Celebrate You
by Nicola Dela-Croix
You are uniquely special. Your life matters. And, when you’re gone, it just won’t be the same here without you…
In my role as a Funeral Celebrant, I witnessed grieving families and friends express their sense of loss for someone they knew and loved. And as we celebrated that person’s life – as all the stories, tears, love, laughter and pride filled the room and threatened to burst through the ceiling – I always looked at the coffin and thought to myself… did this person know how uniquely special they were? Did they appreciate how much their life mattered to other people? Did they understand the difference they made, the joy they brought and all the positive memories they’ve left behind?
Possibly not. I think most of us would be surprised and moved by such a reaction – the positive impact we’ve had on others from the life we’ve left behind. So wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all gain a sense of our own worth while we’re still here? To appreciate how much our existence matters. And if we could use that knowledge to give us the confidence to live our lives to their fullest and most meaningful?
I think it would be incredible! Not just for us, but for the people around us, and for the world we contribute to. Imagine the positivity, the happiness, the sense of purpose and contentment. No more comparing ourselves or trying to become something we’re not – just a new-found self-respect, an appreciation for others and for life itself.
That’s why I’ve created ‘Celebrate You’…
‘Celebrate You’ is a positive and inspiring process designed to help you re-connect with the extraordinary person you are and how much your life matters. It provides the opportunity for you to take stock, appreciate the journey of your life so far, focus on where you want the rest of your life to take you, and the positive legacy you can leave behind.
Whether you find yourself at a cross roads, dealing with the unexpected, entering a new phase, or simply looking for a confidence boost, ’Celebrate You’ provides a positive sense of self-worth and direction, leaving you feeling uplifted, valued, in love with life and ready to make the most of your precious years.
How does it work?
‘Celebrate You’ combines my knowledge and experiences of creating Life Celebration Ceremonies to form an on-line ‘course’ that is completely unique. And absolutely FREE!
Delivered in the form of web pages, this is an easy-access, on-line format you can follow in the comfort of your own home, and in your own time. Working through at a pace that suits you – you can do as much of it as you like, when you like. This is important because we’re dealing with the many-layered, multi-faceted story of you and your life, and it’s a story that is continually moving and evolving. So there are no timescales to follow or deadlines to meet. Celebrate You will simply be waiting for you in its own welcoming space whenever you are ready, and have time. The content is accessible on whatever digital device you choose - from desktops to smartphones.
What does the course contain?
The course is divided into six parts, together with an introduction. Each part has its own set of written exercises you can try, as well as shared knowledge and experiences from me. These sections are…
INTRODUCTION
Explaining what the course is about and looking at the content.
PART ONE: YOUR LIFE STORY
We all have our own story to tell, and we begin by drawing an outline of your unique life so far – where you’ve come from, where you are now and all the events and experiences in-between. Plus inspiration from the life stories of others and ideas for how to capture the information you’ll be gathering at each stage.
PART TWO: YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
You’ve not been alone in your story and Part Two is all about the people who have shared in the journey of your life, lived alongside you, and how meaningful they have been. Plus the significance of ancestors and the people keeping our memory alive in the future.
PART THREE: MEMORABLE MOMENTS
We look at the good, the proud, the challenging, and the eventful moments in your life that have been memorable to you. We reflect on why they mattered, what their impact has been and what you’ve learnt from them, as well as reflect on other eventful lives..
PART FOUR: MUSIC AND MEMENTOS
What music has featured in the soundtrack to your life? What photographs have best captured you and your story? What prized possessions could you never be parted from? We’ll look at these all-important collections in Part Four and how they fit into the story of your life.
PART FIVE: THE UNIQUE YOU
You are a one-off, never-to-be-repeated individual. And that incredible fact is something to celebrate. So here we look at what sets you apart; from how you look and behave, to your personality, qualities and values. We also get an outside perspective and look at which unique individuals have inspired you.
PART SIX: ONWARD JOURNEYS
In our final part we highlight what this journey through your life story has uncovered, what you’ve learnt from it and how you might like to share that wisdom. We look ahead to the years to come and focus on what you’d like to do more of, and what sort of legacy you’ll leave behind.
What do I get out of it?
By the end of the course you’ll have:
• An appreciation for the unique individual you are, your valuable place in the world and in the lives of others.
• Captured your own life story and used that story to help you form new goals and aspirations for the future.
• Given thought to how you’d like to pass your story on and what you want your legacy to be.
• A clear direction and confidence to make the most of the years you have left.
Who is it for?
Everyone! There are no barriers to this course whatsoever. You don’t need to fit a certain criteria, or tick particular boxes. If you are a human being with a life story and hopes for the future, then you will benefit in a positive way. You can be 20 or 90, it doesn’t matter. ‘Celebrate You’ is as unique as you are and everyone is welcome.
‘Celebrate You’ can, however, be especially helpful if you are in need of a confidence boost – perhaps you’ve lost your spark or lack direction. It can help you find ways to make changes in life, or adapt to changes forced upon you. It can also inspire you if you’re entering a new phase or wondering what to focus on next. But really, all you need is a willingness to step into the spotlight – to look at the unique individual you are, your value in the world and what you want to do with the precious years ahead of you.
What do I need?
Just enthusiasm and a computer, or other digital device to access the course pages. In Part One of the course I detail options for how you might like to capture all the information you’ll be working through, ie. you might want to work on your computer, or other device. You may be happier with a good old-fashioned notebook and pen, or get creative with a memory box. It’s entirely up to you.
In terms of time, as I said earlier, you decide how much of that you have to spare. I would, however, suggest that you might like to keep some momentum going and work through the course at fairly regular intervals. Each section builds on from the next so you don’t want to forget too much in-between.