Why We Need to Celebrate the Peak Moments (On Purpose)

Leadership Economist | Keynote Speaker | Conference & Training Programs

I was just at a wedding that was over-the-top fabulous. It was the kind of wedding where you could feel the love in the room before the music even started. Beautiful details. Big joy. People dressed up, showed up, and leaned all the way into the moment. The wedding of my dear friends Sam and Robin’s daughter, Maddie, was beyond spectacular. And it reminded me of something I think many of us forget in the middle of busy lives and serious responsibilities:

And it made me realize we really do need to celebrate the peak moments of life. Because there are not as many of them as we think.

Peak Moments Are Rare Which Is Why They Matter

Most of life is not made of peak moments. Most of life is work, laundry, deadlines, grocery stores, commutes, waiting in lines, “what are we doing for dinner?” and the occasional mysterious noise in your house that you pretend you did not hear. The majority of life is ordinary. And ordinary is great. Ordinary is where the work gets done. Ordinary is where character is built. Ordinary is where we become who we are.

But peak moments? Those are different. Peak moments are the ones you remember. The ones you tell stories about. The ones you look back on years later and think: That was one of the good ones. And the truth is, we get fewer of those than we realize.

Celebration Is a Form of Strength

Some people think celebrating is optional. Like it is something you do when you have extra time, extra money, or extra energy. I do not think that is true. Celebration is one of the most underrated forms of resilience. The rabbi reminded us of this at the service, “when times get tough, and they will, people need something to hold onto.” The couple will hang on to those memories that remind them that life is good, people show up, love is real, joy exists, and there is still something worth working for.

In hard seasons, people do not just need strategies and coping skills. They need anchors. Celebration creates anchors.

Events Matter Because They Cement the Good Times

Here is what that wedding reminded me. When you plan an event, you are not just planning logistics. You are creating a memory. You are building a moment that people will carry with them. And that moment becomes part of their internal story. That matters more than we admit.

Because when life gets difficult, people remember how they felt in that moment. They remember who was there. They remember the laughter. They remember the music. They remember the toasts. They remember the moment when everyone stopped being busy and just… lived. That is not fluff. That is human connection.

Planning and Attending Celebrations Is a Leadership Skill

I am going to take this one step further. Showing up fully present to celebrations is also a leadership skill. If you want strong relationships, you have to show up for people when it matters. Not just when they are struggling, but also when they are celebrating.

In fact, I would argue that showing up for someone’s joy is one of the clearest signals of respect.

When you attend someone’s wedding, graduation, retirement party, anniversary, promotion celebration, or milestone birthday, you are saying: You and your life matter to me.

And in a world where people feel overlooked, that is a powerful message.

Celebrations Are Also Good for Your Organization, Too

Now, let us talk about the business side. Celebrations and events are not just good for the heart. They are good for business. Why? Because business is built on relationships. And relationships are strengthened in moments where people are fully present. That might be an event, a dinner, a retreat, a recognition ceremony, a client appreciation gathering, a team celebration, or a milestone event.

Events create trust, connection, loyalty, shared identity, and a sense of belonging. Those are business assets.

Teams that celebrate together stay together longer. Clients who feel valued refer more. Partners who feel connected pick up the phone. Employees who feel appreciated are more engaged.

You cannot spreadsheet your way into that kind of loyalty. You have to live it.

Why We Sometimes Avoid Celebrating

A lot of people avoid celebrations for practical reasons.

They are busy.
They are tired.
They do not want the fuss.
They do not want the expense.
They do not want to be the center of attention.
They do not want to impose.

And I understand all of that.

But I think we have subconsciously trained ourselves to treat joy like it has to be justified. Like celebration has to be earned. Like we need permission to pause and savor the good. And that is backwards. Because if you wait until life is perfect to celebrate, life will pass you by.

We Need to Celebrate on Purpose

That wedding reminded me that we do not need more peak moments by accident. We need more peak moments by design. We need to plan the dinner. Schedule the reunion. Host the party. Go to the wedding. Show up for the milestone. Take the photo. Make the toast. Dance anyway.

Not because everything is perfect. But because life is happening right now. And one day, you will be grateful you did not miss it.

I left the wedding reflecting about what is important.

Maddie and Jesse and their friends reminded me what it looks like when people honor a moment. And it reminded me that peak moments are rare. Which is exactly why they matter. We need celebrations because they cement the good times. They build resilience for the tough times. They strengthen relationships. They remind us that joy is not frivolous. Joy is fuel. And we could all use more fuel.