65 isn’t as old as I thought it would be. I guess it’s official old age, I mean I did get a Medicare card. I don’t feel that much older, but I do feel grateful.
I woke up this morning and wished myself a Happy Birthday, then said a little prayer; “thank you for 65 years of living.” I meant it too. For 65 years, I’ve been getting up every single day and experiencing life. Sometimes it has beat me up and sometimes it has given me reason to rejoice, but looking back I’m not sure that I would change any of it–because, well it’s made me who I am.
There have been a lot of dreams and discoveries along the way– first kisses, first marriage, oops, second marriage, jobs that I hated, jobs that I loved, an accidental career, terrible grief, outrageous joy and love of writing, reading and education. I’ve made both terrible mistakes and really good choices.
Someone asked me if I was doing anything special today and I said “no, not really.” But I realize that isn’t true. I am doing something special today. I’m going to walk through life another day and look at, touch, smell, feel and taste it. That’s special.
And while 65 brings me closer to the finish line, I’m not straining to see where that is. Instead I’m going to sit on the couch this morning with my husband, Dean, and talk about our outer world and our inner lives. I’m going to do a little dance in stocking feet and my pajamas to something that moves me like The Pointer Sisters or The Temptations. I’m going to eat a wheat free, chocolate chip cookie and I’m going to climb the hills around my house with hubby and dog, celebrating the sunshine and the flowering trees. “Live it all up and don’t forget to say thank you.” That’s my birthday motto.
Nope, 65 isn’t as old as I thought it would be. I’m grateful to be able to hike, to write, cook, read, and reflect. I’ve been doing those things a long while now and really all that’s changed is that my knees creak and I go to sleep earlier than I used to.
Truth: I love drinking in life. So, Happy Birthday to me. I’m gonna celebrate it by climbing a mountain and dancing with joy.
Sending wishes for a most joyous birthday and many more years to enjoy the things you love. 🙂
Thanks cyber buddy. Big hugs.
Happy Birthday! 🙂
Happy Birthday!
Appreciation. Thank you.
May you still feel this way when you are 75. Best of luck in the next ten years. This has nothing to do with anything but today is also Ali McGraw’s birthday. I think she is well into her 70s.
Happy Birthday! Love how you embrace it. Every day is indeed a gift. Have fun!
Carrie, I hope your writing career is going strong. Thanks for the birthday wishes. And I will definitely have fun! Hugs.
😊
Happy Birthday! I love your zest for life, and I especially appreciate the gratitude you express for your good fortune and the opportunities you are given! You have so many wonderful years ahead of you! I know you will enjoy them.
Appreciate your good will and your good wishes. We are blessed women. Hugs.
Sweet Stephanie:
I could have written the almost exact same words when I celebrated my 65th birthday. I enjoy life so much. I’ll be 66 in a few days and very often I remember to be grateful as I’ve been through a lot myself and I survived the difficult times and smiled along the nice periods of my dear life.
Thanks so much for your good words this morning. This will help me get through the day as I’m going to visit my sister at the hospital today. She is slowly dying from cancer. She is only 63. But contrary to us, she had a lot of hard times and not many happy times. Please pray for her.
Merci beaucoup and have a nice day.
Dear one, I will pray for your sister. May your visit with her be sweet. And I hope that you have a beautiful 66th. Much love and cyber hugs coming your way. Thank you for your good wishes.
Thanks so much dear Stephanie. Have a great day.
Stephanie, Thanks for your good words. She passed away on April 7th, 2017. She suffered so much that her death was a deliverance for her. She will be cherished for the rest of my life. Good night.
Stephanie…happy birthday! 65 is just a few weeks away for me, too. Have a wonderful day. Your such an accomplished person with so much more to come. Hope everything is always just as you want it.
What lovely wishes. Thanks, Howard. Life is good and good to know you!
Lovely post, Stephanie. I am right behind you in age, so I feel the truth of your remarks.
I can remember the weekend morning hikes with my husband when we moved from the city to a less populated area when I was in my early forties. I don’t think a weekend ever passed without me saying, I hope we’re still doing this 20 years from now. Well, we’ve passed that mark and still walking and hiking on our weekend mornings. It’s still our norm, pretty much with the same expectations. But with a deeper appreciation, I think.
Happy Birthday, Stephanie.🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Wishing you a Happy Birthday and a new year filled with an abundance of happy adventures.
Thanks so very much for the special wishes. May it all be so. Hugs.
Sounds like a perfect day! Happy Birthday
So appreciate the good wishes.
What a wonderful post, and happy birthday to you!! What a great reminder to be grateful for all the blessings we get each and every day!! Your post put a smile on my face. Here’s to living life!! Cheers!!
Always happy to inspire a smile! Thanks for the good wishes, friend.
Great post Steph!
What a great friend you are, Jennifer. Thanks for the good wishes today. Sending you love and hugs.
OMG-SO Inspiring-Happy Birthday Stephanie xoxo
Thanks!
..made for a wonderful read; a very Happy belated Birthday, to you.
Very well said ! Happy Birthday ! And you look wonderful you are aging gracefully!
Thanks so much.
Coming up on 69 and it just keeps getting better