Surprise Birthday in Pennsylvania

I drove to State College, Pennsylvania over a recent weekend for a surprise 40th birthday party.  The last surprise birthday party I had attended was a total surprise, everyone from far and wide crouched in one corner of the house, erupting in simultaneous "SURPRISE" on cue from the host...with the honoree spending the next hour (at least) recovering from the shock of learning how well loved he was.

This one was slightly different.  The surprises unfolded, beginning on Friday evening when the birthday girl's first guests--her sisters and her Mother--arrived on her doorstep.  So she spent Friday evening being thrilled that they'd thought so much of her to have flown to celebrate it with her.  They took her to breakfast on Saturday morning at which I walked in...and she cried.  Then my husband walked in...and she cried.  She said "It just get's better and better," meaning that each person who came was thrilling evidence of her being so loved.  Saturday afternoon, more folks arrived, with the same response.  And Saturday evening, even more. 

As she told me later, much of the thrill was the gradual revelation of additional surprises, each time giving her ample time to express her shock, thrill and gratitude to the particular people who had just shown up, unexpectedly.

Maybe there's a parallel here to the secret of a good life.  It's tough to have one huge thrilling moment, with all things later in life being measured against that standard.  Much better, as it happens, to have thrilling moments unfold throughout one's life, whether it's a wedding, graduation, first job celebration or whatever.  It's wonderful if we can take it in gradually, reveling each time in the special sense of celebration.  So how about in our company?  Do you take the time to celebrate the small accomplishments so that everyone on the team stays thrilled to be there?