Happy Birthday To Me

For those of you who are sick of hearing about  my six-oh birthday, the day is here! Happy Birthday to me!  This one is especially important for lots of reasons.

First, it's a round number.  Round numbers always seem more important as birthday numbers, except for twenty-one.

Second, last year's only redeeming quality was the birth of my granddaughter. Enough said.

Third, I've undergone so many changes since my last birthday!

There are still things I meant to do, like take a road trip.  Well, I'm going to Las Vegas instead.  I wanted to go kayaking, but my back gave out.  Oh, I am still going! It just has to wait until I can at least get out of the car without wincing.  I wanted to clean the basement from Hades....yeah, right.  I wanted to lose weight--and I have, just not as quickly as I'd hoped or as much as I wanted. Still time.

I wanted to begin this decade with joy.  I have found some in friends, new and old.  I wanted to find a church, and I did.  I began a fitness program and got my graduation t-shirt.  I started writing, something I didn't plan, but it has been a Godsend.

I have learned to express my faith in God openly, unafraid and without reservation.  I can live in the world and see beyond the material things, yet enjoy them.  I have written down my core beliefs and will defend them.  I am proud to be a Christian.

I wanted to rid my mind of negativity, learn to laugh and love again.  I wanted to dance again.  I wanted to forget who I had become and get back to the roots  of who I am.  That's going well.  I am no longer afraid of being lonely--I have learned to like myself.  (If I don't like me, nobody else will either.)

I wanted to connect with old friends, and they have been a blessing in more ways than you know.  They have given me back my childhood memories and reminded me of carefree teenage years.  They have helped me to find ME. I can be myself with them because they know who I am.

I wanted to make new friends, and I've done that.  I can be myself with them because they have no expectations.  There are no longer any strangers, just friends I haven't met yet.

I have discovered my gifts and my calling.  I am grateful that I've recognized them.  I pray for them to be used wisely, and for  my words to touch one person's heart one time, and to make a difference in one person's life.

I wanted more bling in my life, and more creativity.  Done.

There are still people to meet--a whole slew of cousins, for example.  There are those whom I've injured in some way who haven't forgiven me yet.  I won't give up until I understand why.

There are days I want to run through the sprinkler and shout with joy and laughter.  I cry over everything, mostly because I had forgotten how to cry.  There are few tears of sadness these days.  I am happier than I've been in a long time. There are days when I want to hug everyone in sight, and days when I do exactly that.  I've learned to experience new things as a child would do.  The eyes of a child seek and find magic.

This year will be a continuation of my renewal and growth.  I have so much to see, so much to do, so many people I have not yet hugged.  I have a good foundation.  I can build mansions!

Happy Birthday to me!