Birthdays are special, stressful, extraordinary, dull, celebratory, dreaded and chock full of expectation. I expect friends and family to call, text, email, and post on Facebook their most heartfelt birthday wish, I expect everyone in the service industry to comp me something in recognition of this special day, I expect homemade gifts from my children, and I expect my spouse to lead and facilitate and ultimately carry the burden of making this day as special as possible.

Expectation is a real bitch, impossible to please.

Expectation tells me to have that second glass of champagne, that I deserve a Chanel bag, gives me a dozen balloons only to float away with them.

So for today, January 29, 2015, carpe diem.

Pluck the day

Smell the roses

The silver lining

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
― Epicurus

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust

So for today, January 29, 2015, I will be grateful. Grateful for the heartfelt birthday wishes I received from friends and family in calls, texts, emails, and posts on Facebook.

“Happy birthday beautiful wife! You are amazing and hope you have an incredible year!”

“I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful sister!”

“Happy Birthday, Susan! Your light is a bright one, my friend, and I’m thankful it shines in my direction :)”

“Happy Birthday to one of the most sweetest, talented, and truly amazing people I know. Have a fantastic day, Susan!”

“I hope you know that I so very much value our friendship.   You are a very remarkable person.”

“I am in awe of your balancing of work and life. Babe, you’re an expert juggler and you do it all looking fantastic and with such grace!”

“As you celebrate 40 years, I hope that you feel all the love that you give out to everyone in your life come right back at ya. It will light you up.”

“I hope when we are 60 we’ll still be those drunk old ladies dancing in random places.”

“So to you, Susan, may your heart and soul be filled up to the brim like that late afternoon swim and may you continue to live the wonderful, fabulous life you’ve carved out for yourself for years to come.”