Birthday reflections should be about counting your blessings

“A birthday is a time to reflect on the year gone by, but to also set your goals for the upcoming year.” ­– Catherine Pulsifer

April 18^th. Forty-three years ago, I entered the world in a hospital in Passaic, New Jersey at around 12:06 PM – just in time for lunch!

Forty-three years. I thought my fortieth birthday was hard to swallow. While I realize only three years have passed since, the shock of that number has been lingering on my mind over the last few days.

As Pulsifer says, birthday reflections are common.

As a young boy, I used to wonder why people would say that. I mean, weren’t birthdays for balloons, presents, cake and claiming one day out of the year solely as your own?

But I get it now. As the years continue to drift by, we begin to question our mortality. We begin to firmly understand life’s realities, and recognize that our time here on earth is not infinite.

But last night I came across this quote: “A birthday is just another day where you go to work and people give you love. Age is just a state of mind, and you are as old as you think you are. You have to count your blessings and be happy.” – Abhisek Backchan

It’s so easy to allow ourselves to get caught up in the complexities of life. The insignificant trivialities we assume will provide our life with purpose and fulfillment, but only rob of us of valuable time.

If there’s one thing I should be doing every year on April 18^th, it’s to count my blessings and be happy. I’m ashamed to say that’s not always the case, but today I’m hoping to change that.

Listen, no life is void of struggles and challenges. But I turn to comedian Brad Garrett for a little insight.

“You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness.”

I’ve been given such a gift over the years – on birthdays and holidays and everyday as a matter of fact. It’s that happiness we rarely find time for in life, let alone show our appreciation for.

But this April 18^th, I’m a happy man – a fortunate man. There are people in my life who still make me smile and laugh every day. And that my dear readers, is the greatest birthday gift of all.