What's the point of birthdays? Gratitude!

Yesterday I celebrated my first quarter century in this life.  It was fun, full, and completely unexpected. 

Like many, I often find myself bogged down in too much work and not enough play.  Running from job to job, debating major life decisions, worrying over the minor, it is a continual challenge to honor my relationships with the time and resources they need to flourish.  These relationships are, as my grandfather says, all that matter in the end.  I was reminded yesterday that love - whether it is between family, friends, people and animals, those together on a healing journey, or some other form of interaction - is a two-way street, and I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by men, women, children, and animals who believe the same.

To those who sent so many text messages and emails that my Blackberry battery gagged and said "enough" (then theatrically died in the middle of the night, begging for its charger); those whom I have met and those who I have not, but who called all the same and made me laugh; to the parents who shower me with gifts both tangible and otherwise; the friend who offered a rainbow of stones to wear around my neck and a bottle of wine with a Rottweiler on the label -


Thank you.  I am grateful for your offering and your reminder.  I love you, too.

With a grin and gratitude for a very happy birthday,
Jan