On Turning Sixty
My birthday month is over. I turned sixty on June 5th and am still celebrating. Sixty! Wow! In my mind, sixty is a powerful and exciting age. A few acquaintances are currently dealing with health issues, some serious. Knowing that makes me want to take care of my body in a mindful way. I love my work as a professional organizer and strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Birthdays are supposed to be savoured and appreciated. Your birthday is the anniversary of the day that you first breathed Earth’s air. It’s a special day to celebrate your existence. When I was thirty, I was single and wanted very much to be married. Thirty was my most difficult birthday because I wasn’t where I wanted to be in life. For me, being married meant an end to my search for romantic love and companionship. My husband and I married at age 34, but that’s a story for another day...
Every birthday should be considered a gift, tied with a ribbon of joy. As my mom says, “Getting older sure beats the alternative.” No matter your age, if you are living fully, you want to live longer.
Birthdays are a perfect time for reflection and renewal, a time to take stock of who you are, and what you have accomplished in the past 12 months. It's a great day to determine your goals for the coming year. You may come to the realization that you’d like to improve or spice up your life. If there are things that you have considered trying, go for it! Take up Zumba or try a painting class. Watch a foreign film or attend a concert. Why not make an overture of friendship to someone you connect with? Volunteer—it brings a high like no other. Playing tourist in your own city, you may discover sites you’ve never noticed previously. Hire a professional organizer (like me) and declutter your home! You’ll feel great!
Many people have health, relationship, financial or work-related problems—and sometimes a combination of the lot. In spite of these difficulties, try to do whatever you can afford to—in terms of time, energy and money—to celebrate your birthday. Statistics prove that people who celebrate more birthdays live longer!