It’s my birthday!
I’m celebrating my birthday—an ancient tradition deeply rooted in history as a way to honor survival and growth.
The origins of this celebration were rooted in a time when high mortality rates made the passing of each year a true achievement. Birthdays were more than just aging; they symbolized the celebration of existence.
This year, this sentient feels so relevant and worthy of reflection.
Now, typically, birthdays ending in a “2” don’t always get the attention they deserve, but this one feels significant. I know we often mark big birthdays by the turning of a page into a new decade—40, 50, 60—but somehow, my 60th snuck in through the back door. Before I knew it, two years had passed in a blur. My life during that time was messy and overwhelming in ways I’m only now beginning to understand.
And so, I’ve decided that 62 is my new big birthday. It feels like the right time to pause, take stock, and honor the journey. This year, as I celebrate, I find myself reflecting on my six decades—a natural way we seem to measure the chapters of our lives.
Each decade has taught me many lessons and provided me with many lasting gifts that I carry with me on this journey of living.
Decade One: The Gift of Magic and Imagination
My first ten years of life gifted me with the ability to believe in magic and the joy of my imagination. I always felt so lucky to have a birthday in December—the month that seemed to sparkle.
I believed in so many things: the wonder of Santa, snowflakes were kisses from angels, wishes could come true if you believed, and that there was something magical about Nana’s house—especially at Christmas.
As a family, we always slept at Nana’s house on Christmas eve. It was a very small home and once the Christmas tree went up in the living room there was barely any room to walk. But his is where my sisters and I slept –on the floor and under the Christmas tree on the gold carpet. Santa in his magical way managed to quietly place our unwrapped gifts all around us. (Of course, Santa never wrapped gifts he simply pulled them out of his bag)!!
The magic that happened in that tiny room with the gold carpet sparked my belief that anything was possible. The ordinary became the extraordinary. My ability to dream and imagine was born on that gold carpet.
Years later, when they wheeled my grandfather’s body across that same gold carpet—leaving track marks where gifts once sat—I felt a profound gratitude for the gift that carpet gave me: the magic of believing in love, wonder, and the awareness of the lasting mark we leave on others. It’s a gift I carry in the “believe” tattoo that I carry on my foot that continues to guide me through life.
Decade Two: The Gift of Finding My Life Path and Discovering Love
The adolescent years—messy, awkward, and often painful—brought an extra layer of challenge for me as a sick child wearing clunky orthopedic shoes to correct a foot deformity. Those shoes were a constant reminder of my differences during a time when all I wanted was to fit in.
Yet, out of that discomfort came one of the most profound gifts of my life: the discovery of my life path. A compassionate and brilliant female doctor modeled the power of blending empathy with expertise, challenging stereotypes about women in healthcare. She planted the seed for my journey toward becoming a health psychologist and my belief in holistic care—seeing people as whole beings, mind, body, and spirit.
This decade also introduced me to love and marriage, teaching me about connection and partnership. It was a time of growth, marked by the interplay of struggle, discovery, and joy, laying the foundation for the life I would build.
Decade Three: The Gift of Motherhood
My third decade brought me one of life’s most profound gifts: motherhood. It was during these years that my beautiful girls were born, transforming not only my daily life but also my understanding of myself.
Becoming a mother wasn’t just about caring for my girls —it’s about discovering new depths within myself. My daughters taught me lessons I didn’t even know I needed to learn. They held up a mirror to parts of me I hadn’t yet explored, shaping my identity as a mother and as a person.
Through them, I began to understand the true meaning of patience, resilience, and unconditional love. They reminded me daily of the joy in small, ordinary moments and the extraordinary responsibility of nurturing not just their growth but their hearts, minds, and spirits.
Motherhood in this decade wasn’t without its challenges, but it was also the ultimate teacher. My girls gifted me with a new perspective on life and an ever-deepening understanding of who I am—both because of them and for them.
