34 Times Around The Sun

I am not one who dreads their birthday. I do not lie about my age, in fact, I look forward to it every year. I have absolutely loved growing older. I think one of the reasons for this is that I am truly happy in the life that I am living. I am a believer in the phrase “everything happens for a reason.” I might not always like the reason but for me, there is always a reason, and I don’t always have to understand what that reason is. I don’t want to go back to my teens because that was the highlight of my life, it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a low point either. Rather it was a point in my life, a stage that I thankfully made it through. Similarly, I don’t want to relive my twenties, though they were fun! I went to concerts and parties, I lived on my own, I traveled, and I experienced life in my twenties. And again, a lived through it. For me, my birthday is a time to celebrate all that I have experienced. I get to celebrate my life and honestly, I have a pretty great life.

In the last 34 years, I have been a child to two wonderful parents, a couple of step-parents, and a lot of parental figures. All of whom have helped shape me into the woman I am today. I have had breakups, makeups, and all that comes in between. I have had friendships come and go and some that seem to hang on even through the storms, and there have been a few storms. I graduated high school and college. I got my first job and then another and then another. I experienced the death of my dad. I got married. I became a stepmom and then a mom and then a mom again. I have put others before me, and I have stepped up and put myself first too. I achieved my dream of becoming a published author. I have been the shoulder many have cried on and I have needed many shoulders. Some years have been better than others but not a year goes by without its own ups and downs. That is life, and I love that I get to live mine.

I have had 34 birthdays. One was a scavenger hunt that ended with a bike. Another was a tea party that included a hat decorating contest, everybody won. I have painted pottery. I have celebrated over dinner with family and dinner with friends. I celebrated in Vegas and at M&T Bank Stadium. I celebrated while on my honeymoon. I have worn birthday hats and birthday sashes. I have dressed up and I have stayed in my PJs all day. I have laughed and I have cried, and I have cried so hard that I laughed. I loved every birthday.

So yes, I choose to celebrate 34 and I cannot wait to see what 35 brings!