The Celebration You Really Need to be Having

The last few days has brought us the beauty and fruitfulness that we receive every year at the time of the Harvest Moon.

What I love about the Harvest Moon is how completely present it seems; not just for one evening but for days at a time, shining as brightly in the early morning hours as it does at night.  I almost feel like it’s watching over me, as it did for farmers in the days when a few extra hours of farming were critical to bring in the fall harvest.

The crux of what makes the Harvest Moon unique is the extra light it so lovingly offers.  As Wikipedia explains, “the time difference between moonrise on successive evenings is shorter than usual…Thus, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise around the time following these full moons.”

Farmers could work longer into the evening and harvest a more fruitful bounty.  Which leads me to the importance of recognizing and celebrating our own fruitful bounty at this time each year…

• Summer, ripe with beauty and simple pleasures, is behind us – having seemingly disappeared in the blink of an eye
• The opportunities unleashed in the deeply vibrant colors of autumn lay before us

Now is the perfect time to focus on all the successes, no matter how small, that have moved us forward during the first two-thirds of the year.  Have you taken time to do this?

• Think about the opportunities that came to you this year that are now bearing fruit for you
• Think about your accomplishments, no matter how small, in which you and your team can take pride
• Think about how you’ve helped others become more successful this year, to reap their own fruitful bounty
• Recognize that every time you reached out to help others it had a ripple effect out to the world at large
• Think about how you’ve taught others by your actions, and what those lessons have been
• Think about what you’ve learned from others, and how it’s made you a better leader and a better person
• Think about how, and when, you’ve loved unconditionally

And then celebrate! Shine a little extra light on all that’s good in your world!

The Autumnal Equinox takes place next Friday, September 23rd.  I encourage you to take some time between now and then to genuinely celebrate all the bounty that 2011 has brought to you and to your teams.  You may come to realize that there is so much more to celebrate than you have allowed yourself to realize!

If you’re in Chicago, you’re welcome to join me and Lisa Diomede as we celebrate out in the ‘burbs at L’Eiffel Bistro on Friday the 23rd.  We’re calling it “Champagne Friday!”  Email me at Lisa@CLevelStrategies.com or DM me on Twitter @LisaPetrilli and I’ll make sure you receive an invitation.

Cheers to this year’s bountiful harvest!

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Need help defining a business vision, purpose and mission and the strategies to support them? Hire me for Visionary Leadership programs, and work with me by emailing me at Lisa@CLevelStrategies.com.

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Photo is Harvest Moon by tlindenbaum.