing, but I know we can overcome it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sweet Lady. I feel like anxiety is something so many of us struggle with and it's hard but I definitely believe we shouldn't let it steal our joy. It's hard and it is so serious but we can totally over come it. I'm thankful for this community because it helps to be able to talk about it and help each other through it.

      Delete
  4. This is an amazing post, and I couldn't agree with you more. This holiday season was the hardest I've ever experienced - I dealt with heartbreak and heartache, leaving the life I built in Canada and transitioning back to a life I thought I left behind, going from full-time to freelance/part-time. It's been rough to say the least. Nonetheless, I still found ways to be joyful and show gratitude for the things in my life that I DO have: A loving and supportive family, friends, my faith, sunshine. Simple things can be great things, we just have to make it so! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jasmine. I am so sorry to hear that your holiday season was so full of heartbreak and heartache. That's so hard but you are a strong woman and I just know that whatever is next for you, you will absolutely rock it. Keep finding ways to stay joyful and show gratitude. I think that's key! Simple things CAN absolutely be amazing things if we just allow them to be!

      Delete
  5. OPPOSITE DAY! We used to celebrate that all the time in middle school! I totally forgot about it haha. Thanks for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! I had to include that when I saw it just for nostalgia purposes!

      Delete
  6. Love this sweet friend!! I had never dealt with anxiety until everything that happened with my grandparents. It just came on all of a sudden and trying to calm myself down was so hard. I do agree that with everything going on in the world it's hard to be positive and not let those things get to you.

    I have slowly learned that I can not control everything even when I try really hard. Living life to the fullest is so important. You deserve nothing but greatness friend!

    XoXo,
    Mistle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thank you sweet friend! You always make me smile. It's because of friends like you that I can share my hardest struggles. Together we can get through them! I totally believe that celebrating through the hard times is so important!

      You deserve all the happiness and the best of everything, too!

      Xo

      Delete
  7. Ummm you have me at Blonde Brownie dayy!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right! That sounds like heaven on a dessert plate, right?

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by and leaving some love. Have a peachy day.