🐾 Bear Blog Entry - Still Here. Still Celebrating

25 Jun, 2025

Inspired by CHiPs, Kool & The Gang, and Surviving Anyway

CHiPs – “Celebration”: https://youtu.be/S4DomUP3kO8?si=_VHVEph9DSCUF9wo

It now sits as the spiritual core of Still Here. Still Celebrating. From biker breakdown to survival song—it’s more than retro TV. It’s a heartbeat with a beat.

🎶 The Song: “Celebrate” by Kool & The Gang (1980)

Anthem. Groove. Survival hymn. It’s one of those songs that shows up in every graduation, party, championship, or awkward sitcom ending.

But it wasn’t written to crown only the big wins. It was written to invite everyone.

“There’s a party goin’ on right here… A celebration to last throughout the years.”

It’s not: “Celebrate when you’ve won.” It’s: “Celebrate because you’re still here.”

And somehow, decades later, it still hits.

🚨 The Scene (CHiPs):

A biker threatens to blow himself up. He’s not bluffing—not completely. But deep down, he hesitates. He doesn’t want to die. He’s scared. Tired. Cornered.

And the officer? He leans in—and blows out the lighter.

No fight. No explosion. Just breath. And a moment of human clarity.

What follows?

“Celebrate good times, come on!”

Not because the world got fixed. Not because the scars disappeared. But because they made it past the edge.

That alone? Deserves music.

🧠 Why We Don’t Celebrate More

Somewhere along the way, society taught us:

• Joy must be earned.
• Relief is selfish.
• If it didn’t come with a trophy, it doesn’t count.

But what if that’s wrong? What if the act of still breathing is the win? What if dancing without a reason is the real flex?

🔥 Why “Celebrate” Still Hits

Because it doesn’t ask questions. It just says:

• You’re here? Come on.
• You got through something? Come on.
• You’re tired, but not broken? Come on.

It reminds us that joy doesn’t need permission. And that sometimes, the best way to reclaim your power… is to feel good anyway.

Even if life is chaos. Even if trauma still lingers. Even if tomorrow’s not promised.

You can still throw your arm in the air and sing:

“Let’s celebrate!”

💬 What This Means for Me (And Maybe You):

I’ve seen people hesitate at the edge. I’ve seen them hold the lighter. Hell—I’ve held it too.

And sometimes, all it takes is someone else to lean in and say:

“Put it down. You made it. Now come dance.”

I don’t celebrate because life is perfect. I celebrate because I’m still here. Because I didn’t flinch. Because even after the dark, I’ve still got rhythm in my soul.

And I think you do too.

🏁 Final Thought:

We don’t need milestones. We need music. We don’t need applause. We just need breath.

If you’re still here? That’s the win. So yeah—raise the volume. Move your shoulders. Crack a grin.

Celebrate good times. Come on.

🏷️ Hashtags:

#StillHereStillCelebrating #KoolAndTheGang #CelebrateGoodTimes #PostSurvivalJoy #YouMadeIt #NoMilestoneNeeded #JustDanceAnyway #HealingWithMusic #YouDeserveTheJoy #FlinchlessVictory