I recently had a birthday, not a big one, but a birthday nonetheless. It did not end in a 5 or a 0, which is how I typically define a big birthday. I really don’t worry about the number getting bigger every year. After all, the passage of time is entirely out of my control, so why give energy to something I can’t change? But I do believe it is important to celebrate your birthday in some clear and meaningful way that honors your unique existence.

I am always amazed at the variety of reactions people have to birthdays. Some people love their birthdays and celebrate for the entire month; some ignore them completely; and the rest are usually somewhere in between. Some only want to celebrate the big ones. Others seem to stop celebrating them altogether after hitting a certain number of years, almost as if there is nothing left to celebrate. I recall when I was approaching my 50th birthday, some people asked if I was okay, as if this milestone was something to be feared or sad about. I found turning 50 a huge cause for celebration. I was entering the second half of my life. I felt more confident, wise, calm, and self-aware than ever before. Let’s remember that in sports, the second half of a game is often exciting, amazing, and full of miracles. So far, the second half of my life has definitely been all of these things.

So why are birthdays important? Birthdays affirm that a person’s life matters and that their presence makes a positive difference in the world. Birthday reflections can help us look back on the past year and plan for the next. It is also a time to practice gratitude for the people and things in your life. I like the gratitude and reflection parts best. If you know me, this is no surprise. I view my own birthday as a time of self-reflection, without judgment, and I celebrate being on this earth. It really isn’t the number of years you have lived, though that is a gift for sure; it’s living those years mindfully and intentionally, and full of love.

When I was a younger adult, I used to spend part of my actual birthday all alone. Much as I love celebrating my birthday with family and friends, I also really love celebrating alone. Back then, my solo celebration included treating myself to delicious ice cream, a little shopping trip, and time to reflect on my life. As I got older, and added a spouse and children to my life, this precious time got shorter and did not always happen on the actual day. These days, I still spend some time alone on my birthday, but thanks to a dairy allergy, no more ice cream, now it is a fancy coffee or a pastry of some kind. The sentiment is the same: celebrate myself with myself.

Celebrating birthdays is, of course, not a new, modern practice. The ancient Egyptians celebrated the birthdays of pharaohs as they became gods. The ancient Greeks made cakes in honor of Artemis, the goddess of the moon, and even lit candles to make them glow like the moon. The Romans made cakes of wheat, oil, and honey, and even dressed up and brought gifts to honor the birthdays of family and friends. Later, other cultures thought birthdays brought evil spirits, so gathering friends and family to make noise and offer prayers and gifts was a way to protect the person. The modern cake with candles originated in Germany as kinderfeste (kids’ parties), with the extra candle signifying “light of life” for the next year. I take comfort in knowing that even 3000 years ago, humans believed birthdays were important.

So, however you celebrate your special day, whether it is a big blowout bash, a walk in nature, a yummy cupcake, sleeping late with breakfast in bed, or a meal with family and friends, I encourage you to mark your birthday in some intentional way. Another lap around the sun is certainly something to celebrate and be grateful for. As Dr. Seuss said, “Today you are you, that is truer than true”. The world is a better and richer place because you were born so celebrate!