Celebrate every milestone

At Flying Horse Farms, we encourage our campers to celebrate every milestone. This simple, yet impactful act is not only an integral part of our camp programming; it’s an organizational core value by which we all abide.
It’s easy to move so quickly within our personal and professional lives that we believe there is no time to pause, reflect and celebrate.
But there is always time to look back — and look ahead.
Learning from it all
This year I turned 60 — an occasion that was celebrated by my camp staff (otherwise known as my camp family) with messages of love, humor and appreciation.
Reaching this milestone also offered a reason to look back over my life and career. I traveled a great distance to land in this transformative place.
When I stopped to think about where I am and where I’ve been, I understood exactly how far I’ve come and how much I learned in the last 60 years. Here’s what I know for sure:

  1. Only you can define success for yourself.
  2. Always be willing to take risks. The worst that can happen is that you fail.
  3. Family and friends matter. Take time to enjoy the special moments together.
  4. Good wine is worth it. Always.
  5. Give back and pay forward. We can all do so.
  6. Saying “no” is OK. In fact, it’s often necessary to stay on course.
  7. With trust comes relief, no matter the issue.
  8. Treat yourself at least once a day.
  9. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s how you treat others that matters. (At Flying Horse Farms we call it “campers first.”)
  10. Always keep a spare tutu in your office. You never know when you might need it.

Celebrate the successes
Taking the time to reflect and celebrate your successes empowers you to tackle even greater challenges.
When you celebrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired in your journey, you’ll find you have so much to give back to your staff, co-workers, family and friends.

The celebration of milestones is not a frivolous act — it’s the stable foundation of a successful career and a nurtured staff.

 
Mimi Dane is the CEO of Flying Horse Farms, a camp for children with serious illnesses. Located in Mt. Gilead, the camp serves hundreds of children each year — free of charge.