The day I turned 33

So I celebrated my birthday last Sunday. Sophie asked me how old I was and I told her that I’m now thirty-three, that’s 3 plus 3. I know it’s bad math teaching but she hasn’t learnt anything beyond twenty so I reckon it wouldn’t hurt. Anyhow I shot back playfully and asked her if that means I’m old.

In all innocence, she replied, “That’s not old mama. I’m also three but I’m going to be plus one and be four years old soon”.

I smiled at her reply and felt somewhat comforted that my daughter still sees me as a young and energetic mummy who’s still game enough to run after her in the playground or have lots of silly fun with.

My birthday was a low key affair except for the many likes this photo got on Facebook because Alexis was so sweet to surprise me with a bouquet of flowers and a Hello Kitty balloon on an evening when I felt like I needed to be dragged out of the office after spending an exhausting day at work. It was such a sweet gesture and I teared knowing that I’m loved.

 

And how can I forget a special mention on the hand drawn birthday card I received from Sophie. Sweetness to the max!

I tend to get a little more emo around birthdays. And after I learnt that two of my friends recently found out that they have loved ones who discovered they had cancer, it made me even more emo and I felt an ache inside and at the same time thankful for life. The very same thought I had when I was running past a wake around my neighbourhood when I went for an evening jog. At these times, I’m reminded that we are not immune to illnesses and the frailty of life. And in all the striving to remember that living is not the same as being alive.

Life can be beautiful and yet so fleeting. Somehow in all the business of the day to day especially in the past month, I’ve allowed myself to just drift along and forgotten how to live. To live a more meaningful and purposeful life. To be more intentional with my time and spend it with people who matter.

So my wish for this year is simple,

• Learn to listen to my needs and attend to them more readily- be it physically or emotionally
• Take more chances – befriend someone new, pick up a new hobby, try new things and keep learning
• Create my own happiness- not with more stuffs but with a more fulfilling life

Actually I have a confession to make that I’m not so enlightened yet because on my birthday I was hinting to Alexis to buy me a gift from Tiffany and Co. He reminded me on point 3 as I was the one who declared it with so much conviction that my life is not another bag or shoes. Which goes to show how fickle minded we women can be.

Till then, a reminder to self

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

 

Tagged: Birthday