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Why I Think Birthdays Are A Time For Reflection And Planning (and they really don’t suck)…

Autumn leaves…because I love autumn, and I love this photo that I took.

Hello Friends!  Yesterday was my birthday, and tomorrow is Halloween!  Another month has just flown by. Panic mode will kick in in a couple of days when the calendar switches over to November because we all know what comes after November!!  Of course you must know because it has been in all the stores; around here anyway; for at least a couple of months.  But we will save that for another time.  Today is about birthdays!

I was thinking of celebrating my birthday this year by getting up before sunrise and going up the trail to the hill I was on a couple of weeks ago and watch the sun come up.  Thought it would be something cool to do on my birthday.  Or at least walk in to a good vantage point that didn’t involve me walking up a steep trail in the dark.  I’m not quite sure what I was thinking.  I have great plans at night, but I’m not really a morning person.  LOL Instead I slept in until 9:00 and strolled around in the house in my pjs for part of the day.  It was cold and too windy for picture taking and/or exploring.  I mostly did what I normally do any other Saturday when my husband is working.  Cleaning and laundry; well except for the little plumbing issue. But husband fixed that rather quickly.  The kids and I did make birthday cupcakes for me, so that was fun!  And I read the many birthday wishes on Facebook from family, friends and acquaintances. But, I didn’t win the lottery so I guess it’s back to work tomorrow.  Haha!

A few days ago I had no clue what I was going to talk about.  Well, I had an idea.  It’s my birthday.  I’m getting older.  Got cupcakes and presents.  Yup, that sums it up…  I am constantly looking for signs of inspiration, and yesterday I got that in three separate birthday gifts.  A picture frame, a new book, and a new coffee mug.  All of which I have featured in this post.   The picture frame, I think, will inspire me to get more prints of my photos so I can be reminded of something special.  It will also remind me to stop comparing myself to others and to concentrate on my own work.  Blaze my own trail, so to speak.  Too often I find myself thinking; I’ll never be as good as this person or that person.  When really I should be myself.  I am pretty awesome. Aren’t we all!!  The book, “In The Company Of Women” by Grace Bonney, will show me how many other women are living their dream; and I can too!  I am only a couple of stories in and am already feeling inspired!  The coffee mug… well besides the uplifting quote… will hold my coffee of course.  And coffee REALLY inspires me.

As you can tell I don’t hate my birthdays.  Quite the opposite.  I also don’t mind whether I have a “celebration” or not.  Every year, I’m just thankful that I got another year on this planet.  Then I think back on the past year and things I wanted to accomplish.  Did I complete them or are they even really important anymore?  Did I put in enough effort to get the job done?  What do I want to accomplish before I turn 47?  It’s sort of like my New Year’s resolutions.  What do I want to do with the rest of my life?  My creative life that is.  I’m slowly inching my way closer to 50 and that used to seem scary, you know, the old mortality thing.  But worrying does not stop the clock.  It just stops you from enjoying the present.  The past is in the past and you can carry forward unfinished projects with you, or let them go.  So today, the day after my birthday, while I’m contemplating eating yet another cupcake, I realize that I have to stop thinking; start planning and start doing.  Get my butt in gear.  Right after I eat that cupcake, and drink another cup of coffee…

So, friends, what do you think of birthdays?  Do you love them?  Do you think they suck?  Do you have a love/hate relationship with them?  Let me know by commenting below.  I’m off to fill up treat bags for the kiddies for Halloween tomorrow night.  Thanks for stopping by to enjoy the view from where I am…

Filed Under: Blog

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Comments

  1. Tricia says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:35 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
    • Shelly Seward says

      November 3, 2016 at 5:54 pm

      Thanks Tricia!!

      Reply
  2. Anja says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    Happy belated Birthday, Shelly!!

    Reply
    • Shelly Seward says

      November 4, 2016 at 1:24 am

      Thank you Anja!!

      Reply
  3. Janice Sullivan says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    Since I’m over 50 now they do seem to creep up on me faster but they don’t suck 😉 I always make sure I enjoy the day with family and friends.

    Reply
    • Shelly Seward says

      November 4, 2016 at 1:26 am

      I agree Janice. Time just seems to be flying by! Family and friends always make the day much better. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Carole Carlson says

    November 3, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    I’m always happy to have another birthday roll around, because I’m grateful I’ve lasted another year. I don’t make a big deal out of it; in fact, until my kids outgrew having birthday parties, I’d spend the month of October on planning their celebrations and organizing costumes. Now I’m happy if we just go out to dinner. Or we can have a quiet dinner at home.

    Reply
    • Shelly Seward says

      November 4, 2016 at 1:28 am

      Me too Carole. I consider every year a blessing. If my husband isn’t working we do try to go to dinner with a couple of friends. If not, we just enjoy each others company at home.

      Reply

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