Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Fat Tuesday


Everything is a celebration. You just have to decide whether to go to the party or not!  I repeat my personal motto for today is the worldwide celebration known as Mardi Gras or Carnival.  People in New Orleans, Savannah, Rio De Janeiro, Salvidor and elsewhere are taking off the gloves and mixing it up in a terrific party with parades, floats, beads, costumes, food and drink.  Vancouver, the sight of the Winter Olymics, is having a double celebration this year.  It is a day for suspending diets, throwing off restrictions and letting go of unnecessary caution.  Please notice the word unnecessary.  We have the opportunity to live abundantly and with some increased flair.  Why not?  It is all in preparation for one of the most spiritual seasons of the year.  The contrast is stunning really.  We are getting ready to begin a path of self sacrifice in anticipation of Easter.  Our journey will be filled with a different kind of wonder as we make our way during the six weeks of Lent.

So, for today, let's do it!  Let's fill life with vitality and song.  There is no need to abuse ourselves.  We can celebrate without substances.  All we have to do is join in the fun.  Put on a mask.  Be silly.  Take a bunch of doughnuts to work.  Pick up a King Cake for dinner.  Wear beads.  Throw beads.  Just do something out of the ordinary and have a great time.  The words of Auntie Mame come back to me, "Live! Live! Live!  Life is a banquet and most of you suckers are starving to death!"  Make the decision.  Come to the party.