By Poornima Vijayashanker
Today is my birthday, and I’m turning 32! Happy birthday wishes to everyone I know who also shares my birthday: Brian Eanes – my high school speech teacher, Joan Patzer – my friend Aaron’s kind mom, Cynthia Schames – my new friend from 500 Startups, and last but not least the mom of the guy at the climbing gym who checked me in on Sunday, who was reminded of her birthday when he saw mine!
I love birthdays. What’s not to love? You get to eat cake and whatever else you want (calories don’t count). People take a moment out of their busy day to wish you a happy birthday. You can do cool stuff like jet off to Paris or London without really needing anyone’s approval, because hey it’s your birthday. Finally, and this is my personal favorite: you’re alive!
I know many people have mixed feelings about their birthdays.
Our age is a number, and that number always means something to us like how much time has elapsed or how much time we supposedly have left. (BTW I’m banking on getting to 150, because the Fidelity billboard ad on the 101 says that someone alive today will make it to 150, that’s gonna be me, and hopefully all the yoga I’m doing will get me there!)
Then there are the physical signs that remind us that we’re getting older.
When I turned 27, I noticed I had 2 gray hairs. Their presence pissed me off, so I proceeded to pluck them for 3 years. Until I turned 30, and all of a sudden 2 gray hairs became 4. 4 became 8, and all of a sudden plucking became a pain. I decided it was just time to embrace the grays. Then I secretly hoped that one day I’d wake up, all my hair would be silver, and I could dress up as Storm for Halloween 🙂
There’s also the social reminders that you’re getting older, and you haven’t quite accomplished everything you’ve wanted on your bucket list. You notice that so-and-so is just a little bit further along in their career than you, and is actually 10 years younger than you. What’s-her-name from high school just had twins, and well you’re not even sure you’re ready to care for another life form, except maybe a cat. Or that guy from college, who you tutored, just sold his company, and bought an island.
Good for them!
I hope on their birthday you’ll wish them a happy birthday, because they deserve to enjoy life just as much as you do.
My freshman year of college I noticed a girl named Gloria Borges. I voted for her for class president. After graduation she attended Stanford Law, then married her college sweetheart. Gloria seemed to have it all, but the truth is that she went on to spend many years of her life fighting for it. In January of this year Gloria passed away after battling cancer. Gloria was exactly 9 months and 25 days older than me. Even though I only knew Gloria as an acquaintance, hearing the news of her passing was difficult. It was a reminder that life can be long or short, you don’t know which it will be.
While many days of our life can feel like a battle, birthdays should be a day of celebration. They are prime time to take stock of what you’ve done, what you’d like to do, who has enriched your life, and enjoy the present moment by eating cake (my favorite is German chocolate).
This year I’m celebrating writing my first book and giving a TEDx talk. I’m also setting a goal to take a trip to Buenos Aires next February to brush up on my Spanish, and make new friends. Finally, I’m going to take the time to eat cake and make new memories with friends and family members.
Now I want to know, when is your birthday, what do you like to do on it, and what’s your favorite type of cake? Let me know in the comments below!
