Well, that’s a wrap on another birthday. According to my birth certificate, I’ve reached the ripe old age of 63.
Another year of life and adventure. Another year of ups and downs, good and bad, and no matter what else – never ending changes.
I sit here in awe and amazed at the sheer number of people who reached out to wish me a happy birthday. Yes, technology has made it much easier. Facebook reminds all our friends and family that it’s our birthday. And even prewrites generic posts so all you have to do is click and go. But none of that compels anyone to acknowledge someone’s birthday. We still have to make the conscious decision to make that effort.
And I’m sitting here telling you how very overwhelmed I’m feeling after hearing from all the people who posted on my Facebook page, private messaged me, texted me, called me, visited with me, shared a meal with me or bought me presents. It is humbling to know that so many people thought about me. It is comforting to know that I have a community that cares enough to reach out. I am so very grateful for all of the people in my life.
The overwhelming theme for me this year is gratefulness. I am grateful for the life I get to share with my husband. For the beautiful place that we live. For the silly, loving, playful, affectionate critters that have claimed me as their caretaker. I am so very grateful for my friends and family. I am grateful for my health. And I am so very grateful for my faith. I know that God has gotten me through the past 63 years and brought me to this point in my life. I know that it is only through my heavenly Father’s love that I am able to have the life that I do. And I’m so very grateful for God’s redeeming me and promising me heaven through the sacrifice of his perfect son even though I am far from perfect.
With every year that goes by, I wonder how I’ve gotten to this age so fast. When I was young, I thought that people who are this age were ancient and ready to die. But I see how wrong I was. I still feel young and full of life. I have a quest for knowledge, a desire to improve myself, and a willingness to be a little bit better each day. I love reading, trying new things and going on adventures. I also love curling up with a good book and napping on the porch with my dogs.
It may sound cliché, but I’ve also learned to take things one day at a time. I’ve always been a planner. Someone who wants to know what the plan is for every hour of every day – weeks and months in advance. But now I get up and figure out what I’d like to accomplish today. And sometimes even that doesn’t work out. I often say that my day was hijacked by something unexpected. I’ve come to realize that unexpected or different does not mean bad. I’ve also come to realize that I cannot control everything. The hours roll on no matter if I do what I had planned or something completely different. What really matters is that I made a difference that day. Even if I only cooked my husband dinner. Or played a few extra minutes with the dogs. Or cuddled the cats a little longer.
And now, just like the Carousel at the Amusement Park, the world keeps spinning and day by day, I inch closer to another year older. I hope you will journey through this year of gratefulness with me.
What are you grateful for today? Feel free to comment below.