Celebrations
In a world where our success is often measured when we achieve big goals and milestones, it can be quite easy to forget the importance of celebrating smaller moments. For some of us, we might align our success based on a promotion or when we are finally able to purchase something that we’ve wanted for a long time, and we neglect our daily wins that are equally essential at enabling our growth in the long term. At times, we might even move from one goal to the next without reflecting on the things we’ve already been able to accomplish. As we firmly set our sights on the end goal, we tend to forget to pause for a while and appreciate the actual journey that we’re on.
Celebrating our everyday successes doesn’t require a grand celebration, expensive gifts, or lavish meals. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you’ve done a good job, and finding the motivation to continue taking the next steps forward. At Auesome Place, we put tremendous emphasis on the learning process, and we value the progress made by each of our Auesomers. We constantly make a conscious effort to celebrate all of their milestones, big or small.
We can celebrate their achievements in music. Music remains to be one of the most powerful ways to inspire, spark connections, and create a sense of togetherness. Musical experiences such as playing different instruments, chanting, and singing can assist in the development of verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and it offers an engaging and non-intimidating way to foster social interactions. Furthermore, playing musical instruments like the guitar or the piano can facilitate the development of fine motor skills.
From the moment our Auesomers picked up their ukuleles, we immediately saw the joy in their faces as they learned how to play the notes of do-re-mi and as they hummed along to classic songs like Ode to Joy and Yellow Submarine.
Learning how to play a new instrument can be challenging for anyone, but our Auesomers displayed steadfast commitment and determination until they learned how to play the starting notes of Mary Had a Little Lamb. While it may take time for them to learn one full song on the ukulele, we believe that every new note that they learn is reason enough to celebrate.
We can celebrate their achievements in cooking. Preparing a meal and sharing it with others is another great way to assist in the development of social skills and can also lead to a greater sense of self-confidence. If you ask our Auesomers about pancakes, pasta, or hamburgers, they’ll proudly share their experiences of making these dishes.
At Auesome Place, every single step of the cooking process is an opportunity to learn something new. As they wash the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, and mix the ingredients of a burger patty, our Auesomers can feel a genuine sense of accomplishment. We value those moments and celebrate the things that many of us might consider as being simple or ordinary tasks.
Our Auesomers also learned how to bake cookies, which they shared with members of the community. Baking requires a careful and meticulous approach, and it provides a fantastic way to practice following directions. While reading an entire recipe can seem daunting at first, we can break down the recipe into more manageable steps, and we always remember to celebrate the accomplishment of every step. We can celebrate their achievements in art.
Through art-related activities, we can also encourage the use of creativity, imagination, and self-expression. Whether our Auesomers are learning how to write Chinese characters during their calligraphy lessons, creating holiday decorations through arts and crafts activities, or simply making their own artwork by coloring or painting, we make it a point to celebrate their creativity.
As we continue to celebrate the daily successes of our Auesomers and their accomplishments in a wide range of activities, we also find ways to celebrate even the simplest forms of progress. For some people, it might be challenging to even take part in any activity, or it might seem intimidating to stand in front of an audience to share their thoughts and feelings. However, we remain patient and supportive, so that when the time comes that they decide to try and take a step forward, we are there to celebrate that achievement.
When we genuinely care about others, we want to see them succeed and we share in their happiness. We can recalibrate our perception of success as not merely moving from one point to another, but also about learning how to celebrate the smaller milestones along the way. After all, the journey is just as important as the destination.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
― Vincent Van Gogh