Decade Four: The Gift of Resilience Through “Almosts”
My fourth decade was defined by “almosts.” I almost lost my husband to a pulmonary embolism, almost lost my grandmother to a bowel obstruction, and almost lost my father to renal cancer—but I didn’t. Each of these moments pushed me to the brink of unimaginable fear and taught me the fragile balance between holding on and letting go.
This decade also marked a significant shift as I became an empty nester. Letting my daughters spread their wings brought a bittersweet mix of pride and loss. It was in these transitions, amidst the close calls and life changes, that I was gifted with resilience.
Through the chaos and close calls, I discovered the beauty of adaptability—how to shift, adjust, and lean into life’s unpredictability. It was a lesson in finding steadiness within myself, no matter how uncertain the circumstances.
Resilience isn’t just about surviving tough times; it’s about finding strength you didn’t know you had and learning to trust in life’s ability to keep moving forward, even when it feels like the ground beneath you might crumble. This decade taught me that the “almosts” are what shape us, reminding us to hold gratitude for what we still have, even when we’re faced with the possibility of loss.
In the end, this decade taught me that resilience isn’t just a skill—it’s a process of adaptation, helping me navigate challenges and come through them with a deeper understanding of myself.
Decade Five: The Gift of Stepping Into Myself
My fifth decade was one of milestones, growth, and profound transitions. I celebrated my 50th birthday—a marker of midlife that felt as significant as it did empowering.
At the same time, I celebrated my grandmother’s 100th birthday, an extraordinary moment that became one of my most cherished memories. I watched her throw out the first pitch at a major league baseball game, embodying the vibrant, fearless spirit she carried throughout her life.
But this decade also brought the heartbreak of saying goodbye to her. I dressed her in my favorite blue blouse and delivered her eulogy, honoring her life and her immeasurable influence on mine.
Through that experience, I learned to navigate the road of grief—a journey filled with love, loss, and the strength to move forward with her spirit forever in my heart.
At the same time, I stepped fully into myself. My professional life reached new heights, marked by record success, but more importantly, by a deep confidence in who I am and what I bring to the world. I also learned to navigate the delicate and evolving role of being a mother to adult children, balancing support and independence as they carved out their own paths.
Decade Six: The Gift of Living Fully
I’m only two years into my sixth decade, and already, it has brought profound shifts—both beautiful and heartbreaking. I became a grandmother, a role that has exceeded every expectation and all the stories I was told about its magic.
This new identity has gifted me with the ability to see the world again for the first time through her eyes. A magical return to my own first decade filled with magic and imagination.
But this decade also has begun with deep loss. I said goodbye to my dad, and I now face the likely loss of my sister—a reality that has made my entry in this chapter cloudy and filled with grief. It has been a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the bittersweetness of love, connection, and loss.
Through it all, I’ve discovered a richer, more profound appreciation for gratitude and the simple act of celebrating life.
These aren’t just ideas anymore; they’ve become a way of life. Loss has clarified what truly matters, teaching me to hold joy and sorrow together and appreciate each moment more deeply.
This decade has only just begun, but it’s already shown me the value of embracing life’s contrasts and savoring its fleeting, beautiful moments.
Blowing Out the Candles
Like the ancient Greeks, who lit candles on cakes to honor the goddess of the moon and to send prayers to the gods, lighting birthday candles feels sacred. It’s a moment to reflect, to send up our hopes, and to celebrate the mark we leave on this life.
As I blow out my candles this year, I wish that I hold onto these six gifts. I wish that I always feel younger on the inside than I look on the outside—and that I always look younger on the outside than my birth certificate says I am. I’m just saying…
Final Thoughts
My wish is that you will celebrate with me by reflecting and celebrating you.
What gifts have your decades brought you?
What moments have shaped who you are today?
Light a candle, make a wish, and think about the mark you’re leaving on the world. Share your favorite lessons or milestones with us—I’d love to celebrate them with you!
Drop your thoughts in the comments ⬇️⬇️
