Milestones
Today is my birthday.
It’s a round number birthday. One of the “big ones” that they make a fuss about.
In age, I’m apparently about two HappyWarrior’s worth.
Why are birthdays milestones?
And why are round ones moreso? I mean I know the obvious. And of course Hallmark has to make a living.
Isn’t every day special? Precious? I can get out of bed, most of the parts work, great to be alive? Arent they all equal? Why does one deserve celebration just because that’s the day I was born and it’s easily identifiable / easy to separate from the other 364?
Why not 5 days after? What does being spot on exact really mean? We care more? If we’re off we don’t care?
When I was 13, I wrote a birthday card to an aunt. I actually asked this. Why only cards on birthdays and holidays. Young and precocious, I was.
Over the years I have tried, mostly unsuccessfully to drop cards - they have to be US Mail - on folks when they don’t expect it. To brighten a day when nothing particular is going on - no expectation of birthday mail. To sort of send a wake up call - “take a moment, look around, look at today, it’s a good one”.
And why do cards have to arrive on our about “the day”? Why not in the same month, or a week on either side? Yeah, I tried that too. Didn’t catch on even with family whose job is to indulge me.
These ideas were not because I am lazy or forget. I feel I’m trying to create sparks.
Have you noticed I ask way more questions than I have answers to? That was one just there.
Enjoy your today. My birthday. Merely the anniversary of the day I was born. (And scads of others too.)
Enjoy it anyway.