Celebrating Milestones

Celebrate the Journey—Not Just the Destination!

Let this be your reminder to celebrate the journey—because it’s not just about the destination!  Recently, I hit a milestone birthday, and I went back and forth on how to celebrate. Should I throw a party? Take a trip? Or simply relax on the couch? And yes, the couch was a very real option. Over the past year, life has been full—balancing motherhood, career, leadership, and pursuing my doctorate. The couch was a top contender, but I also knew this moment deserved recognition.  Then, someone reminded me of something powerful: I’m always showing up for others, but how often do I let others celebrate me? That shifted my perspective. I took their advice, set my plans in motion, and created space to celebrate this milestone with the people who matter most. In today’s post, I hope to inspire you to celebrate your milestones in life, whatever they may be.

Celebrate the Journey

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know that I’m a planner mom through and through. I dream big, set goals, and map out the steps to get there. I thrive on purpose-driven planning. But over the last three years, I’ve learned that while goals give us direction, true fulfillment comes from embracing the journey—not just reaching the destination. Navigating the twists and turns of my doctoral education really drove this point home. It’s been a bumpy ride—full of challenges, late nights, and moments of doubt. But as I near the finish line and reflect on the process, I realize how much it has strengthened my resilience. More importantly, it has given me incredible memories with friends who have become like family.

With so many milestones woven into my doctoral program, I couldn’t help but learn to pause, reflect, and embrace each stage along the way. It wasn’t just about reaching the end—it was about growing through the process.

In life, it’s so easy to focus on what’s next—the next career move, the next achievement, the next season of life. But if we’re always chasing what’s ahead, we risk missing the beauty of right now. The late nights, the small wins, the unexpected lessons, even the setbacks—all of it shapes who we are becoming. Every step matters.

This Step Mattered – Celebrate Your Milestones

Not only was this a milestone birthday, but it also culminated several life events—not just school, but some personal pivots and pressing through a rough season. I’ll share more in future posts. Essentially, this step mattered.

This was the underpinning of my party theme, “She’s Going Places”. It was a nod to a few things about me:

• I LOVE to travel – Check out these BLOG POSTS on TRAVEL
• I travel to school monthly for residency (ie. on campus learning, classes, and workshops) – Check out these BLOG POSTS
• One of my favorite books as a child was “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”
• I want to become an international researcher, leader, and speaker
• I published my in-progress research at a conference in England last year (a small step toward the point above

I’m glad I opted for a celebration and enjoyed spending time with family and friends who traveled near and far for this occasion. I’m incredibly humbled by their kindness and forever grateful.

---

---

Let’s get into this celebration

This may become two blog post but here’s a few things I learned along the way. First, planning a party is hard work. I’m thankful that I had great vendors. Second, elaborate parties these days are expensive. I opted for a birthday celebration in lieu of a graduation celebration in May. Last, if your party planning, work with vendors that you know (personally or through referrals).

Good food, good people, great time!

To Wrap it Up – You’re Going Places

Milestones are more than just checkpoints—they’re reminders of how far we’ve come. Whether it’s a career achievement, a personal victory, or in my case, a milestone birthday, these moments deserve to be acknowledged. Through the ups and downs, I’ve learned that celebrating milestones is more about embracing the journey that got us there. From challenges that built my resilience to friendships that became like family, every step has shaped me in ways I never expected. That’s worth celebrating.

So, as you chase your own goals, remember to pause, reflect, and embrace where you are right now.  Find joy in the journey. Because in the end, success isn’t just about arriving—it’s about becoming the person you were meant to be along the way.

This blog is not sponsored, and all opinions are the author’s personal reflections.