Farrah, Michael and the power of celebration

June 26, 5:06 PMLA Party Planning ExaminerGisele Perez

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AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

We all got a harsh reminder of life’s fragility this past Thursday, as the steady stream of gloomy financial reports was interrupted with news that we had lost two icons of pop culture.

I was driving to Santa Barbara to have lunch with a friend when I heard the news of Farrah Fawcett’s end to her courageous battle with cancer. And then, of course, I heard the news of Michael Jackson’s sudden death on the drive home.

I have been thinking this week about “celebration” -the power it holds in our lives, and the need for it, even in these tough times when both personal and business entertaining budgets are being slashed, if not eliminated completely.

Flash back to June of 1969 when a young woman named Stephanie Mills caused quite a stir by announcing in her valedictory address at a Bay Area college, that as she looked out at the world she and her fellow graduates were entering, she viewed the future as “a cruel hoax” and had decided that she would not be bringing children into this world.

In a personal reflection written these 40 years later, Ms. Mills states that humanity is at a point where we must simplify, and curtail our consumption. She goes on to implore us to distinguish between our wants and needs. Beyond the obvious- water, food, shelter and clothing- “conviviality’ makes her short list of needs. I’m so glad that she includes conviviality. There will always be a need to gather with friends and family to celebrate the special moments in our lives, to share each other’s company and great conversation. Sometimes we’ll need to gather to support each other and reassure ourselves in tough times. And sometimes we’ll just need to kick back. We’ll always need great food and drink, along with great music, entertainment and storytelling to remind ourselves of our humanity.

“Celebrating makes people feel like winners and creates ... positive energy” Jack and Suzy Welch state in their book Winning. Hey, couldn’t we all use some positive energy right now?

So I encourage you to gather your tribe, pick up some great treats and libations, pull out your old Michael Jackson albums, and get up and dance! Give thanks for the gifts of talent that these two shared with the world. Celebrate their lives- and yours.