Here’s to birthdays, wishes, chocolate cake and crowns!

Today is my birthday and I am up early to celebrate.

This year, I plan to make the most of my special day because I understand that birthdays are a privilege and not an unforgiving deadline.

It took awhile for me to get here. I had to wade through the sticky angst of middle age, cast aside the familiar brambles of should haves and wannabes.

The week before I turned 50 I received a LinkedIn job opening notice for the global marketing director at McDonald’s and I panicked.

“I’m going to be 50 next week and I haven’t done anything!” I whined. “I should be the global marketing director of McDonalds!”

“Do you want to be the global marketing director of McDonalds?” my patient daughter asked.

“Well, no. I’d have to buy a whole new wardrobe and I don’t want to have to dress like that,” I said. “But, I should have…”

This morning, five years after that embarrassing display, I am exactly where I want to be, sipping steeped tea at a dining room table that glows with the sweet polish of memories and stands ready to make some new ones as the weekend rolls out.

I intend to celebrate this birthday (and hopefully each one after it) like I did when I was six-years old and saw the candles on my cake as magical wish transporters. I’m going to close my eyes and choose my birthday wish carefully too so I weed out the frivolous pining.

My friend Sandy pointed out that anyone born on April 19th this year (4/19) should be free to celebrate all month (4/19) so that’s what I’m going to do. I invite all my April 19 birthday friends to do the same (I’m talking to you Wendy!).

Let’s unwrap each of the next 11 days joyfully; carry ourselves as though we’re wearing construction paper crowns and eat cake. Let’s make it an open party, too, so everyone can join in the fun.

It’s infinitely more satisfying to welcome each morning with the warm hug of optimism and toast each evening with the raised glass of gratitude.

Starting now I’m going to squeeze all the fun that I can out of each April day, stick my face toward that fickle sun every chance I get and smile because I’m 55-years old and I think that’s pretty cool.

P.S. Time is fleeting, but beautiful music and inspirational lyrics last forever. So, I’m also celebrating my birthday this morning by listening to Peridot’s latest song and I invite you to do the same.