Wednesday, July 2, 2014

A rumination on birthdays and birthday wishes

Another birthday has come and gone. I now have to get used to a new number that I have to give up when people say "How old are you?".
Otherwise, I don't feel much different from who I was last week.

What I remember best from this birthday is the good wishes. From the people who were with me on the day, family and friends - but also all the others - the ones who wished me well.

On my birthday, well-wishes stream in from all over the globe. Most carried by electronic media of some kind, but all of them with a human sending them.
People whose lives have touched mine - some a lot, some a little, some long ago, some recently. On this day, they remember me, and take the time to click a button, type a few words, send some happy thoughts my way.

And I feel touched. Touched that all these people remember me - that I've meant something to them so important that when my name shows up in the "birthday reminder" box of whatever social tool they're using - or when it shows up on their calendar, if that's what they're using - or if they simply remember - they take the time to let me know that they still remember me.

I remember them too. I wish them well. I'm lousy at taking time out from my own schedule to reach out to the people I don't see that often, and perhaps even worse at letting them know I care.
But I am happy that they took this time out of their busy lives to remember me - even if they spent only a few seconds, the fact that they chose to do so touches my heart.

A birthday wish is not a huge thing. But it touches a heart.
Thank you!