I love birthdays, always have and I’m pretty sure I always will. I’m just one of those people who gets super excited about my own and those close to me. Well a few weeks ago I started a daily countdown on my facebook page counting down to my birthday…I would simply post a number and nothing else. Some people were confused and wondered what I was counting down to…a vacation, a concert (everyone knows I’m a crazy Pearl Jam fan so they thought maybe it was that lol), or something big and extravagant.
When I explained it was a countdown for my birthday I had some people following and liking my daily post and some who thought I was totally nuts to be counting down to getting older. Well it made me think, I’ve always counted down to my birthdays for as long as I can remember…this was just the first time I did a countdown like this on fb and why would I be nuts to looking forward to my birthday? Ok yes I get it, I’m getting older but really what does that mean? For me it means celebrating my life, being grateful that I’ve made it this far, looking at what I have and what I’ve been blessed with. Take a look around you or just turn the TV on and put the news on…there are people suffering and dying every day (war, illnesses, natural disasters, violence, etc) and people of all ages! This crap does not discriminate and so it means nothing if you are a newborn baby, a child in grade school, high school, or even someone who has lived a pretty good and long life.
I used to take a lot for granted just a few short years ago but then reality set in, I had my first daughter and someone I love the most in this world was diagnosed with cancer. This really made me open my eyes and see just how important the gift of life really is and that at any point (and sometimes without warning) it can be taken away from you. It forces you evaluate your life and look at the good things that you need to focus on and the shitty things (the stuff that drag you down and is a waste of your precious time…this includes negative people) that you can do without.
So why be afraid of getting older or think of it as a bad thing…it’s a gift, embrace it, cherish it, enjoy it and celebrate it! Be thankful that you are here and that you are happy and healthy because some aren’t as lucky as we are.
I turned 34 today and in my 34 years I’ve been blessed with amazing parents, sisters, love, friendships, a husband, 2 beautiful daughters and a life I really can’t complain about. So here’s to me getting older and looking forward to the future and God willing a long life filled with many great birthday’s!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME 🙂