Everyone I know has been complaining loudly because this summer has flown by. I do not relate as it currently feels like I’m stuck in the eighth week of August with no end in sight.

Alas, it’s only August 14 which also happens to be my birthday.

I’ve had people suggest that I shouldn’t feel bad about my birthday. I don’t.

They say that 49 isn’t so old. Ahem. I agree.

“Next year is the big one,” they say. Isn’t every year a big one?

We don’t get that many birthdays and there’s no knowing how many there will be. Aging is a privilege not afforded to everyone and we should view each new candle on the cake as something positive. Those laugh lines? Reminders of happy days. The white hair I try to disguise? A sign of longevity. The creaky joints and bad knee? Battle wounds.

I have survived. I’m still here telling stories and figuring things out as I go.

I don’t feel pressure to have things figured out by now because I choose to view every day as an opportunity to learn and to do better if I can.

The world is my classroom and it’s a pass/fail grading system. I’m doing ok and I’m exactly where I am meant to be. White hairs, sluggish thyroid and all.

Is this the year I will finally write my book? Is this the year that I start traveling more regularly again? Is this the year I finally win that lottery that I never actually play?

Only if I try.

Trying is hard sometimes. Discipline and focus are hard. Remembering that our place in this vast world is quite small and that we need to earn our keep and maintain perspective is hard. Letting go of the desire to micromanage and to allow the chips to fall where they may is hard.

Today is my birthday. It’s the first day of the rest of my life. It’s also the first day of the rest of yours.

It’s my birthday and I’m inviting you to celebrate. Don’t celebrate my birthday. Just celebrate the day. Go learn something or go somewhere you haven’t been. Find some little diner and treat yourself to a big piece of pie or a dish of ice cream. Or both. Life is short.

Celebrate the first day of the rest of your life. The bank gives us our birthday off so I’ll be out enjoying mine too.