I celebrated a birthday yesterday. quietly*. mostly at home with Marc and Holly. with a delicious dinner, a nice bottle of wine and a cranberry brown butter tart for dessert. and so many lovely wishes in texts, cards, FaceTimes and emails. all perfect. thank you.
It seems like these trips around the sun are getting shorter. I completely get how the experience of 1/58th of your life is way shorter than the experience of 1/6th (for Charlie) or even 1/29th (for Sara). But the days are all still 24 hours long and there will be an extra one this next year!
Envisioning myself writing a post like this next November 18, here a few things I want to make happen before I turn 58:
- Adopt a meaningful “looking back” practice that celebrates what’s good and helps me identify ways to accept or change what’s not.
- Strengthen relationships with my husband, family and friends.
- Take a trip to Great Britain (and maybe Europe?) with Marc.
- Read better.
- Explore spiritual practices to both ground and grow my faith.
- Re-fashion my wardrobe so it fits with my lifestyle (how I spend my time and where I live) and my coloring; plan my me-mades accordingly.
I haven’t made a list like this since my big Fifty for 50 (2012 seems like forever ago), and this one is only six things. Maybe 50-something has finally gotten focused! 366 days should be plenty, right?!
Here’s to a good week … and a(nother) good year!
*I hadn’t planned such a quiet celebration, but I was battling a nasty cold that unraveled plans to see Katie and boys and sapped my energy for just about anything other than napping, reading and knitting. I’m 99% my healthy self again today and glad to be back with y’all!
mere-et-filles 
Happy Birthday, Mary! I wish you all the best for the coming year!
Happy Birthday! I think your list is thoughtful and full of grace, just like you!
Celebrating your 57th birthday, quietly, thanks to a cold, makes perfect sense and I trust today you are well on the way to mending! I am impressed that you’ve kept your 2020 list to six, 6 ! items. Trust me, I don’t think 57 trips around the sun has anything to do with it!
Cheers~
Happy Birthday, Mary! Your goals for the coming year sound admirable and I wish you, fun, adventure, peace, and much love as you achieve them!
Happy birthday, Mary! It sounds like a nice day (with the exception of the cold). I highly approve of your goals for the coming year and I hope they’re all easy and enjoyable to accomplish!
Happy birthday, Mary! I love your list and can’t wait to see how your year unfolds. 🙂 (I’m really interested in what you mean by “read better.”) I think quiet birthday celebrations are actually the nicest. While it’s always fun to celebrate with family and friends, sometimes just taking a reflective pause on your birthday is even better! I’m glad you’re feeling better. (I think there should be some law of the universe that prevents us from being sick on our birthdays.) XOXO
Happy Birthday Mary! Cheers to another circle. Sorry you were not feeling the best, but echoing Kym, quiet birthdays are sometimes the best. I like your list…wondering about the reading and making…do tell!
Happy Birthday!
I love your list! And, I hope to hear more about this list… more meaningful looking back is something I have been thinking about a lot recently! And, yes… read better!
Finally, Happy Birthday to you! May your year be full of all those good things and more!
Wishing you a Very Happy belated Birthday Mary! Your goals for the year are thoughtful and fun. Here’s to it my friend!
Happy Birthday, Mary!
Happy Birthday! Time does fly by. I hope you are back to 100% by now. I mostly prefer enjoy quiet celebrations. It is a good practice to stop and reflect on what is good in life and how we can influence what is to come.
Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate. I came across an article the other day that talked about why time seems to by faster when you are an adult vs when you are a child, and of course, I’ve basically forgotten most of the article already! That whole getting older and forgetful thing.
Your birthday sounds lovely and I am so sorry you weren’t feeling up to par. You have 366 days to work on your list, but from what I see of your life it seems to me you are already that person. You are full of grace and spirituality, adventurous and talented, loving and kind. Thank you for being you, Mary.
Happy birthday sister month!!! I am glad you had a great birthday! Mine is super quiet too and I’m glad.
Happy Happy Birthday, Mary!!
Belated Happy Birthday! So sorry you were under the weather and glad you have recovered … though sometimes a gentle rest at home can be the best celebration. Looking forward to seeing how your ‘resolutions’ for the year ahead unfold …