Why Life's Little Moments Deserve Celebration
From new apartments to fresh starts, "alt bashes" prove little victories are worth celebrating, too.
Sep 14, 2025
Written by our Founder and Chairman, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
I’ve always believed in the power of celebration. Growing up, our family didn’t have much, but we made time for the big moments, like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Those gatherings reminded us that life is meant to be shared and savored.
That belief is one of the reasons I started 1-800-Flowers.com nearly 50 years ago: to help people celebrate, stay connected, and find meaning in the rituals and traditions that shape our lives. Simply put, celebrations bring us closer to the people we care about.
Over the years, I’ve come to see that it’s not just the big, marked-on-the-calendar events that matter. Some of the most meaningful celebrations are the ones we create on the fly to honor small victories, fresh starts, or even tiny milestones.
Like big celebrations, these little moments remind us how far we’ve come and just how much our relationships mean. Sometimes called “alt bashes,” these micro-occasions prove that joy doesn’t need a formal invitation.
The science of small celebrations
Psychologists tell us that celebrating mini milestones activates the brain’s reward system. Every small win releases dopamine, the brain’s “feel good” chemical, which in turn boosts motivation and builds confidence. These micro-celebrations create a positive feedback loop that fuels long-term progress and helps protect against burnout.
Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and bestselling author, says:
“So often we think we have to wait until we reach the finish line before we can allow ourselves to celebrate the hard work we've put in. But sometimes celebrating smaller milestones or little victories can be instrumental in helping us stay motivated.”
Equally important, these celebrations often become opportunities to lean on our community. When friends and family show up to cheer us on, their support stays with us long after the music fades or the last piece of cake is gone. As Morin says:
“It feels really good to know that your friends and family know you're working hard to reach a goal. And that good feeling? It helps us keep going.”
In other words, alt bashes are about acknowledging the courage it takes to keep moving forward. They’re about gathering people to celebrate growth. These moments matter, and they deserve to be recognized.
Reasons to celebrate
In recent weeks, members of the Celebrations Pulse community have shared some wonderful ways they mark little victories. One hosts a “You Got the Job!” dinner. Another bakes break-up cakes to help friends move forward. And a new empty nester admitted to quietly celebrating when their kids launched into the world.
Here are just a few ideas from our community:
- Saying goodbye to the past: Hosting a break-up or divorce party to honor endings that create space for new beginnings. Starting over can be exhilarating.
- Quitting a job: Not with bitterness, but with joy for the fresh chapter ahead. Every cloud has a silver lining, as the old saying goes.
- Overcoming a health obstacle: Whether it’s completing chemo or reaching a recovery milestone, these moments deserve more than quiet acknowledgment.
- Reaching a financial milestone: Paying off student loans, credit cards, or a mortgage is worthy of applause, considering how long it may take to pay off these debts.
- Expanding family in new ways: Adoption, fostering, or other nontraditional family journeys are beautiful occasions for celebration.
The truth is, there’s no wrong reason to throw an alt bash. The only rule is if it matters to you, then the occasion is worth honoring.
A new power to use
Over the years, I’ve often encouraged you to take simple steps to maintain your relationships. Sending a quick text, making a phone call, or writing an email goes a long way toward staying connected and reminding the people that they matter to us.
Alt bashes are another way to use your power of connection. They’re a chance to show up and say, “I see you, and I’m here for you.”
So, the next time life gives a reason, big or small, I encourage you to throw an alt bash. You may be surprised by how much joy it brings, not only to you, but to everyone who joins in the fun.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
