I love my birthday! I love everything about celebrating it. I have never minded getting older. It doesn't bug me at all. I'm proud of the gray hair I have. I love my birthday because I get to celebrate my life! Yes, I love gifts. That is totally a love language of mine. But gifts to me present themselves in many ways! It comes in the form of small handwritten notes, time spent with friends and conversation, small thoughtful gifts that I receive because people thought of me... I don't need a lot of money spent on me. I need time and I need thoughts. Because of this, why does my birthday have to be limited to one day of the year? I spend at least a week celebrating! I also take a "me" day during this week to think about the year I just experienced and process the good things, the bad things, and all the memories I can remember. This year my main thought process on "me" day was...are my actions meaningful to me and others? I don't want to go through life just going through the motions. Why do I do what I do? Are the relationships I spend time on meaningful? Do they bring value to my life and do I bring value to their lives? Am I making the lives of those around me better in any way? These aren't easy questions. And the answers I've come up with for some of them aren't in the direction I would hope they would be. This isn't a one day revelation. This isn't like a New Year's Resolution, where I commit to it for a week and then go back to my usual ways. This is a life long process of internal reflection and asking the hard questions. And what's wrong with questions? Do we not ask the questions because we are afraid of the answers? Do we not ask the questions because it might mean change in some way? I'm learning that I enjoy the questions. I'm not afraid of them. They open my mind and lead to great conversations. With that being said, "me" day was one of my favorite times. I look forward to the next one! Now, bring on the celebrations!!!
I started getting gifts and cards on Thursday and Friday from my close friends...
On Saturday, Jill and the kids made me a birthday cake and surprised me! The rest of the day was "me" day. I read my new book, drank coffee, and wrote thoughts down all at the Electric Brew! I ended the day with dinner at the Brewery.
On Sunday, the kids and I took a trip to Chicago! We went to a Christmas Market and then walked through the lights at Lincoln Park Zoo! We had a great day together and got a little Christmas shopping done!
On Monday, I got a Christmas Cactus from my co-worker, and birthday cards from my kids!
Tuesday, I had a birthday lunch at work...
Wednesday, I had dinner out with Brandie and Nicole...
Thursday, I had lunch with Brandie and dinner out with Jessica and Alicia...
Friday through Sunday, I got to celebrate my birthday with my sis and celebrate Christmas with my family!
It was a big celebration this year and it is was all made possible because of the special people in my life!!!
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