Build Your Own Birthday!

I am 50 years old today!  What the heck?  I just LOVE birthdays ;). I love mine, and I love everyone else's!  I don't know why I love them.... I just DO!  At some point in my young adulthood, I realized I could actually do whatever I wanted on my special day, and I started making it a THING.  I would think about how I wanted my day to go... what would I love for breakfast?  Would I like to attend a yoga class?  How about coffee with a friend followed by a massage!  Lunch with a large group?  Movie night?  Solitary shopping date at the Galleria?  (I LOVE shopping alone!). I've enjoyed the simple and free pleasure of long phone chats with far away friends, and the more elaborate celebrations like a vacation with people I love.  I've had birthday pedicures, crawfish boils, Mexican fiestas with sombreros and mariachi.  Every year is an adventure of planning little or big celebrations that are just so... GIA.

I remember chatting with a new friend (now an old friend) when we first moved to Kingwood over 20 years ago.  Her birthday was coming up and I asked her what she was going to do.  She said, "Oh, it will just be another normal day.  I'll do the daily routine, meals, diapers, laundry, nap time, carpool.  Maybe my husband will remember and bring home a little cake or something."  Record Scratch.  "GIRL.  What would you LOVE to do on your birthday?"  It took awhile, but she started to get the hang of it.  "I would love a bubble bath.  I would love a little break from the kids.  I would love to take a walk.  I would love to read something and pray.  I would love something delicious to eat.  I would love a deep conversation."  On and on she went... brainstorming what she could do on HER day (and any day for that matter - but especially on her birthday!). That year, she invited me and a dozen other friends to a great lunch spot and asked all of us to wear a fun tea party hat.  We were all dressed up and giggly.  Down the center of the table she had placed teapots filled with conversation starters.  We had delicious discussions and tasty treats and a shared love for our delightful friend.  

No more waiting to see what others will do to celebrate YOU.  You have permission to make your birthday exactly what you want.  Go crazy with your imagination!  It's the DAY YOU ENTERED THE WORLD!  That's kind of a big deal!  This not selfish.  I mean, if you want to look at it that way, I suppose you can... but I like to call it self-love.  Take one day to do what YOU want.  Take one day to acknowledge the wonder of your life.  Take one day to let people love you and celebrate you and don't feel weird about it!  You are amazing!  Letting yourself take on the joy of creating a birthday you LOVE is one baby step in the direction of creating a LIFE you love.  Try it.  Tell me about it.

This year, I was planning a big special vacation with what I'd hoped to be a big circle of friends - some place tropical and exotic.  In light of our shared experience of the pandemic... the plans needed to shift a bit.  So it will be a small gathering, of a few of my (vaccinated) favorites at a beach house in Destin, FL.  As you can imagine... I've got some fun plans!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!