Today is my birthday and I’m going to revel in it! Let the festivities begin! I turn 57! Yes that is certainly getting up there. Yes it is closer to 60 than it is to 50. But no I am not going to feel miserable about getting older. Though of course there are some challenges that come along with ageing, there are many people who do not get the privilege of turning 57 and so who am I to whinge?
I love these words by Victoria Erickson:
I love getting older. My understanding deepens. I can see what connects. I can weave stories of experience and apply them. I can integrate the lessons. Things simply become more and more fascinating. Beauty reveals itself in thousands of forms.
57 years ago my Mum was 23 and had been married to Dad around 18 months. They’d moved into their first home which they’d built and I was their first child. They went on to have another four kids, three more girls and a boy. I was nearly 12 years old when the fifth child (a girl) was born. My brother was the third born.
On 31 May 1964 I was born at the Mater Mothers Hospital here in Brisbane. Dad dropped Mum off there and went home to wait for the call. That’s how it was back then. It was secret women’s business and men were not allowed to be present for it. How different it is nowadays, thankfully! Imagine how scary it would’ve been for a young girl having her first baby without the support and presence of her husband?!
By the time this publishes on my birthday I would have yesterday celebrated over lunch out with family – my family plus Mum and my siblings and a visiting Aunt and Uncle and possibly a cousin and her husband. Today I plan on not lifting a finger – no cooking, no cleaning. I might go buy some lunch and sit by the water to eat it. There’s so much joy in that for me – the solitude, the quiet, soaking up sounds and sights of nature and hopefully it’s a nice day with warm sun feeling nice on my skin.
Embrace getting older because the alternative is not a good one! Every year that I’m still here and I’m still in good health, I am so grateful.
Just for a bit of fun here’s little Min and um … bigger Min!
And I’ll end with these wise words.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live!
Ciao for now,
24 Comments
Happy birthday, MIn! You look fabulous. I hope you’ve had wonderful celebrations with your family and on your own. #lifethisweek
Thanks so much Natalie! I had a lovely time with my family and ended up having brunch with a girlfriend on my actual birthday. xo
I liked your final quote. ha! Have a wonderful day! celebrate well, too few celebrations these days!
I love that quote too! I had a great day – thank you! I also agree that we need to celebrate things more!
Age happens so dang quick! I am now 50 – heckers! How did that happen? Inside I am still 29. I feel as though I never progressed beyond this age and I am seriously happy about that. Love the before and after shots at the end of this post!
You’re right there Jody (about ageing happening far too quick). I can’t believe you’re 50 already! I’m still 7 years ahead of you though. Inside I will always be 35 I think. 35 for me is like your 29 LOL! Glad you liked the photos!
Happy Birthday, Min! I do agree it’s a privilege to get older. We get to live another day, week, month, year. We get to experience life. Hope you have a lovely, lovely birthday and celebrations and a wonderful year ahead!
Thanks so much Sanch! Cheers to all of what you said! xo
Hi Min – Happy birthday! and you’re still officially in your “mid 50’s” so enjoy it! I’m looking down the barrel at 60 in November and am still trying to figure out how I feel about it. Part of me is in denial and another part of me is looking forward to what a new decade will bring. Life keeps moving forward and we can fight it or put our feet up and enjoy the ride – I’m all about the ride these days xx
Thanks Leanne! What’s that? I’m in my MID 50’s?! Hooray!! Thank you! I will enjoy that very much. Let me know how you go with turning 60 (though I’m sure I’ll read about it). I’m going to have to start preparing myself for that one. It’s not going to be an easy one but better that than the alternative! xo
Happy birthday! My sons were born at the Mater Mothers ‘ Hospital in 1992 and 1995. It had changed by then of course. I also did my nursing training at the Mater 1987 – 1990. It was a fabulous place to work. I hope you had a lovely birthday, regards Christina
Thank you Christina! My goodness our kids were born in the same years! I had all my babies at the Mater Mothers Private Hospital. I had twin boys on 19/11/1992 and my daughter on 03/05/1995. I had very good experiences there. Fabulous rooms. Fabulous nurses. Fabulous care. Not a bad word to say about the place.
Happy birthday, Min! 57??? Pffft…you are just a baby! 🙂
There are over 12 (almost 13) years between me and my oldest sister too (I am the youngest). I am finally getting to go visit her this week after not seeing her for over a year due to the pandemic. I loved having a glamourous older sister. I’m sure yours did too.
Enjoy your day!
LOL – a baby? OK then! LOL Thank you Laurie!! I guess I am always younger than someone! I’m so happy to hear you’re getting to visit your sister this week. How awful to not have been able to see her for so long. Enjoy! (p.s. not sure if my siblings thought I was the ‘glamorous’ older sister or not) LOL
Happy Birthday to you. You’re growing lovelier by the year.
Thank you Jo! That’s such a lovely thing to say. xo
Celebrating all that is you is the right thing to do. I saw your weekend celebrations and you looked so relaxed and it was a very enjoyable time. Love how things are going for you now, Min. You are amazing.
Thanks so much for being part of the Life This Week Community by linking up. I always appreciate my blogging friends comments on my post too. Have a great first week of June. See you next Monday I hope. The optional prompt is: Motivate. Denyse.
Thanks for the kind words Denyse! xo
I so agree with you Min, let’s embrace our birthdays! Hope you’ve had a lovely few days being spoilt 🙂 Beautiful photos!
Thank you Debbie! xo
Hip hip hooray – happy birthday. I don’t relish getting older year by year but it certainly beats the alternative. Grateful for each and every year I get to tuck under my belt. And may you have many more!
Thank you Christine. I don’t exactly relish getting older either but I’m certainly grateful that I’m still here and can experience more of life and enjoy these years where working is not dominating my days. xo
Happy birthday, beautiful YOU!! Beautiful mini-Min and more grown up Min. Both are lovely!! Hope there was cake and ice cream in your celebration.
How funny that your dad dropped your mom off at the hospital and went home to await word that you’d arrived. My mom was knocked completely out and didn’t wake up to meet me until a half day after I was delivered. My father saw me before she did. Things were certainly different back then.
Oh thanks so much Leslie! There was definitely cake in my celebration. My sister made my favourite – Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing. I wonder if your Mom was bothered that your Dad saw you before she did?