It’s My Birthday

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It’s my birthday.

I’m at that age where I have to stop and do actual math to find my age.

Remember when you were a kid and you were five and a half? Ten and three quarters? While the fine art of aging loses its luster at some point in mid-life, people start measuring their years in fractions again when they are very old. Suddenly they’re almost 90 or ninety five and a half.

I say good for them.

I’m neither young nor old yet I still sort of celebrate my birthday. After all, aging is a privilege and not everyone gets to do it. That white hair and the arthritis in your knee? Those are battle scars. They’re trophies to be celebrated because you are aging.

This year I have made a point to celebrate this most recent trip around the sun by doing small things every day. Some hikes, a library book sale and a new t-shirt that features both a cat and a stack of books are among the daily gifts I have given myself these last two weeks.

Some of these gifts to myself were free and some had a price tag but the concerted effort to be kind to myself has been a good exercise.

Charles Dickens began his book A Tale of Two Cities with the now infamous line “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This statement certainly resonates as I think back over the last year. My health continues to be a challenge but I am still trying to fight the good fight. Adventures have been less frequent but just as exciting when I do make it out. Plus, I found new hiking buddies and met someone special who has set my world on its ear in the best possible way.

With each year we have a choice: cling to the old and stay the same or release bad habits and embrace self improvement.

Personally, I will keep trying!

21 thoughts on “It’s My Birthday”

  5. Happy Birthday! I like the idea of celebrating your birthday by doing small things for yourself everyday. I typically try to travel for my birthday, even if it’s just for a couple of days. Glad to hear you found some new friends to go hiking with and that you found someone special! It’s always nice to share experiences with someone.

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    • My fella and his dad are the perfect hiking partners because we are all so like minded. It has been fun looking for small ways to treat myself. One of my favorites was a nap I took in the hammock Sunday!

      I like to travel for my birthday too! This year it will be a few weeks late.

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