The Accounting of Missed Celebrations
Lessons from a Wedding We Didn’t Attend
Exactly four years ago, I was deep in a frenzy hunting for the perfect flower girl dresses for my daughters. This picture? It’s of them trying on the adorable dresses we finally found after visiting three stores. I was smugly proud of my find. The wedding was in Puerto Rico, right after Christmas—a much-needed reprieve from the pandemic chaos.
We packed like pros: two big suitcases for the flower girl dresses, shoes, my husband’s suit, and the four dresses I couldn’t decide between (because, obviously, my friend in Puerto Rico would help me pick). Double-masked, hyper-sanitized, and ready for the adventure, we flew to Florida. From there, the plan was to head to Puerto Rico two days before the wedding.
But the universe had other plans.
Despite daily COVID tests and monk-like isolation, my husband started feeling sick. On Day Five—just 48 hours before the wedding—the dreaded second line appeared on his test. He had COVID.
Breaking the news to my daughters was devastating. Tears flowed. “Why can’t we leave Dad and just go?” they asked with innocent desperation. But we all knew: we’d been exposed and couldn’t risk others’ safety. The wedding, the joy, the plans—everything unraveled in a blur of disappointment. Instead of Puerto Rican beaches and celebrations, we stayed in Florida, quarantined and cautious, until we were safe to fly home.
Life and Accounting: Lessons from the Unexpected
In accounting, we often get swept up in the pursuit of the “big moment”—a flawless audit, a triumphant close, or a perfectly reconciled account. Life works the same way. But here’s the truth: the real lessons often lie in the journey, not the destination.
Lesson 1: Plan for Uncertainty (and Be Ready to Pivot)
Accountants are no strangers to contingencies. Whether it’s allocating reserves or bracing for audits, we thrive on preparation. Life, too, is full of unexpected "Day Five COVID" moments.
Missed a deadline? Had a client back out? It’s not about avoiding surprises—it’s about adapting to them. That wedding we missed wasn’t a failure; it was a nudge to embrace flexibility. Build resilience into our systems—and ourselves. My daughters learned that sometimes, the best tested plans can change.
Lesson 2: Small Wins Are Still Wins
My flower girl dresses never walked down that aisle, they didn’t get to have these crown of roses in their hair, they didn’t get to dance on the beaches in Puerto Rico. But, their dresses became a symbol of hope and effort. In accounting, the unsung victories are everywhere:
Reconciling a stubborn discrepancy
Creating a new process that saves hours of work
Helping a colleague master a complex task
These quiet triumphs don’t get headlines, but they’re the backbone of success.
Lesson 3: The Journey Is the Real Prize
It’s tempting to focus on the final numbers—profits, audits, or tax savings. But the magic is in the effort it takes to get there. Every adjustment entry and spreadsheet formula reflects skills and persistence.
That wedding we missed? It reminded me that life’s value often lies in the steps we take along the way. The same goes for your career. Growth happens in those challenging, messy moments.
Lesson 4: And sometimes, You Don’t Get to See the Finish Line! It is Fucking Life!
Not every story ends with a toast or applause. Some projects, like the wedding we missed, unfold without us. Sometimes, you pour your heart into writing every chapter of a story, only for someone else to pen the final page. Life can be like that — unpredictable, bittersweet.
I’ve seen friends dedicate years to building teams, crafting processes, and laying the foundation for success, only for another team to step in, take the reins, and guide the company to its grand exit. It’s not always fair, but it’s part of the journey.
Sometimes, you prepare for the big moment — the celebration, the champagne, the happily-ever-after — and it slips out of reach. But life gives you other gifts. Maybe it’s the joy of seeing two beautiful girls try multiple dresses before finding the ones that will make them feel special. Maybe it’s that bittersweet memory that pops up on your phone every year, nudging you to pause, to breathe, and to savor the journey. It’s a gentle reminder: don’t wait for the last chapter to celebrate. Celebrate now, because the moments in between are just as precious.
And maybe the biggest lesson is: Don’t pack four dresses if you’re not going to wear a single one. That’s a sunk cost—and as we accountants know, sunk costs are just reminders to make better choices next time.
Final Thoughts
Missed weddings and missed milestones are part of life. What matters isn’t the glittering finale but the love, grit, and intention poured into the journey.
For all of you missing the big celebration! I SEE YOU! YOU ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES WITH NO MEDALS. YOU ARE THE ACCOUNTANTS THAT DO NOT ATTEND THE BOARD MEETINGS, THAT DO NOT SEE THE LAST FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
So here’s to the process—the journal entries, the flower girl dresses, the teams, and all the memories they create along the way.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Have you ever had a moment where things didn’t go according to plan, but you learned something unexpected along the way? Share your story in the comments—I’m always inspired by how others find meaning in the journey, even when the destination changes.
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