A year ago today, I was sipping coffee on a terrace overlooking Lake Atitlan. I spent my final days of my 40s in Guatemala. I entered my 50s in Cancun. It was a wondrous vacation. And the absolute most perfect birthday was the crowning jewel.
So what about this year?
For years, no decades, I’ve treated my birthday like it’s my wedding. I’ve always loved my birthday. I’d like it to be a day for the world to stop what’s it’s doing and celebrate my entrance into the world. I guess I’ve wanted what Jesus has. Alas, my close proximity to Christmas makes the idea of two global birthday celebrations in one week ridiculous. And I imagine it would be hard to convince the world to move Jesus‘ birthday to another day.
Still, in my own world, I like to take the day and make it special. If I can arrange it, I don’t like to work on my birthday. During the day, I have some rituals of going to church, having an egg nog latte, and writing out my next year’s goals. I like to spend some time in reflection of what my life has been and where I want to go. And in the evening for nearly 20 years, I’ve gotten together with the ‘Birthday Club.‘ The membership has changed over the years but my core peeps usually are present for it. Together, we eat, drink and are merry.
My birthdays have not been without drama. My great expectations shaken with self-absorption and poured straight up in a glass of entitlement has made some of my celebrations dicey. Souffles, ice skating, angry texts, I’ve been the bridezilla without the wedding justification… semi-annually. Something happened last year. I finally had the perfect birthday. It was all about me. And the setting and the people were sublime. The experience was completely over-the-top grandiose and I loved it.
So, the chase is done. The pursuit of the perfect birthday is over. The pressure is off. I’ll celebrate it on Friday but it’ll be much more low key. Now, it’s more like the anniversary of my perfect wedding. It’s a day to bask in memories and chillax because I already had THE day. And did I mention it was perfect.
To go along with this year’s theme of imperfection, my parents sent me this card. It just proves you don’t have to get it right all the time!