Yep, today's my birthday. 37. Um, I mean 29...again...Actually, age doesn't bother me. I hate people who complain about how old they are. I watched my grandmother live to be 92 years old and never once complained about growing old. Why? Because she lost her husband after just 12 years of marriage, with four children ranging in age from 13 to 2. He was the love of her life and they spent the majority of their short married life together dealing with colon cancer. She never would complain about living...her husband never had that chance. And she had to live without him, struggling alone.
My mother is very similar. Having lost her father at age 7, after seeing her mother suffer alone, after living in near poverty, she doesn't ever complain about growing old. My mother has many ailments, many pains, but she is delighted that she has lived to spend over 40 years with her husband, to see her children and grandchild grow. She doesn't complain every year on her birthday.
I am friends with many people who struggle with birthdays. Other friends always complain about their age, or how tough it is to be their age. Their age is always the worst age to be. It's maddening...because what's the alternative? You can't change growing and aging, but you can change how you handle it.
Gracefully. That's how I want to age. To joke about the popping hip (no idea what that's all about!), to faithfully take my blood pressure medication, to cover the grey hair. That's what I'll do. And I'll try really hard to bite my tongue as others complain.
Yep, I'm 37 today and happy to be alive!
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Heidi | October 12, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Happy Birthday!! I hope you've had a great day today!
Posted by: Marguerite | October 12, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Happy Happy Birthday to you!!!!!
The only thing I complain about my birthday is that it doesn't get the proper respect it deserves. You see, it's 2 days before Christmas, so there are more exciting things to think about. *sigh
Posted by: Lisa | October 13, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Happy Belated Birthday! Love your birthday attitude. Hope I feel that way next year when I turn 40.
Posted by: mom of twins | October 14, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Happy birthday! I am happy to celebrate another year of Chex in the world! I love your attitude.
Posted by: Ann | October 14, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Happy birthday wishes from me too!
I agree with you that birthdays should be celebrated not dreaded. To me, birthdays are special. It's the only day that is celebrated just because you are alive and people love you. How cool is that? I often think that people who dread birthdays must be fortunate, and not have lost anybody close to them.
My dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness at age 40. He was given two years to live. He opted for experiemental treatments, and they seem to have given him an extension on life. Those treatments were nine years ago on my birthday in December. Life is too precious to grumble about getting the chance to live one year more. If anybody who complains about age would like to donate an extra year to my Dad, I'm sure he wouldn't complain! ;-)
Posted by: Beyond Infertility | October 15, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Sorry I'm late! Hope you had a great birthday!
Posted by: Stacey | October 15, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Your present went out in the mail yesterday, finally.
Posted by: Black Belt Mama | October 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Just checking on you - you okay? Hadn't seen a new post in a while and wanted to check in!
Posted by: Heidi | October 21, 2009 at 03:46 PM