“Remember to celebrate the milestones as you prepare for the road ahead” – Nelson Mandela
For many reasons 2017 ended up being a big year for me, where various life events took place that personally felt like big milestones.
Milestones occur in everybody’s lives and most of the time we don’t see them coming. Not all milestones are easy to face either. Some are amazing and some hit us out of nowhere. Even if you suspect they are just around the corner, nothing can prepare you for the actual impact. Nonetheless they can define our next steps and the approach we take when looking to the future. The question is, are we able to recognise the milestones and take action to embrace them or do we ignore them and let them pass us by with no intention of adapting?
In 2017 the majority of my milestones revolved around partnership. An area of life that I had personally struggled with and at times, worried I would never find for myself.
In June and August 2017, I stood by two close female friends as they walked down the aisle; in August 2017 my partner and I became just that, a partnership and in September 2017, my sister announced her engagement. All of these moments are milestones in my life because they shook up the dynamics in the key areas of life I hold close to my heart. I had to make a choice. I had to either embrace these changes and let these milestones change me for the better, or ignore them and allow life to carry on the same.
Embrace Changes
I chose to embrace the changes. My immediate family number rose to 13 people (this makes me smile from ear to ear), my friendship group has gained two amazing people who I love and trust as much as their wives and I now consider two people and not just myself before making decisions about my future.
Partnership is a milestone worth celebrating and I am so blessed to bear witness to my family and friends finding that person to share life with.
For myself, I can actually say I’ve found my best friend and my partner in crime. He came out of nowhere and shook up my whole life. Now that I look back on it, he’s the one thing I didn’t see coming, he’s the blessing I longed for but worried I would never find.
Milestones can come out of nowhere and when you least expect them. When they occur, grab hold of them with both hands and never let go. Never forget to celebrate them.
Debbie