Mindset truly is everything. For some reason I was truly dreading this year’s birthday celebration. But then, on Thursday, February 21st, I had a change of thought. Rather than focusing on being one year older (read dread), I decided to celebrate my life. I mean that’s what a BIRTHday is right–the day one was born and began a life. This shift was so dramatic!
First I woke up singing (very loudly) to the whole house: “It’s my birthday! It’s my birthday!!” When I hopped in my taxi for the morning, I told Sam, my driver. He immediately sent me a birthday video. I didn’t shy away from my birthday at school either. I announced it and celebrated. It helped tremendously that my sweet librarian team had kids singing for me when I walked in the door, the screen had a “Happy Birthday Mrs. Krembs!” on it, and the light box on my desk read the same. It was fantastic. The kids wished me happy birthday all day long. We celebrated together, and I was thankful for ever kind wish.
In the afternoon, I treated myself to a bath. Then for dinner we headed over to a birthday celebration tradition: a barbecue at the beach. The kids played catch, we listened to their music, and Kevin organized an amazing meal. After eating we came home to a delicious flourless chocolate cake (Kevin is an amazing baker), and I opened presents. At one point, when I realized these birthday celebrations with my kids present are fleeting, I did break down in tears, but they were happy ones.
Birthday celebrations should be just that. I’m not sure why it took me 47 years to figure it out, but that number? It’s just a number. My life? It’s extremely full and beautiful. I am one lucky lady: I have an amazing family, I live in a great place, travel is a part of my life, I don’t want for anything. It’s cliché, but I am truly blessed. So, this year, and forever more, I will celebrate rather than dread my birthday!
This wine is always a special treat. We met in Italy while studying abroad during our junior year in college.
We studied in Palazzo Antinori of Antinori Wines.
This was the bottle served at our wedding.
Cheers! Cheers to a life that has been pretty amazing so far with a whole lot more living to do!!
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