Birthday Blues - Villa Ridge,MO

Happy Birthday. MY sister does not like birthdays either. I am actually alright with them. I have a close friend pass away and left some little ones, so each birthday I have, I am reminded that it is better than the alternative. It truly is. I hope this helps!

First off - HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY ;) I've been told for so many year that women stop having birthdays at 29. We never hit 30... but yes, I've had a few 29th birthdays under this rule.

Year ago I lost my brother - he was only 9, I was 12, actually it has been 20 years. One of the things I took from his death was that anyone at any age can be gone tomorrow or even in an hour. Each birthday we have is another blessing... you aren't one year closer to death, you have had one more special year of life. Think back - what is something special that happen since your last birthday? Big or small it doesn't matter - something that touched your heart, made you smile or laugh... if you are having troubles getting through today remember it. If you didn't have your last birthday and today - you would have never experianced it.

Wow, what a powerful response Jenny G.!

I look at each birthday as a celebration of life too. This April I'll turn 35 as well. I'm not planning to celebrate this year for me. I'm going to celebrate all the wonderful women in my life that have helped me be the woman that I am. I'm going to invite them over for an evening of dinner and appreciation.

As women we have the power and beauty that no other has. Try to celebrate that! I wish you all the best!!

Hi S.,
Please don't waste another moment thinking about death. Learn to look at the glass as has full, not half empty. We don't know how long we are going to be here...don't waste thoughts on negativity. You are beautiful and your husband loves you. Let him celebrate your life with a party!

S., can i be honest? honey i feel like you're kind of being a little self indulgent. whatever issues you have with birthdays, i'm going to assume there's something deeper, that maybe birthdays weren't good experiences when you were a kid or something, because otherwise i'm tempted to just think it's vanity and that's just plain silly. hold your head up, be proud that you are a beautiful, intelligent, gifted 30 year old woman. look at your kids, your husband, your family, your life. how can you be depressed just because it's your birthday? it's ONE day out of the year, it makes really no difference. a couple suggestions: take it as an opportunity to splurge and pamper yourself - start a new indulgent tradition, where you pick something YOU really want to do, and on that one day out of the year, do it. also, realize that the people who love you (i.e. your hubby) WANT to celebrate the day you were born. they want to shower you with love and affection on your special day, and show you how much you mean to them. what on earth would make you want to take that away from them? my advice is realize that it's not the end of the world and yes, it is kinda silly to mope around as if you were the center of the universe and the world should stop because you have a birthday. be happy! you have to choose to, you know :) if none of that helps to change your attitude, think about this. it's not just your birthday. EVERY day you are a day closer to dying. so why be "normal" every other day? do you get depressed on new years too? it's just another year closer to you dying. i'm sorry, i'm not trying to be rude, but you can tell i don't get it. this is an attitude thing i think...maybe somewhere someone taught you to feel this way. you will have to just retrain your brain. or keep the same train of thought and keep hating your birthday!

S.,

Just a couple words of advice for you...growing old is mandatory, growing up is an option! I chose not to exercise that option anymore then I have to!!! I have a few more years on you...I turned 50 this year and we have decided that 50 is the new 30!!

I am a mom, my oldest daughter is 31 and grandma, my oldest grandson is 11 and take life one day at a time. We buried a son 15 years ago and when you have something like that happen you realize how quickly life can change! Don't think of it as you are getting older but that you have more experience to share with younger women who may be having problems that you have already dealt with!

Are you a stay at home mom? Maybe some time out with other women would be helpful!! Do something special that you enjoy!

Just remember age is a matter of mind...if you don't mind it won't matter:)

Hang in there!
L.

On my 35th I sat in my office crying on the phone with my husband while the office staff sat on the other side of the door singing "Happy Birthday". I will be 40 in a few months and so far I am ok with it. For me it's the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9's (like 25, 35) that are hard because you are reaching the end of that decade and are now "late 30's". Then when you get to the 0,1,2,3,4 you are in your "early 40's". It's crazy but that's me. You may never like your birthdays but as long as you are happy 364 days a year, it's ok :)

You should try to embrace and enjoy each birthday. Make it special for yourself. Years ago, when no one, and I mean no one-family, co-workers, friends, didn't even wish me a "happy birthday" on my birthday, I decided I was the only one who could make me happy, birthday or no birthday. So every year since, I buy myself a special birthday present and now I don't even care if anyone remembers my birthday because I always will remember and will always have a special birthday present which I can brag about to family, friends, co-workers and I don't even tell them who it was from, I keep that little part a secret mystery. Makes my birthday very special, fun and exciting. Don't think of your birthday as getting older or closer to death but as another year to try something new. Heck, I learned and started playing soccer for the first time when I was 38/39 yrs. old. I still play today and love it and I'm now 54 yrs. old and can still compete and hang with the 18, 20, 30 yr olds and give them a run for their money heehee. Have a great birthday and enjoy yourself. Think positive. Happy Birthday.
V.

Hi, Ispent alot of years of my life with the Birthday blues, not because I was getting older but because that is when my family use to travel. I would not always get a cake and homemade ckes were special to me. Sometimes they would forget, my mother of course would never forget. She passed young however I realized she out lived her mother who died in her twenties. When I was about to turn forty I gave myself a Birthday party for the first time.I had the time of my life because it is around Labor Day.Once I realized that I looked at that day differently. Don't deny your husband from celebrating with you remember birthdays can only be truly enjoyed by the living.One day you will feel different about that day but,"old habits die hard".I recently celebrated my fiftieth (gave myself a party) and I had more fun there than I have ever had. My sister said she had never seen me so happy. They get better if you have children they are get markers when it comes to birthdays.

You must not truly be happy with where you are in your life. Have you not accomplished what you thought you would by now? I am not saying that you don't appreciate what you have but did you see yourself in a different place? It's just a number. You are only as old as you feel. I can kind of relate because I fear death but the birthdays aren't what gets me. Find something in your life that you really enjoy and focus on it. I found a business that I love. I know get to go out, have a great time and make money. I am also learning which I think keeps me young. The world is interesting again. Do you stay home with your kids? Maybe you are just stuck in a rut.
Keep smiling and try to enjoy.

Happy Birthday Young Lady! Each and every time you awaken to a new day is a blessing! Another year is just a milestone to add to that blessing. Just take a look at the world around you and acknowledge how blessed you are. You have a husband that wants to celebrate with you...WOW, embrace that as so many long for it! Encourage yourself daily and have JOY in your life. Doesn't mean you'll always be happy, but remember happiness is just an emotion. Just like mood swings,it can change with the wind. You have a CHOICE...CHOOSE to enjoy life and love yourself! You are loved! Best Wishes to you...go have an AWESOME day! :-)

My experience is similar to Jenny's. My father died suddenly and with no apparent reason. He wasn't overweight, didn't smoke - and I got the phone call at 5 in the morning that he had died in his sleep. Just like that, he was gone.

It truly drove the point home to me that we are literally here today and gone tomorrow. Celebrate that you have your family, health, happiness, just celebrate YOU! It's all in the attitude that you take, and you need to take a look at yours!

Cheer up, have a drink and toast to another year of happy memories and great family moments. Happy Birthday, mama!

I guess you should think of the positive things for being here and able to celebrate and your health and just be thankful for the years you have and enjoy them. My mother is 86 and still does everything and goes and sends cards to people and just does so much more than I do even. It's in your attitude too as to how you live life and what the quality of your life is as you age. Celebrate, be thankful and it's just another day in your life of however long you live. Use those days wisely and celebrate!