I finally got around to the celebration of my birthday this weekend. I had fun making my birthday cake(as seen in photo), which I do every year. Some might find it strange that I make my own, which was necessity when I lived in the states. Lenotre and Thevenin , two acclaimed pastry boutiques, just down the street, can easily out shine me for sure, but I still prefer my own creation.
Maybe is goes with my philosophy that it is up to us to personify our own joy. Our birthdays are a perfect time to do this, rather than sit back and be passive. Some of you are blessed with benevolent companions who you can count on taking over.
Nevertheless, our birthdays give us each year a time for us to celebrate our own beingness. To celebrate our unique existence on planet earth. A time to smile and congratulate yourself for surviving another year.
I don’t think we congratulate ourselves enough for the little things we accomplish everyday. I see it as part of self loving and self-appreciation. When we are able to that for us, we are able to celebrated the accomplishments of others.
As a therapist who deals with the hardships and struggles of people everyday, I get excited to hear about their baby steps towards a goal and ask that they own and celebrate their hard work and efforts.
I remember when I went back to school with two small children at home, I learned to celebrate every exam I passed as a step towards my goal. I liked to put them on the refrigerator much as I did with my children’s art or their grades.
It is really up to us to love and celebrate ourselves as we are with acceptance now, as we do with our children. In life you have to learn to be your own nurturing parent, rather than constantly looking towards others to give you what you must give yourself.
When the years pile up and especially if your health has been threatened, you begin to see life as a gift. Our journey and paths have led us to many trials and tribulation. The struggles in the past have strengthen us and given us a chance to grow new wings of our spirit.
Even if you believe in reincarnation, this is still your only life to live for the present. Time to give it your all. Count your blessings., for there are many we take for granted. Every time I see a blind person incredibly walking the streets of Paris and go up and down the subway stairs, I stop in my tracks to give thanks for my sight.
Walking affords me a time to meditate and pray. I like to say a little mantra of thanks for all my senses along the way. Saying aloud what I am grateful for as I walk along is my gift of gratitude I send to God and the universe.
It feels good to be able to wish others a happy birthday on Facebook, as much as I enjoy seeing their wishes for me. Taking time to celebrate your own birthday is an act of self-love. It only comes once a year and gives us all a chance to be merry and full of cheer.
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I am so glad i read this article Cherry..I had never thought about celebrating my own birthday like that, but i sure will this coming year. I love that idea. I love your cake too. it is beautiful..I hope i can show you mine when my birthday comes ..i already have in mind what kind of cake i want to make and also now i have something to look forward to do to celebrate it in Feb. so i have several months to think of what i would like to do that day…Thank you for sharing this and giving us a chance to learn to love ourselves..because i have a hard time doing that..
Thank you Becky for your kind comment! I am glad that I may have inspired you to see your own birthday as day of celebrating YOU! It is our day to give thanks and count our blessings. I really like that you are already thinking about what cake you would life! It is up to us to design our special day or tell others in advance what we would like. I wish you were here to share a piece of my cake. If I might add, it is truly delicious!
What a beautiful decorated cake!
Thank you Liz! I am saving a piece for you!
Cherry–Your cake made my mouth water–and I enjoyed the post–Very similar to me– I did my walking for miles alone on the beach — and miss it very much–on the edge of the storm today — in GulF Shores– but all will be OK; N Orleans is in great danger because of flooding over next 24-36 hrs;
Also, I envision your walking in Paris– to be about like — my walking in Montreal—for miles–absorbing the scene– and never tiring of it. Have a good day and night in Paris.
Thank you so much Herbie! I am so worried for the coastal areas, irregardless of what state. I find that there is much energy in the atmosphere just before the storm. They say it the negative ions. Maybe they are there to give us that extra something to fight or flight in a wave of danger.
The sea churns, and waves mount to tremendous heights. It is a reminder that nature is in control not us. Our arrogance in thinking that we can control the forces of the universe is constantly turned up side down.
Cherry– I believe my area is coming through OK with only minor problems–BUT New Orleans and S La. is being battered with up to 20 in–In Sept 2004, the day before IVAN took a direct hit on G Shores–I was on roof of 14 floor Phoenix VIII with elevator man–looking out to sea–“the calm before the storm”–water like glass — few fleecy clouds–BUT–ALL the birds were gone–and even the dolphins–the animals knew–I had a stray kitten I had been feeding–it would not go–kept jumping out car window–so I left never expecting to see it again’ When I returned 4 days later it was sitting in the sun by the front door– survived 130 mph and 18 foot storm surge– still have the animal now–8 yrs later–
Thank you Herbie for the update. I pray God will spare New Orleans from the worst of the storm. There has been already too much suffering!
I love your story of little kittie who braved out the storm; a real miracle! She was meant to be yours!