Happy birthday to me! Today marks another milestone in my life’s journey, and I couldn’t be happier to become a year older!
It’s the Happiest of Birthdays because I am just so blessed to see another year…sounds a bit cliche, but we all know it’s the truth. Many people never reach the age of 45 for uncountable reasons. So nowadays I consider every birthday the happiest of birthdays. Today I am celebrating it quietly with the family. I will throw a small cocktail party in the garden with some of my beautiful friends tomorrow.
Once a year, I celebrate that I am alive, that I am lucky enough to live, that I have come as far as today on this beautiful day.
Last year I published a post on my birthday with a list of affirmations. I decided to make it an annual habit, positive affirmations on my special day to usher in a new year of life. When I was younger, I often dreaded my upcoming birthday. I did not feel like celebrating, or would rather not have a birthday, another year older. But since I passed the age of 40, I think that every year of life should be celebrated. And preferably every year slightly different. I don’t throw a party every year, sometimes I need a quiet celebration or a weekend trip to a beautiful city in Europe with my husband. But for me, pausing on your own special day has become a must. Once a year, I reflect that I am alive, that I am lucky enough to live, that I have come as far as today on this beautiful day.
Over the past many years, I have learned that my thoughts impact my energy, and my energy creates my reality, we become what we are thinking… The day of my birthday feels like the perfect moment for some reflection and some goal setting for the upcoming year.
For this upcoming year, I’ve got my birthday affirmations lined up, and you know what, they’re not much different from last year’s.
1. I will enjoy getting a year older, wiser, and more complete.
2. I will practice even more self-love because I am whole and complete. Regardless of my age; regardless of how I look (or don’t look according to society) and regardless of my successes or failures. I am enough by being my perfectly imperfect self.
3. I will radiate and attract love, trust, and authenticity (less fake, or should I say even less fake).
4. I will stop taking shit from anyone that is not acting out of love, trust, and authenticity.
5. I will accept what is and trust in the greater plan.
6. I will retain my childhood curiosity, no matter how old I am, 45 is a perfect age to be curious about new things.
7. I will continue to look after my body, mind, and my soul. I will try to stay in balance, I will eat well, exercise, meditate, take deep breaths, and do what makes me happy. An extra point of attention, I want (need) to sleep more.
8. I will continue to make new memories every day, no matter how small. I will record them by making stories, by writing them down, by taking photos (or videos) to remind myself how lucky I am.
9. I will continue my beautiful journey into aging and inspire women with my project to show them the true beauty of aging.
10. I will connect to my tribe and have more meaningful, uplifting, and empowering relationships than ever before.
11. I will cherish my besties even more because friends are the family we choose.
12. I will invest more time in personal growth and on letting go of old grief and loss from the past.
13. I will be the best mother I can be for my beautiful son because he deserves no less.
And for the next 364 days I will live my life and forget my age.
So how many of you think you’re becoming too old? I definitely used to put myself in this category, but I don’t anymore. Age is just a number, to which we have attached great significance. Somehow, we have given more meaning to our age than we should. So we let a number control our life. The truth is, age does not define us, or our destiny because it is not our age that counts, but our attitude. The best age is the one that you have right now because it’s at this moment when you have the best opportunities to be who you want to be. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 60. Forget your age, and live your life!
Birthday hair by Mark van Westerop @ Pro-Solo kapper Alkmaar
Dress by Johanna Ortiz.
