Of Celebrating Life

This week I celebrated another birthday. It was great! Lots of birthday wishes to brighten my day. However, when the day first began, I started to wonder where it would lead. Here’s what happened: I woke up to the sound of the television I’d left on the night before. Nothing unusual there, except there was a commercial on and, in my bleary-eyed state (you know, that place almost between waking and sleeping) I heard how I should invest in plastic surgery to eliminate those dreaded signs of aging. How could I live with those little lines and sagging chin; it was just…inexcusable. Of course, I couldn’t put the world through that, having to look at my unaltered face each and every day.

Oh yes, just what I wanted to think about on this day!

I dragged myself out of bed (I’m not a morning person) and into the bathroom. After a shower and some positive thoughts I felt ready to face the day. Still, that little commercial nagged at me. Eliminate the signs of aging, huh? No, not for me. I looked in the mirror, thinking ‘I can live with this.’ Still, was it a sign?

I began putting on my war paint. Ladies, you know what I’m talking about. The stuff that enhances our natural beauty (or covers up a multitude of flaws). I’ll leave it to your imagination which way that works for me! As I began applying all the stuff, I noticed I was using anti-aging foundation (thank you, L’Oreal), Revitalift Eye Cream and Olay Regenerist ‘spackling’- at least that’s what I call that stuff that fills in all the little lines you notice but probably no one else does. (Especially if you have one of those mirrors that magnifies every little thing! Whoever invented that, I just want to know ‘What were you thinking?’) Did I really need another reminder I was getting older?

Mentally, I waived the thought of growing older and decided, instead, I would focus on life itself, being thankful for every day, finding reasons to celebrate the day. By the time I left home, I had conquered the negative feelings and was beginning to feel pretty good about myself and my life. I had so many things to be thankful for: family, good friends, more good than bad experiences. Life was good!

I hopped in the car, ready to face the day, determined to find and experience joy at every turn. And speaking of turns, just as I turned on the radio, I heard a familiar song: ‘It’s the End of the World As We Know It…’

Really?

Was this a sign?

Then I smiled. This was going to be an interesting day. And it was. And, as the day wound down, I found a voicemail with another song, the traditional ‘Happy Birthday’ sung by my grown kids in unison. Somehow the ones in the mountains had coordinated with the one at the coast so they could all be a part of making my day extra special.

It really doesn’t get much better than this.

And if I had a tear in my eye, I’ll never tell. But I will admit that it warmed my heart and gave me another reason to celebrate not a perfect, wrinkle-free life, but a life worth living.

And there it was…

Christmas in all its glory, in November. No, there wasn’t snow on the ground; it wasn’t even cold enough for that, but that will come, probably well after Christmas, in January, if I’m lucky. But today, as I walked through the downtown area, Christmas was there. It wasn’t too flashy, not much glitz—yet—but the street lamps had been decorated, just today, and that was all it took for my thoughts to turn to all things Christmassy.

I thought back to last year. How thankful I was to have had all my adult children in the house at the same time. I hoped it would work out that way this year as well. It seems harder to arrange now that they live so far away. Even so, whatever time and whenever I see them will be fine…and wonderful!

Walking down the sidewalk with the street lamps adorned with greenery makes me feel like I’ve gone back in time. Sure, they’re electric street lamps but they have that old-time look and feel. The atmosphere, with the cool crisp air, compels me to dream of holly days.

And dreaming of Christmas gives me a reason to celebrate life. Not all Christmases have been happy times, but dwelling on the ones that have, and dreaming of the ones that will, is good for the soul. I can’t help but smile, thinking of all those goodies I’m going to make, how the house will smell, how it will sound with the hum of friends and family sharing together, and the glow of the Christmas tree.

And there it is….another reason to celebrate life, and it all started with the trimming of a street lamp and the advent of the spirit of Christmas in my heart. I hope you’ve found a reason to celebrate life today. If not, look around you, really look, and see if you can find what God has sent your way to realize that life can, and should, be celebrated!

Joyfully yours,
Jean