In this post, I have included two heart inspired, thoughtful meanderings (“Beautiful Insanity”, and “Birthday Wisdom”) written about one of my favorite topics… Birthdays!

“Beautiful Insanity” was one of my first posts written as a Norton Patch Community and Family Blogger…

Birthday Wisdom was a post I wrote for Signature Healthcare’s Mom’s Blog.

Beautiful Insanity — Who is to Blame?

Beautiful Insanity..... Who is to blame?

I have always been teased about how much I love my birthday. It is actually quite silly. It is not the “hoopla” or the birthday gifts or cake, (that seem to wane as you get older and become a mother) that I love about my birthday.

It is just —something.

I know that the night before each of my own children’s birthdays are tender moments for me. Two old friends, Nostalgia and Reverie, find me each year and grab hold of my heart. Birthdays fill me with a quiet sadness about life. Birthdays serve as a reminder that life marches forward — and sometimes it feels like it is sprinting. I am also reminded that each beautiful year will be filled with both new adventures and difficult challenges.

I think of how amazing it was to have been able to create and grow these little munchkins. Raising four children is one of the most rewarding and most difficult things my husband and I have ever attempted to do! Funny thing is, right now — for my children – growing will be the most rewarding and toughest thing that they will have to do! (My mouth to God’s ears.)

    Anyways,  I would like to think that the universe knows it is my birthday.  That secretly the winds whisper my name to the birds — who just so happened to share their melodious celebratory happy birthday song with me as I awake on the morning of my birthday. I would like to believe that the good Lord sends celestial blessings to surround me with joy and laughter – a reward for having embraced another year on this journey I am on. I picture shooting stars gliding over my parent’s home on my birthday (just prior to midnight) to signify that all is well and as it should be.
Ridiculous, isn’t it?
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     I must blame my parents. It is all their fault that I have this insane perception. A belief that I was so uniquely amazing that magic happens each year on my birthday… 😉

Crazy — Really.

Maybe, I too will be accused of such things one day. My birthday wish each year is a hope that I can pass this beautiful insanity on to my own…..

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Birthday Wisdom: Turning 40

http://signaturemoms.com/2014/05/14/birthday-wisdom/

By: Anne Marie Holloway

Turning 40

My mind’s eye still views me as an enthusiastic and playful twelve year old. But, if truth be told, there are some signs of weathering that were definitely not there when I was actually twelve years of age.

And it is okay. I welcome this, as it demonstrates all I have earned during these 40 years, like earning stripes from the trials and tribulations of life – battles well fought!  I am still here! I AM ALIVE!!! I am wiser….

And that is good… real good.

I am calling this 40th year, the year of “Wisdom Gained.” In a reflective birthday frame of mind, I have created a list of the wonderful gifts 40 years have brought into perspective for me –changing my vision, providing me with clarity – and I thought I would share these with you…

  1.  Never sleep through a meteor shower. It is always worth waking up at one o’clock in the morning, wrapping yourself in a blanket and lying on your back outside to stare up into the early morning sky. Shooting stars never fail to take my breath away…
  2. Listen for the birds in the early spring, when you are “done” with winter and longing for warmer days – such songs of hope.
  3. Jazz hands are underrated.
  4. Have a theme song – change it with your mood. It is awesomely motivating to walk throughout life knowing you have your own personal soundtrack!
  5. Be kind – even when it is not so easy.
  6. Take what others say at face value – do not try to read between the lines. Do not waste valuable amounts of energy on trying to translate conversations that have already occurred – move forward.
  7. Pray often and always.
  8. Hold fast to gratitude — it is not easy to be thankful when immersed it all – the good, the bad, the inexplicable, the unavoidable…
  9. Always go with your first choice (Thanks Dad)…
  10. Heed this good advice and always put your keys in the same spot!
  11. Less is more – except on your birthday!
  12. Love first – no matter what happens.
  13. Be courageous – you will always regret letting fear govern your choices.
  14. Believe.
  15. Answer the call.
  16. Do much good, expect nothing in return.
  17. Revel in the work that you do – bloom where you are planted!
  18. In terms of hugs – be the last one to let go…
  19. Make eye contact – eyes are the mirrors to the soul. You can tell a lot about a person by looking them in the eye.
  20. Revel.
  21. Read!
  22. Play an instrument – it will teach you the value of persistence and patience.
  23. Sing in the shower – your voice always sounds better there.
  24. Ask why.
  25. Have a good cry – then pick yourself up, square off your shoulders and keep moving forward.
  26. Accept all compliments with sincerity.
  27. Loss is inevitable, have reverie for those who have gone before us, do not forget the living.
  28. Be as playful as often as you can!
  29. Choose joy.
  30. Be true to your heart.
  31. Forgive yourself.
  32. Forgive others.
  33. Go for walks – forget the gym.
  34. Skip!
  35. Protect what is good.
  36. Don’t let the turkeys get you down! Gobble! Gobble!
  37. Embrace your flaws and accept your mistakes!
  38. Don’t try to catch fireflies– it’s mean.
  39. At least once in your life watch these movies: “Meet the Robinsons”, “The Secret Life of Bees.”, “Love Actually”, “Armageddon”, any of the “Indiana Jones Movies”, “Dead Poets Society”, “About Time”, “The Green Mile” and of course – “Cool Hand Luke”….
  40. (And Finally!) Celebrate your birth! Be present and be a present! Embrace the gift of your birth! You are here “on purpose” and “with purpose!!” Celebrate however you feel comfortable, with extravagant expectations, or humble reflections. Just be sure to honor your creation, because you are a miracle and your life is a blessing!

A new year awaits….