It’s my 67th Birthday today. I haven’t blogged for a while because my computer was hacked. However, thankfully, it’s up and running now since my brother gave it a complete overhaul. What an age we live in! When I went to do a search on Google, there were all these images of cakes at the top of my screen. I wondered which well-known person was having a Birthday today. I moved over the image to see who it could be – lo and behold, it said: Happy Birthday Jean! For someone 67 years young, it was wonderful of Google to acknowledge my birthday in this way. I am fortunate to live in this digital age and to have this kind of experience. Growing older comes with wonderful surprises!
Early this morning, my brother posted a video on Facebook in which he was singing Happy Birthday to me. He’s a digital guru. That was a thrilling start to my day. Another digital surprise! A video made just for me by my very own brother.
I received many beautiful cards from many beautiful people – friends and family who wish me well and were thinking of me. However, my favourite card was from my aunt in Washington who is in her nineties. At 67, it is a nice feeling to receive a card with the word “beautiful” on it. To think of oneself as beautiful, whether that beauty be on the outside or the inside, gives a wonderful boost to one’s spirit and self-esteem. Thank you, Aunty.
After a wonderful birthday celebration at the Mandarin Restaurant, we headed over to Starbucks for a coffee. This particular Starbucks was in a Chapters/Indigo store. As I received a new camera as one of my birthday presents while I was at the Mandarin, I was very excited and wanted to try it out in the bookstore. The above image is the cover of a journal I found in there. On this 67th birthday, I was struck by the colours and the words. When I was younger, I was always struck by the kind of “beautiful” of movie stars, models, and other celebrity type figures. I realize now though that I can be my own kind of beautiful and it’s a wonderful revelation to me. I couldn’t have found a better image to bring me to a greater self-understanding and self-awareness in this 67th year of just what it means to be beautiful.
Somehow this getting older is a cause for much reflection, especially when birthdays come around. As the night wears on, I have to bring this post to an end. I’m very grateful for living to see this day and for all the wonderful people who are part of my life. Thanks for making my birthday so special.
