This column first appeared on Mother’s Day, 2007. Enjoy!
Today is Mother’s Day. I was surprised to learn that Mother’s Day is celebrated on this very day in over 50 countries. Everywhere, mothers are being pampered, fussed over and adored.
As I expect I will be. As someone’s mother myself, I will likely get the traditional breakfast in bed — the surprise of finding shells in my scrambled eggs is one of life’s delights. A surprise that goes exceedingly well with toast and jelly. Especially when made with love by the hands of my children.
But when it comes down to it, I’m not much of a special occasion kinda gal. Sometimes the forced, greeting card nature of a “special day” feels less than special.
So, I have a plan.
I move we dump this holiday and every other single holiday we celebrate during the year.
Yep. That’s right. I’m suggesting we have no Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Passover, Easter, Yom Kippur or any other occasion we observe.
Including birthdays.
Oh, don’t panic — we’ll celebrate each one. But we’ll celebrate every single day.
If every day were Thanksgiving, we’d live as grateful people, surrounded by family and friends, keenly aware of the abundance in our lives.
If every day were Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we’d immediately apologize for our mistakes and quickly reconcile our differences.
If every day were Valentine’s Day, we’d pay special attention to those we love.
If every day were Memorial Day, we’d take time to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and their families.
If every day were Easter, we’d be filled with awe for resurrection and the possibility of renewal in our own lives.
If every day were Christmas, joy and wonder would permeate our lives.
If every day were Labor Day, we’d celebrate how we do our work, and make it a source of pride.
If every day was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we’d remember to judge people on the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
If every day were your birthday, you’d feel special, and honored and loved.
And, if every day were Mother’s Day, all mothers would feel valued, honored and respected by both their families and society — 356 days a year.
Imagine the richness of your life if it were filled with the holiday spirit every day of the year. What could you do? What could you have? Who could you be? Joyful, conscious, loving, living with abundance and open to the wonders of the world?
That would certainly be worth celebrating.
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