Hi, I’m Patsy.
In 2014, I launched And Celebrate as a blog.
The mission? To inspire people to find something to celebrate every day, beyond life’s traditional milestones and “happy moments.” Shortly after it launched, I recognized that purpose-driven entrepreneurs could use a partner in brand building, event strategy, and content development to reach the people they most desired to serve while making a more meaningful impact on the world. During that season, the essence of the mission remained, but the form temporarily changed while I channeled it into a business supporting business owners to grow their brands through live event experiences.
Then life delivered some surprises: the sudden death of a hometown friend, a terminal cancer diagnosis followed by caregiving of my, now, late father, aaand the uncoupling of a 7-year marriage. (Yep, it was A LOT. And, it all unfolded within the same year). During that same timeframe, I also became an aunt for the first time. (A joyful blessing amidst a dark and tumultuous period).
During that tender time, I found myself returning to the original mission and message of And Celebrate: it is possible to find something to celebrate every day. For the first time in my own life, I was invited to put this philosophy, outlook, way of being to the ultimate test. That living mantra not only guided me through the muck but enabled me to do so with grace and compassion and so much love. Embodying the mission reminded me to look for beauty in the pain, to find moments of levity in the density, to appreciate the simplicity through the complexity.
All of that change, all at once, cracked me w-i-d-e open and invited me to re-evaluate everything. Outward expression took a backseat as I entered a phase of deep healing and reflection. As I put words to paper, this PHILOSOPHY emerged. I encourage you to take a peek. 💖
So, now what?
I have an invitation for you.
I believe that now, more than ever, our world needs a relentless reminder to take pause and celebrate. I also believe there is much to discover and learn from each other and the world around us. So, I called on 12 beautiful friends, peers, teachers, and colleagues to create a mini conversation series titled Gifts to Humanity Talks. A gift to humanity and an invitation to celebrate 12 ways in 12 consecutive days before 2020 (the year-of-all-years) came to a close.
What is it exactly?
This conversation series is designed to explore the simplicity & complexity of the human experience in 12 ways over 12 consecutive days. Twelve gifts have been extracted from the And Celebrate manifesto. Twelve amazing guests who embody these gifts will join me in conversation to unpack them. You’ll receive these 30-minute gifts of conversation in your inbox in the form of audio files for easy listening by entering your email below.
What are the gifts?
Personally, I’m all for receiving a thoughtful surprise, but I can appreciate that there are some of you who might need a bit more information before opting-in. So here they are: gratitude, acceptance, hope, curiosity, understanding, kindness, laughter, emotion, faith, play, presence and mystery. (As for the guests, you’ll just have to wait & see. But, trust me, they’re awesome!)
What does the timing look like?
The first conversation in the series was released on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 5a EST. The series will ran through Monday, December 21, 2020. But fear not, if you’re just finding your way to this site now, you can listen to the whole series here.
How do I listen?
You can access the audio files here. Listen at your leisure: while you’re getting ready, while you’re in the car, while you’re on a walk, while you’re making dinner. Tune in and give yourself the gift of time for listening. Each guest will be sharing a takeaway, prompt, activity, or question to consider for integration in your everyday life. If you feel inspired, share those integration moments with us on Instagram in the days and weeks to follow by tagging @andcelebrate and using the hashtag #andcelebratethat.