Raise a Toast

Toasting To Beauty

Think about those occasions when you have toasted with others. To what were you toasting? Wedding receptions often include a toast to the future life of the bride and groom, right? How about during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays? We might toast to family, friends and the season. On New Years Eve when the ball drops signaling the beginning of the new year we might toast to good health and prosperity. Whatever the occasion, toasting with friends and loved ones is a great way to celebrate life and turn your attention towards a thankful attitude.

Toasting To Marriage

Life is so full of beauty and blessings, but we often race through this life at such a break-neck pace that we blow by the little wonders it has to offer. Most of those wonders come in the form of other people in our lives and if we don't make a conscious effort to stop and take a breath we will miss those opportunities to celebrate with one another.

There's a profound chorus line to the Alabama song titled, I'm In A Hurry, that goes like this...

Oh I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Toasting is a great way to force us to stop and think about formulating words that express to us and others what the moment has to offer and how you feel in that moment. It's in this reflection where we meet gratitude head on and muster the courage to share honest thoughts to the people around us. Though often wine, or champaign are used for toasting, alcohol is not mandatory for a quality toast. Sherrie and I toast with everything from wine, to coffee, to our daily dose of olive oil. It's more about the spirit of being engaged in sharing an appreciation for something important in our lives. It reminds us of the little blessings of this life and it's a fun way to connect in a meaningful way with one another.

Toasting to Fans

To what would you toast in your life? Surely you have some blessings that you can find if you take a moment to take inventory. Why not try this simple activity of toasting to begin to identify areas in your life where you should be grateful. It might mean that you have to slow down for a minute. Maybe it means that you turn off the television, or put down your phone for a moment and just sit with yourself. Take in the fact that the odds of your being alive, or existing is basically zero. Don't throw the gift of life away as if it were meaningless because it's not. Live it to the fullest and realize that it is short... very short. So, begin by raising a toast to you being born and start living like you matter because you do! Then think of the next excuse to click those glasses together with someone in your life. I promise it will warm your heart.