Celebrating birthdays

One event that is shared by every person on this planet is being born. It is how that event is acknowledged in future years that differs. Each of us has only one true birthday, the day that heralded our physical arrival. All the others are simply anniversaries of that occasion. This past weekend I attended such an anniversary. A friend turned 80 and, while seated together at a small dinner gathering, I asked her to share a memorable birthday of the past. She said she couldn't recall one because they weren't recognized as anything out of the ordinary when she was growing up. As I thought about others I knew, I realized that the acknowledgment of the anniversary of their birth varies widely. Some greet it with lavish celebrations while others hardly mention it. Each morning that we awaken is a gift from the Universe. What matters is how we choose to spend each day celebrating our presence here. What are we doing to make a positive difference in the world? How will that look regardless of the number of birthday anniversaries that pass?