Sweet Treats: To Me, From Me

Casablanca lilies and carnations.
Mmmmmm......my house smells
so sweet!

If you've been reading recently, it seems I have one or two things to celebrate, so I treated myself. I had a mani-pedi, haircut and style (just a trim....nothing new and different), a new pair of capris (we're expecting 107 today! Yikes!), and some flowers -- smelly ones, of course. Altogether, it cost about $100. Not an insignificant amount, but not a bank-breaker either. And it felt great.

I think it's important to celebrate successes, whether they are large or small. Or in my case, I practice celebrating. One definition of practice is to "repeat action to improve." 

I'm a great minimizer; I minimize the effort that I put into things, as well as the achievement itself. I minimize other people's pride and happiness at my success, like it's unwarranted. Obviously it's hard for me to take a compliment.

That's actually a cute design and not
the hot mess it looks like in the
picture.

So I practice on myself. I take the action: I spread the news, treat myself, smile, and say thank you. But I don't feel like I've earned it. Bullshit! I wrote that novel. I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in twenty-five years. And I did a helluva lotta work on both of those "projects." If I didn't earn it, who did? I know.....in my head.....that I deserve the kudos and yeehaws. Both are big achievements. And I wish it wasn't so hard for me to feel uproariously ecstatic about my own achievements. Apparently it is.

And so I practice.

Have you had difficulty accepting success? What do you do to celebrate?

Have you been there?