TSI ONLINE POLL
| 10 March 2010
TSI Columnist, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view itEvery year every person faces this day – the birthday; mine will be here Sunday, March 7. I officially turn thirty years young at 3:07 a.m. on 3/07. Unlike most adults, I look forward to my birthday; I guess you could say that I am somewhat childish because I always wonder what adventure my birthday could bring. I love hearing the story behind my birth and love celebrating “my day.” Ever since I was a little girl I would begin preparing for my birthday in January because I liked the idea that one day was especially dedicated to me, just me. For a few years I had a string of disappointing and upsetting birthdays due to life and its sudden changes and would actually dread that “special” day. When my husband came into my life, I explained this to him; he has actually changed my birthday to a day that I anticipate every year again (thank you, Phillip).
I know as an adult I should feel compelled to dread growing older. Although I have felt this dread before, especially after realizing that all of my goals I had set for my life as a child were achieved or about to be achieved, I decided that dreading a birthday requires more energy than looking forward to it. My mom sent me a forward one time in which an older woman offered her insight about life. This woman offered the optimistic view (the view I generally take) of growing older: Growing older means I haven’t died young, and I am thankful.
Turning thirty is merely a step into an unknown decade of a future that I pray is filled with new experiences. I am starting my thirtieth year working in a job I love, married to a man I call my best friend, raising an independent two-year-old girl, and welcoming another beautiful daughter in May. I guess the point of my article this week is your age is what you make it. If you feel old, you will be old. If you feel young, you will be young. I decided that I want to live my life in anticipation rather than dread, so “Happy Birthday” to me and to you on your special day.












