Birthday Life Lessons from "The Morning After"

Yes sir, it is my birthday. My age? Oh well...it's the 1st anniversary of my 21st birthday. That will be the new counting method around here from now on, just in case you didn't know.

So yes, today is my birthday. Well, technically yesterday was, since I'm writing this post in the wee hours of what is often called, "the morning after." There's a quote from the British poet, Lord Bryon, that I often like to refer to at times like this: "If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad." This line befits tonight more so than any other. And so, here we are..."the morning after" my 1st anniversary, writing to ensure I don't go completely bonkers.

It's funny. With every new year (and every new birthday, or in my case, anniversary) comes many new realizations about the people in my life and the relationships I hold dear. The people who want to be there, who love you enough to care, will do all they can to ensure that you have your one special princess day. It's a process of humility--torturing yourself and embracing humiliation by participating in the embarrassing birthday rituals to please everyone else around you.

Well, at least that's how I used to see it. I've now come to realize that it's more about allowing people who love you to acknowledge the way they feel about you by making you feel special in every possible way. And sadly, vice versa: allowing the realization to sink in that some people in your life, well, could really care less.

I must admit that I am one lucky girl. God has blessed me with so many amazing people who truly care about me and want to see me happy. And not just today, but everyday of my life. It's quite sad that I've only begun to realize how blessed I truly am in the past couple years--but my birthday (sorry, anniversary) is always a good reminder.

If only, if only, I could write down it all--write down everything every amazing person did today: every unexpected phone call, every detailed email, every "is your day still going well" text every couple hours. But alas, I'll save that for my journal, not for the blogosphere.

I've learned that as people change, relationships change, and times change with it. But, if someone loves you, they will always make an effort. Sometimes, it just takes your birthday to remind you how far they'll truly go for you. And for the ones that won't? Well, sometimes your birthday is the perfect reminder that you may be better off without them.

Bring on the impersonal Facebook posts, anticipate the Midnight birthday wishes from your smart ass friend, welcome the humiliating 30 seconds of "Happy Birthday to you...," embrace the word "Thank You," (as it will become your catch phrase for the day,) and more importantly...try not to cry over the fact that you're actually getting old. Because, at the end of the day, the people who really love you and care about you will make it a point to do all of these things just to celebrate, well, you. And hey, even the Facebook commenters spent 30 seconds of their day to make sure you know they said "Happy Birthday" while making your wall look a little bit more cheery.

Be grateful. Be appreciative. Be thankful. And be positive--your birthday, as odd as it sounds, is often times more for your loved ones than actually remembering your birth.

So, my friends, here's to many more anniversaries to come. Cheers.