“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” — Madeleine L’Engle, American writer

A year older is a year wiser they say… I’m hoping that it is at least a little true! When I was at school, birthdays were celebrated by all in school, but since I was not one of the popular girls, a few times I was ignored totally and nobody wished me even though I had taken candy for all as was the custom. After that, birthdays were not really something I wished to celebrate… it was a reminder of some embarrassing times and when I was rather invisible in school.

But once I went to college, I discovered I shared this day with a colleague of my Dad, Father Simon who reminded me that birthdays were a celebration of the day you came to this earth and you have so much to be thankful for. I realised how fortunate I was to be born in such an amazing family with parents who sacrificed so much for us and a sister who was my best friend in the whole world. And the special friends I had then in college who always made me smile.

As years passed by, every birthday I thank my good fortune for the life I have been blessed, my family and the two wonderful children who have brought so much love and joy to my life, my sister who has been my friend and confidante, those who have supported me and to one very special to me.

Today when we are going through so much of turmoil in this world with the pandemic of Covid-19, the stress of lockdown, not being able to travel and see family, the constant scare of being infected with the virus, the worry of the impending impact of economic and political fallout and the whole scenario the world is facing with climate change, race tensions, I want to spend this one day without thinking about all of the above and wishing that it is all good and well on planet earth!

A birthday is a day to celebrate, to herald the start a new year, a new beginning, an anniversary of your birth, to thank my parents for the gift of life, a day I think of all those who share this day with me, a milestone to cherish, a day to think of what I have achieved in the year that has passed, a day on which to look forward to the next twelve months, a ME day!!

Happy Birthday to me!