On This Day

Latvia celebrates their Independence from Russia today.  Morocco commemorates their break from Spain's rule today.  

Olympian Allyson Felix, racing great Denny Hamlin, and actor Delroy Lindo all came into our world on this day.  Mickey and Minnie Mouse first strutted their stuff in animated form on this day.  George Jetson went on his maiden putter across the airwaves on this date.  

William Tell shot an apple off of his poor son's head on this day in 1307.  The basilicas of both Peter and Paul were dedicated on this day in history.  (Did they rob one to pay the other?)

In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones directed more than 900 people to commit mass suicide on this day.  In 1999, the Texas A&M Bonfire tragedy claimed 12 lives on the campus of my alma mater.  

On this day in 1974, I was born.  

In the past few years, my birthday has brought mixed feelings.  It's a combination of getting older, thinking through my opportunity costs, and thinking about what I have in my life that brings me joy.  

I used to get hung up on the losses - I haven't married or had kids.  I'm getting to the age that both of those things might never happen to me.  I used to get my feelings hurt about that.  

Today, I'm making a different choice.  Today, I'm looking at what good I've accomplished in my life.  I earned my Ph.D. this past year.  I have a wonderful job that stresses me out, and I love that about it!  I have a new car.  I have a safe, somewhat cozy place to call home. I've got a little money in the bank. 

I'm the favorite aunt of all of my nieces and nephews.  My parents love me and support me no matter what crazy schemes I come up with.  I can bake you up whatever suits your fancy, and it'll be the best you've ever had.  

Which reminds me that I have not made myself a birthday cake yet...hmmm...I better get right on that!

Sure, terrible things happen on days that should be about celebrating the good in life. But for me, today, and hopefully all future days - I choose to start from a place of positive.  I choose to see life as a series of gifts, not a series of should'ves or too bad I didn'ts.  

My Dad has this thing he says when he wants to avoid seeming covetous:  "I wish I had that one and that guy had a better one!"  Today, I'm that guy - I choose to see myself as the one with the good stuff.  

On This Day, I choose to see myself as 38 years of happy success.  No one will build a basilica in my name, shoot an apple off my head (a resolution I just recently made), or put me on any list of famous people in history that were born on this day.  

On This Day, what I have today makes me happy.