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The Rest of Us with Dana Tenille Weekes
The Rest of Us podcast explores rest as self-liberation for advocates and professionals who are losing themselves to the demands of work, loved ones, friends, strangers, and this dizzying world. The Rest of Us cultivates a community through honest reflections, conversations, and laughter for people willing to embrace rest differently.
The Rest of Us with Dana Tenille Weekes
Ep 25: Celebrate Yourself Your Way | Season One Finale
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It’s the Season 1 Finale of The Rest of Us!
But this episode isn’t just a wrap-up or a celebration of this milestone. Host Dana Tenille Weekes invites you to redefine what it means to celebrate yourself in ways that align with your truth, your joy, and your rest.
Dana walks through five realizations about what celebration now looks like for her after self-reflection on why she hasn't celebrated her birthdays, milestones, and herself in ways that were "sufficient" to society. She even contends with Merriam-Webster's definition of "celebrate" (although she loves Merriam-Webster and their social media account).
This episode reminds you that celebrating yourself shouldn't be performative. This is your permission slip to experience self-recognition, joy, and gratitude in your own way.
Dana’s Five Realizations About Celebration:
- “Notable” moments are small and personal – They are the things about yourself that, if you don't note them, you wouldn't fully appreciate your growth and progress.
- Celebration is often a private act – Not everything needs to be shared publicly because we're beings and not brands.
- Community matters – Being seen by people who see your nuances and full humanity is a celebration.
- No Longer Forgoing Joy or Happiness – You do not have to sacrifice feeling joy when carrying other emotions that feel like the complete opposite.
- Gratitude is the greatest form of celebration – Gratitude allows you to celebrate yourself (and others) in the present moment without the desire to change anything about who you are.
Gratitude
Dana ends the episode by thanking a few people who helped her on this podcast journey, including Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Sagheer Muhammad (podcast producer and editor), and Eric Ramia (virtual personal trainer).
Special Announcements:
🎉 That’s a wrap on Season 1! But Dana isn’t going far. Here's how to stay in the loop:
🔔 Subscribe to The Rest of Us (Podcast) on Substack, where Dana will post afterthoughts, writing prompts, community updates, and behind-the-scenes reflections. This is new for the Rest of Us, so you won't see momentum (a single post) for a bit of time!
📱 Follow The Rest of Us on Instagram ➡️ @therestofus.podcast
🗓️ Season 2 returns in February or March 2026. Until then, listen or revisit episodes, celebrate yourselves, and rest, friends!
If this episode feels like a message or mirror, feel free to share it with someone who is looking to think about rest differently.
🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
⭐ Leave a 5-star review. (We are grateful for you doing so.)
Until next time, rest, my friends.
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