New Beginnings

I just turned 63 yesterday. This is the beginning of my 64th year on this planet.

Because my birthday is 5 days after New Year’s (11 days after Christmas), I have a lot of reflection at this time.

In my 60’s, presents don’t matter anymore. What matters to me now, it seems, is that I’m another year older. I’m still here, working, helping others, trying to leave things better than I found them, and relatively healthy – despite my younger self’s attempts at being indestructible. I have embraced my graying hair and any wrinkles my outside is showing. What you see isn’t always what is. I have always also embraced my age. I never have trouble telling my age as some women (and men) tend to do. I embrace every year I’m on this planet and share that openly.

My little family celebrates each birthday, no matter what. My sister and I make sure that we do something for each other even though it’s not always on THE day, we acknowledge each other. My nephew’s birthday is on the 23rd of December and we make sure that is celebrated and acknowledged separate from Christmas. (I know how that feels to be lumped into another holiday.) I love having people take just a moment to wish me a happy birthday – the wanting to be loved part of me, I guess. 

I was born at 3:33 am and for all my life, my mom would tell me happy birthday at 3:33 am – even when I was away and maybe still in the middle of my party. This year is no exception. Although my mom has been gone for almost 17 years, she still tells me happy birthday at 3:33am. This happens often as I’m sleeping, I wake up out of nowhere and look at the clock. 3:33 was on the screen. I smile and say thank you, Mom. I love you. And then go back to sleep. I’ll talk more about the signs my Mom and Dad give me that they are still here watching over us as my sister and I maneuver through the rest of our lives without them physically here another time.

So, as I have a new beginning of another trip around the Sun, I am interested and excited of what that might bring. I recently read that we need to be open and curious of anything or anyone whom comes into our lives, as we don’t know where those encounters will take us. 

I have been tending to slow down and look at things differently. With more curiosity and calmness about life. I tend to feel everything – the pain of the world and those in my life as well as my own. I am learning how to still care and feel empathy without it taking me into a direction where I can’t do anything because I’m so gripped by it all. 

I expect that 2024 and my 64th year will be filled with challenges and that it will be up to me to manage those productively, empathetically, and with a sense of calm. I will try to always remember that I want to leave things better than I found them and that I’m here for a reason. 

Happy birthday to all January (Capricorn) souls. We are here for a reason.