I know this may come as a surprise to you.
In fact, it came as a surprise to me as well.
My father bought me the white house for my birthday. No, really-He did. He bought it when I turned four and we’ve been living in it for 19 years now.
Oh, you thought I meant this White House.
Sorry about the confusion. Although that would have been nice, I imagine that’s not even possible.
When I turned four, my family moved to a new house. Apparently I went around telling everyone that my father had bought me the white house for my birthday. Although I failed to see the humor in my innocent expression at the time, I now laugh when I think back on this memory.
Over the years I have received a plethora of wonderful gifts from friends and family.
Last week I turned 23.
There’s nothing especially exciting about turning 23-there’s nothing I can do now that I couldn’t do at 22 and it doesn’t represent a milestone birthday. It’s just-23. Seems pretty boring when you put it like that.
Sometimes I think we have to make our birthdays special for ourselves. Not because other people forgot about us. Not because we didn’t receive gifts. Not because anyone or anything failed to happen the way you imagined it would.
Just because. What makes one year any different than another is what you choose to do with it.
I’m a relatively shy and reserved person. Those of you who know me, know this to be true. Although I generally don’t have difficulty chatting with strangers, I’d say I’m more shy than not. I may have an idea about the way things should be, but may wait months or years to act on this idea. And by that time, I’ve probably already missed my chance.
I wanted this year to be different. I wanted to make 23 something worth remembering. It took me a long time to realize that being shy and reserved isn’t getting me anywhere. In fact, it’s overrated. Sometimes you have to take life into your own hands and see where that leads you. Whether it’s going after that special person you’ve had your eye on recently, or it’s finally having the courage to stand up for something you believe in, go for it.
A lot of people set New Years Resolutions and fail to stick to them past the end of January. I think this is a little different. Your birthday is the one day of the year that things really can be about you. Most of us probably receive loads of attention and gifts from others on our birthdays, but how often do you give yourself a gift? I know, it sounds silly, but you know yourself better than anyone else. Consider it a gift that will make you a better person and will be the one thing you can give yourself that no one else can. Make your non-milestone (and milestone birthdays, for that matter) count.
Make this year different.
Make this year count.
Joni
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