"Celebrate, celebrate! Dance to the music!" - Three Dog Night

"I just want to celebrate another day of livin'." - Rare Earth

"It's a celebration!"- Kool and the Gang

Let's put this under the heading of "things I just don't understand."

What I want to know is this - why do we treat the holiday season like it's an emergency?

I mean, it's not like Christmas comes as a surprise every year.

Because we treat the holiday season as an emergency, we tend to forget what the season is all about: celebration!

Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply a few days off from work, the point is to celebrate.

With that notion in mind, I've taken the word "celebration" and come up with 11 suggestions for how to tap into the power of celebration in your life.

Cherish - Cherish your life, your loved ones, your work. My dictionary defines cherish as "to hold dear to you." There are so many things in our lives to cherish. What might it be for you?

Enthusiasm - So many people go through each day in a trance. If you don't believe me, just stand outside a large office building on_Monday morning, and you'll see what I mean.

What would our lives be like if we brought the same kind of enthusiasm that we bring to a football game into all areas of our lives?

Living with Passion - "Live with passion" is the motto of motivational expert Tony Robbins. Similar to enthusiasm, living with passion means to make the most of every day, every event, every gift, every relationship.

Excitement - Have you ever noticed that many of the sensations that are part of excitement (rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, feeling charged) are also the same sensations that go along with anxiety? How could you change your anxiety into excitement this year?

Belief - It was Jesus who said, "If you have be lief the size of a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain, move, and it shall be moved." The power of belief allows us to move the mountains of our lives.

Rejoice - Exactly what does it mean to rejoice? My dictionary defines rejoice as "to feel or express joy or gladness, to exult." A rejoicing soul is a happy soul: Find something to rejoice in this holiday.

Attitude and action - It's been said that "your attitude determines your altitude." While that may be true in part, attitude is worthless unless it's followed by action.

Time - We are all familiar with the old saying, "Time heals all wounds." Sorry, I don't buy it. Time is neutral; it merely passes. It's what we do with our time that makes the difference between mediocrity and a life well lived.

Imagination - Do you use yours? Or have you set it aside? The power of imagination is at the root of every great change and achievement.

Opportunity - When we focus on what is wrong with our lives, we tend to miss the opportunities that come our way. When we are celebrating our lives, we are focusing on what works, and then are able to see the multitude or opportunities that come our way each day.

Now: Celebrate now - Not next year, not when you are out of school, not when you get that new job or are making more money. Celebrate now. No one is promised a next year or even a tomorrow. Celebrate now.

In closing, if you used just one of these tips in this holiday season and next year, I believe you would benefit.

Allow me to leave you with this question:

What would your life be like if you used all 11 of them, and celebrated all year long?