Birthdays are interesting times of the year. On the one hand, they are joyous occasions celebrating ones survival through another long turn around the sun. On the other, they are times of deep introspection and assessment about where your life is presently and what it’s all leading up to. They can be difficult and emotional moments.
Some people love to celebrate their birthdays with a ton of hoopla and extravaganzas where all their friends and family participate. Other people prefer more subdued gatherings with just intimate friends. Yet others don’t celebrate at all, preferring to let the day pass as any other without any differentiation.
Recently, Sandy and I went up to Bryan TX to celebrate Aimee’s 30th birthday. We had a lovely luncheon afternoon and gabbed about nothing in particular. By the end of that day, we had solved all the world’s problems. Aimee had a fun cheesecake which involved setting liquor over it on fire to caramelize on top. Yummy!
Birthdays that end in zero, that complete a decade of living, tend to be more meaningful. Suddenly, we realize how quickly a decade can actually pass by. It is those times that lead us to deeper reflections. They are the milestones that mark our progress through life.
When we were children we were often asked to imagine what our lives as adults would be like. What did we want to accomplish in ten years, twenty even. Could we even really imagine that far into the future then? How could we have imagined the trajectories our lives would take?
I wanted to be an actress or a writer. Maybe a school teacher or a lawyer. I’ve been a school teacher and I’m a writer now. Two more to go? All kidding aside, of course, life takes us on many road ways.
July 9 is my birthday. This birthday is not one of those that end in zero, not even one away yet. Still, there’s much to reflect upon. These last few years with the pandemic and my divorce, there have been many shifts in my life. This year feels like the perfect time to consider where I am now and where do I want my life to go next.
One thing I like to do during my birthday’s is take time out to pray and meditate. I seek a special word from God for this coming year. Something to guide my way. And of course, there’s always cake. Also, balloons, because nothing cheers you up so much as a shiny helium balloon.
Share with me your own reflections on birthdays in the comments.