July 2021 Musings

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

    It’s July again, my birthday month, and every year it seems to come faster and faster. Maybe it’s because the older I get the more I appreciate life and live in the moment, so the days tiptoe by me while I’m looking the other way. Or maybe it’s just because I’m a busy mom with so much to do and so much to fit into one day that time feels like an illusion. One constant with the beautiful height of summer month of July however, is that I always look FORWARD to it.
     I don’t look forward to my birthday like a child would, all excited about cake and presents. My seven-year-old son has a birthday just after mine on August the 3rd, and he has been telling me what he wants for months! (It’s a Godzilla action figure, UnspeakableGaming merchandise, and a weed eater.) Now, I enjoy the occasional present as much as anyone else, but that’s not why I look forward to my birthday.
     I look forward to my birthday even though it means I’m another year older because it’s such a good time to take stock, to evaluate, and to check in on those hopes and dreams and see how they’re doing. 
     There is a peace that comes with getting older, despite the extra aches and pains. Your looks matter less and less, and you feel connected to nature more and more. You have a better sense of what’s important, and more courage to say no. And you realize that there is no time like the present to live the dreams that have been calling to you.
     I still have a dream to visit Cornwall one day that never dies because I read my collection of Rosamunde Pilcher books over and over through the years. It’s a big dream, but I’m not giving up on it, and you shouldn’t give up on your big dreams either. I also have a dream to be a published author, and I’m working on that one every day.
     How about you? Have a cup of tea and take a deep breath and ask yourself what your dreams are. Is there a big one that you can take tiny steps toward making come true? How about little dreams that are always floating in and out of your head but usually get pushed away. Have you always wanted to do something completely different with your hair but just never found the courage? Give it a try. You may love it and feel refreshed, and if not, it will grow again! Have you always wanted to start a new hobby, or take a class to learn how to do something you are interested in? Look into opportunities in your area or online today.
      And if you are exhausted and wading through a difficult season of life and just can’t muster up the energy to do anything right now, how about going to the library. Find some books on the things you love, and don’t forget to check out some awesome fiction. Through books, you can travel the world from your couch, and you can live some of your dreams through the eyes of the characters.
     No matter what your age, your birthday is a good time to celebrate being alive. So if July is your birthday month too, then have a very Happy Birthday! And if it’s not, each day is a gift, so get out there and celebrate anyway.

                                                                                                         Love,
                                                                                                            Stac