Birthday Girls - M's Gems

By: Melissa Goldberg

Young Melissa

My birthday is around the corner and this year I have spent more time thinking about this occasion than any other year. Each year, I enjoy the time when my birthday rolls around, but I donʼt think I have ever really taken the time to make it a special day for myself. I am thankful that over the years my family and friends have worked hard to celebrate my birthday. The one year I thought about celebrating with a party, my wonderful husband had already planned a surprise gathering and so not to ruin the surprise, he helped me plan a party for myself. I had back to back celebrations for my 30th. It was a full weekend of birthday celebration and I felt thankful that I had so many wonderful people in my life to celebrate my day.

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. ~ Oprah

This year my best friend Cynthia gave me a special gift. I was given an astrology reading by Cathy Pagano on our radio show. Cathy is a wisdom coach and Jungian psychotherapist who works with Astrology to help clients blueprint their lives and move forward. Cynthia took something that inspires her and offered me to experience it.

In past years I have loved to celebrate the day but never the occasion.

Cynthia and I are very different, yet we are similar in many ways. The differences are complementary to our friendship and because we embrace our differences our friendship has grown copiously. Her ideas and applications to life have not rubbed off on me completely but they have allowed me to embrace and experiment in my spiritual side. It was a fun experience and I discovered that a little spirituality is not a bad thing, perhaps divine...

When your special day arrives, I encourage you to celebrate your birthday with cake, candles and love and invite you to add some spirituality and reflection on such a distinct and magnificent occasion.

Reflection - Look into the mirror on your birthday, but not to look for new wrinkles and lines. Okay you can look for the wrinkles, but then take a moment to look deeper and reflect on what the year has brought you. How have you grown and matured? How have you changed and what would you like to do different in the next year? Embrace your past, your present and your future. This year I learned that I am rich in love and no matter what happens in the future I have tremendous strength and support to handle anything.

No Matter What Your Age, You Can Be a Kid At Heart - There is nothing wrong with celebrating your special day the way a kid celebrates. If you feel like having a party, throw a party! If you feel like schmudging your name in frosting on your cake, go for it!

Leave the Laundry Alone - We are given the day off from work to honor many historical birthdayʼs - Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, your birthday is your day and you should honor it, so leave the laundry to be done another day.

A Birthday Tradition for You and Your Family - Iʼm a huge fan of tradition and family traditions are important to the family interconnection. Iʼm a huge fan of celebrating your birthday the same way you did as a kid growing up. In my family, you get to choose the birthday meal and the cake you desire since it is your day. Many cultures have birthday traditions all over the world. Have you ever received birthday punches? Those started in Europe and they are referred to as birthday bumps as a way to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

A Birthday Ritual - I donʼt have one and decided this year I want one. I haven't figured out what it will be from this year on, but I have a week to think about it. I asked some folks if they had a ritual and I was surprised to learn that many people do. Some people go to a special place or visit someone they love. A lot of people take the day off from work or allow their kids to stay home from school. Iʼm thinking something on the lines of a big hot-fudge sundae kind of ritual.

Know What Happened on Your Birthday - If there is one day of the year that amazing things have happened, itʼs on your birthday. You were born, and thatʼs pretty amazing. I love when I find someone who shares the same birthday as me. On my birthday, Rod Carew won an MVP award in 1977 and touch tone telephone was introduced in 1963. I also share a birthday with Dwight Gooden and Lisa Bonet. If your daring and open to it, go get an astrological reading and learn your blueprint to life. Learn where the stars and planets were aligned when you born and where they are today.

Donʼt forget to make a wish before you blow out your candles - Close your eyes, take a moment to make a special wish and I truly hope it comes true!

~ M's Gems