For all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday.

"The best birthdays of all are those that haven’t arrived yet."

~Robert Orben

Today is March 14... it's my best friend's birthday; the day after my nephews 2nd birthday; 2 weeks and 2 days before my oldest is officially a teenager; and a mere 2 days before I enter my 40th year of life... no, not my 40th birthday, but my last year of being in the "30-something" crowd.

It seems that the older I get, the more I loathe this time. Not because I hate birthdays - I love them! I would love to celebrate my own for at least a month and have a party every day! But I think that my expectations for what is to come, or what should be happening around this day, are set a little too high.

I guess this makes me pretty selfish - or a bit too self-centered.

I don't like the "common" birthday. The one where everyone simply says "Happy Birthday" and calls it good. This is a day for celebration! For anyone that has been born, and for every year of life that we have experienced or endured; for the accomplishments and failures; for the joy and pain; for the happiness and sorrow; for the laughter and tears; for the growth and stagnation; for the love and scorn. Much happens in a year of life!

Life is too short for common birthdays! Enjoy them! Relish them! Be thankful for them!

Common can be characteristic of every other day... but let the birthday be a diversion from the common - may it be a day to take pleasure in!