Birthday Reflections
I just celebrated my birthday a few days ago.
I’ve always enjoyed having a late spring/early summer birthday but have grown to appreciate the fact that it’s almost smack in the middle of the year. It’s my time to reflect on the year that passed and recalibrate or celebrate progress on the goals that I set I the beginning of the year.
When I turned 40, I had hit my fitness goal and was looking forward to time dedicated to reflection. I booked a family trip to Mexico and planned to have a quiet day dedicated to yoga, massage and relaxation. However, COVID testing timing protocols meant that we changed our plans and instead went zip lining through the jungle. I found myself upside down and exhilarated.
Little did I know, the year would end up in a similar fashion. Breast cancer recurrence, new treatment regimen and viewing my world from a completely new vantage point.
This year I woke up to my daughter’s sweet voice. I was surprised to see her because she normally sleeps in. I smiled presumptuously for my birthday serenade but instead she let me know that she had an accident. I couldn’t remember the last time that happened. I hopped into action but was thrown off by the extra steps added to the morning routine and arrived to her last day of school 10 minutes late.
As the day went on, I started to notice a theme of encountering the unexpected leading up to my birthday. Here are just a few things that played into it: my son missed the final week of school festivities due to COVID, hubby and I canceled our weekend getaway, we watched my son’s little league championship game online and it took all kinds of unexpected twists and turns (they later won the next day, but we were out of sorts the night of the game).
What does all that mean? I dunno. But I always find myself trying to interpret signs—especially when it comes to my birthday.
Turning 41 could mean that I need to be prepared for the unexpected, but hopefully not in a scary way. My birthday wound up being a great one. Crazy enough, returning to the quiet early days of COVID by being shut in with my quaran”team” was both humbling and welcome.
It wasn’t what I planned but created a different space for reflection and what’s to come.
I hope this year is a good one.
