Time to Part-ay!
Anyone else feel like it has been winter for a year? I am more than ready to stop wondering what will happen or if you can have your party or whether it is going to rain or snow or some other catastrophe. I am not minimizing the troubles in the world including the pandemic (my father almost died, so it was REAL for me), kids feeling down because they couldn’t hang with friends (who knew kids would WANT to go to school!), war in the Ukraine (I literally cannot watch the news without sobbing) or watching people try to pick up the pieces of their lives as natural disasters burned or blew their homes away, but I am sick of waiting. We need joy and joy comes from within and each other. People, color, joy and laughter…I call that a Party!
When you are in the party business, you see things differently. Part of my job is to see the celebration in everything. I inherently see color and joy where others see something way more practical. My husband and I took a walk today and we saw a gnarly tree. I immediately said “look, honey, a Halloween tree!” I pictured the tree at night backlight looking spooky as a backdrop for photos at an event. Here are a few things to get you out of the winter headspace and into the mind of a party planner for some springy inspiration…
In your travels today, try to notice something you may not have noticed before. Then think about where that thing could be part of a party. Colors? Theme? Backdrop? Fun, isn’t it?
Buy some flowers. Many say, “I am not a flower person.” But I don’t care. Flowers = spring = happy, for everyone. One bouquet or plant inside will make you smile, I promise.
Now, pick something small to celebrate. It’s ok to be celebrating that you put on actual shoes or you left the house, just pick something. Plan a celebration just for you. Buy yourself a coffee or cupcake or sing out loud in the car or the living room. Parties of one are still parties.
Next, plan a surprise party. One for your family or spouse or sig other or heck, your dog or cat! Plan one special thing that will happen before, during or after dinner. Again, no stress, could be a dessert (have you tried the new cupcake place?) or party hats…all party things and trust me, they will be surprised!
Take a picture of the prettiest thing you have seen all day. Who cares if you end up with 4-5 pretty pictures, the point is to notice pretty things.
I was in Boston recently and saw a billboard that said ‘it is hard not to smile when you say the word ‘bubbles.’ Try it. Totally true.
It is also hard not to smile when someone smiles at you, so smile at every person you pass for one day. I bet you feel better.
Many of you are now thinking that everyone in your life will think you are nuts of you do these things. Who cares! It was nuts that we boarded ourselves in our homes for so long, but we did it to make life better for everyone else. If smiling at people, having parties and celebrating life is nuts, I’m cool with that, because it too will make life better for everyone. I cannot wait to see your smile as I pass you on the Post Road.
Happy Spring!
