Birthday reflections
Towards the end of March I celebrated a birthday. I turned the grand old age of 47, and according to my 9-year-old nephew, that makes me officially ancient. He did, however, redeem himself by adding that I'm also clever and strong - so I’m going to choose to focus on that!
Birthdays always prompt a bit of introspection for me. Particularly when you reach midlife, it can be bittersweet. On one hand, I cherish being able to celebrate with my nearest and dearest—this year, it was with my daughter and sister. Yet, there's also a poignant reminder of those who are no longer in my life, or not in the way I wish they could be, and that can be quite sobering.
When we are children birthdays are full of excitement and as a parent, you throw yourself into creating that magic for your kids. It’s all about creating a positive, joyful, celebratory day for that person. But as you get older, it becomes different and the focus shifts more towards quality over quantity. These days, I might receive fewer cards, but the ones I do get are deeply meaningful, coming from those who truly know and understand me.
This year, my family gifted me a silver clay jewellery-making workshop. I've attended a couple of these classes before, but I’d forgotten how engrossing it can be. Before I knew it, three and a half hours had flown by as I was lost in the intricacies of moulding that tiny piece of clay.
Last year, I didn't really make much time for myself. It was particularly hectic with the launch of my book "Untangled," alongside helping my daughter transition to university life. And I will be honest, it's taking me longer than I would have anticipated to discover what activities I choose to do just for me.
If you haven’t yet found an activity that absorbs you so completely that time seems to vanish, I highly encourage you to seek it out. Whether it’s exploring nature, indulging in a creative hobby like painting, or spending quality time with loved ones, giving yourself the luxury of being fully present and deeply engaged in an activity is so rewarding.
Take some time to think about what makes time disappear for you, and book some time out in your calendar to get lost in something you truly enjoy. After all, life shouldn’t just be about fulfilling obligations and ticking items off your to-do lists - it's also about embracing moments of joy and fun.
