This is 46

Yesterday was my 46th Birthday.  This year I embraced my birthday and went on with my day. I honestly think 46 looks pretty damn good on me!

I spent many years as a child sharing birthday celebrations with my brother, who was born two days and 19 years before me.  Lots of years not enjoying my birthday as a kid, because it was never just my birthday.  I have one fond memory of a sleepover with girlfriends, in late grade school or early junior high.  I cherish that memory, as it was one of the few times when my birthday was just about me.

I spent most of my 20s drunk on my birthday.  Usually in a bar surrounded by friends, pretending to have a good time.  In my late  20s when I met my now husband birthdays changed.  For my 28th birthday, he took me away for a week to Saint Augustine, FL.  That's when birthdays really became special.  That entire week was just about me and what I wanted to do for my birthday.

Now in my 40s I love my life and embrace every wrinkle and grey hair.  Birthday celebrations look different, but the same man has been making my day all about me for 18 years.

There are no sage words of wisdom in this post, other than to say that age is merely a number and shouldn't make us feel any less valuable as the number goes up.  Embrace your life and love who you are, because despite everything else you are the only constant thing in your life.  You take yourself everywhere, make peace with yourself.  Let go of past expectations, yours and those of others.  Release the baggage.  Embrace you, where you are as you are.  That is enough.  Birthdays are a number and the more we have the longer we live.