Two days ago, I turned fifty. Last week, I started my celebrations when my whole family was in town. My sister drove in from Brooklyn. My mother flew in from Chicago. My aunt and uncle came up from Scarsdale. (Unfortunately, my father and stepmother and in-laws couldn't come.) With about forty people, I enjoyed a potluck dinner. Then, on my actual birthday, I got my daughter and husband to agree to a sunrise hike up Lion's Head in Salisbury. The weather was perfect and the view amazing. I can't imagine a better lead into my second half century.
By all accounts, this is a BIG birthday for me, but I love all of my birthdays...and everyone else's birthdays, too. Birthdays offer us many great opportunities:
- Reflect on the year we've just experienced: What obstacles have we overcome? Which new people have we befriended? What mistakes would we try to avoid repeating?
- Set goals for the year ahead: What do I want to reflect on a year from now? What steps can I take to ensure myself a bright year ahead?
- Acknowledge others we care about: I love writing quick notes to my FB friends on their birthdays to let them know I'm sending them good hopes for a bright year ahead. (While I agree with the wisdom that "hopes and prayers" aren't as effective in making change as policy changes, in this case, I think hopes go as far as they can. Plus, I'm not sure what policy changes people would want for their birthdays.)
- Enjoy life: Because of what I have survived this past year, I'm stronger and smarter. I deserve some brown butter caramel gelato. (and it was delicious!)
My husband isn't a big fan of birthdays. While he acknowledges mine (and lets me feel like a queen for the day, or really, the whole month), he doesn't want to be king for a day on his. How do you feel about birthdays? Do you remember others' birthdays? Do you love stepping into your own? Please write some birthday thoughts in the comments.