This past Saturday was my birthday and as always we have so many things to learn, or relearn, and that day was no different. Anne Garland had put together her annual women’s event at Griswald Inn in Essex and it was suggested that afterward a few of us would toast at the bar and celebrate my birthday.
Anne being Anne instead went way out and had the entire group of 80+ women singing happy birthday, giving me a lighted crown to wear for the afternoon, and generally made a big deal of it throughout the afternoon. After my intial embarrassment, a lesson I relearned so quickly was that when we come together, it takes so little to be thoughtful and kind to another. Most of those women knew me, others didn’t, yet each touched me with their kindness and sincere good wishes.
How many of you have told yourselves that being alone is Ok? How many of you have tried to convince yourselves that not celebrating your birthday is fine? We all need to be celebrated; we all need to know that we make a difference. My wish for each of you is that you allow others to celebrate you and that you come to allow yourself to take that in, even if it is embarrassing initially. Each women there was a gift to those at her table as well as to the larger group. Even Anne, our host, in her natural skill of bringing so many together to celebrate life recognized the value of each and everyone there. May each of you always include yourself in that mix…
