Just a few more days until I’m officially “old”. Well, maybe not old by most people’s standards…I’ll only be 40. But it’s not an age I thought I’d reach – for a myriad of reasons. But here it is, just around the calendar corner on this coming Sunday. And I’m not really all that excited about it.

Usually, I’m a girl who loves birthdays – I’ve always seen it as a day to truly celebrate a person’s contribution to the world. A day to tell them the world is a better place for them being in it. Some people will say, “It’s just a day on the calendar.” and “You should tell people they’re special every day!” but that doesn’t change my thoughts on it.

To me it’s like Valentine’s Day (which I love, BTW). Yes, you should tell your loved ones every day that they’re special and wanted and needed but V-Day is a day to make that love really shown and understood (and if you forget to do it daily, it’s a day to NOT forget).

Birthdays are the same way for me. You should tell someone regularly that they are special, that they’re important to you. But a birthday is a chance to really let someone know that their birth, their mere existence, is a wonderful addition to the universe. It’s a day to simply celebrate them, their life and their importance in yours.

And … I’m going to stop there. I’m all for being honest and upfront, but some things are just hard to put into writing. But, I think there are some of you that will understand without the words. Who have been right here where I am. And to you, I say,

“You is kind, you is smart, you is important.”

Because maybe that’s all anyone really needs to hear on their birthday to make it happy. Just that simple of a statement.

XO – T.