When we arrived to drop our son off for his first year of university we were greeted in front of the residence building by a crowd of cheering students. There were hand-painted posters, music blaring and car horns honking. A friendly face greeted him at the check-in table. It was a festive, celebratory and welcoming atmosphere.
It was a loud and energetic celebration of a new beginning.
Of course, there were nerves and lots of questions but the promise of greater things to come in that moment outweighed the scary unknown.
At the end of the year, it was just me who picked him up. I arrived in front of the residence building and all was quiet. My son greeted me with a massive hug and said he was ready to go. As we walked to his dorm room the halls were empty. Many students had already left and those who were still around were tucked away studying or writing exams.
We loaded up the car and returned to his room for one final look. The empty space felt cold and echoed when we spoke. There were lines of dust where posters had been taken down and furniture moved. I picked up a stray elastic band and paper clip and tucked them into my pocket. The only remaining evidence of the roomās former occupant.
He looked around feeling a bit stunned this chapter of his life was over.
I took a picture of him standing in front of the desk where only hours ago he'd been furiously studying. I wanted to mark this moment just as I had taken photos in the hoopla of his first day. I wanted to celebrate the journey of the past eight months.
In a way, this felt like a bigger milestone. Starting isn't always easy but staying committed and on track takes a different level of perseverance. It was a quiet, proud moment for both of us. He smiled at me and we both turned to go.
With a quiet click, he closed his door one final time, handed in his keys and we drove away.
Iāve been thinking about that moment ever since. We have been so conditioned to celebrate the new beginnings and the "major" milestones in life but what about the mini-moments along the way?
How are we checking in and recognizing that each step is something to honour?
One of the coaches I work with opens every call by asking "What are you celebrating today?". Itās a simple, yet powerful question. Previously I would race through my day checking the boxes on the to-do list, celebrating has encouraged me to pause and notice what is good. As Tony Robbins says, "Energy flows where attention goes." Focusing on the wins makes a difference.
It has been a powerful way to shift my mindset.
So tell me, how do you celebrate and honour the mini-milestones of life? What are you celebrating today? I'd love to know.
Walking forward with gratitude,
Sarah
PS - Iām starting up my walks on local trails in York Region again. If you arenāt familiar, it is simply an invitation to walk as a group and connect in nature for about an hour. Hope you can join me on any of May 4th, 11th and June 8th! If you are interested simply email me and I can fill you in on the details.
How to work with me ā¦
Small Group Workshops
Iāve run several small group workshops over the past year on topics such as āCrafting a Morning Routine that Works for Youā, āStart With the End: Clarity As You Move Forward in Lifeā, āClarity + Habits to Navigate the Chaos of Lifeā and more.
If you are looking for a workshop for your womenās group, your staff lunch and learn or as part of your company wellness program Iād love to connect. Hereās what one recent participant had to say:
~ Sarah is a thoughtful and smart leader who comes prepared to make her groups ponder important questions. By working through her exercises and prompts, participants are guided to look inward and identify how they can take control of their lives through small bite-size habits and routines. Great work Sarah! ~
Walk Together!
Join me for a walk on one of the local trails in York Region. Saturdays May 4th, 11th and June 8th at 9:30am. Itās free. Simply a chance to connect in nature. Email me for details on where to meet!
1:1 Coaching
Iāve launched a new one-on-one coaching program called: āThe Art of Transition: Cultivating Calm in Times of Changeā. You can find out more here or reach out and we can chat more.