My Birthday Wish

Another year has come around and I guess that means in a little over one week I will be one year older.  Funny how I don't feel any older but according to the calendar I have, in fact, aged one year.   

4 yrs old

Birthday Party list for my 7th birthday

13th Birthday

33rd Birthday

I look forward to my birthday.  There was a period in my life when I didn't, but one of my therapists (years ago) strongly suggested that I learn how to CELEBRATE MYSELF! (What a novel concept!)


It was an odd concept, but it was a very wise suggestion.  I believe it was about ten years ago and I was rather depressed and I certainly did not want to acknowledge my upcoming birthday.  She actually commanded me to "'go forth and celebrate'!"
This is what she 'made' me do.  I had to go out on my birthday and run my usual errands, but the catch was that I had to TELL every person I came in contact with, that it was my birthday.


Of course I thought she was nuttier than a fruit cake, but she had never lead me astray and I knew she was right.  My first stop was a local bagel store where you get a free dozen bagels on your birthday. It was not hard at all to tell them about my special day because I HAD to, or I wouldn't get my precious free bagels.
During the next few hours I stopped at the drugstore, the bank, a speciality food store and a clothing store.  I entered each place and proclaimed, "Hi! I'm Roberta and today is my birthday"!


Each and every time I was showered with 'Happy Birthday' and 'How wonderful' and twice I heard, 'Well, if it's your birthday you deserve something special'! Unfortunately that didn't happen at the bank! :) 


It was such a wonderful day! Everyone smiled and sincerely wished me a happy birthday.  I smiled.  I felt happy and realized that I deserved to celebrate 'me'.  I mattered.  If I didn't 'love me' then no one could truly love me. 

I learned a lot in that first half century of my life. 

I love the wisdom I have acquired and the insight and self-awareness I now posses. 
I learned that I have a finite amount of energy and I need to wisely choose how I want to expend it. 
I learned how to 'pick my battles' and not sweat the small stuff.  
I have learned to ask myself, 'Is this really important?', or "If this was my last day on earth, is THIS how I would want to be spending/wasting my time?"
I know that I have 'made a difference' in the world and that I matter.

50th Birthday

I believe I learned 'the meaning of life' and this gives me great peace and comfort.

So, I have a wish. 

My wish is that when YOUR birthday comes around that you celebrate YOU! Please do this because it's the best gift you could give yourself.  Please let me know how wonderful your day was. 

~Roberta