Thinking About Birthdays

 I was thinking about birthdays while I was in spinning class this morning. As children, we can hardly wait for each birthday to arrive. Early on, we are never old enough....not old enough to ride that amusementt park ride, not old enough to get into that exciting looking bar, or not old enough to vote.

  Then comes the day that we turn 21, and are finally old enough! The fun and celebrating lasts until we hit the ripe old age of 22.

  Time creeps on and we find ourselves almost dreading each birthday as we get slowly older. I thought I was old at 30....then really old at 40....now I am 55 and trying not to feel old. I am working on my "self talk". I'm thinking we become old because we think we are. Remember..."you're as young as you feel"?

  I gave myself the "gift" of health by attending the above mentioned spinning class. (I thought about just staying in bed for my birthday). I am also trying to view my age as just another year...just a number. I have a few aches and pains, but I don't feel really old. I still do most everything I want to do...and I am grateful.

  I think I will celebrate this next year with gratitude. I have a great life, a great family and lots of wonderful friends. I have more than enough and I am enough.

Time

 Time.Such a simple word, yet such a huge concept. Time. Do we ever have enough of it? Have you ever found yourself wishing for a few extra hours in the day? I recently asked my husband upon rising, what he had going on....he replied, "I have 8 hours of work to get done in 4 hours". As the days are getting shorter, I personally long for more daylight hours.

 This brings me to my next question: tomorrow, as we change from Daylight Savings Time to Eastern Standard Time, what will you do with your extra hour of time? Each one of us will be "gifted" with 60 extra minutes....how shall we use them?

 My intention is to do something productive, as opposed to sleeping it away.By that I mean, create some art work or enjoy a hike in the woods.

 We aren't guaranteed anytime in this brief life time, so maybe it is more important to be present and be aware in this very moment. By practicing mindfulness, perhaps I won't miss out on one second of that extra hour.

What do you think? How will you spend your gift of time? I'd love to here your thoughts.....