Splendid Birthday

I love to celebrate birthdays, my own included. I love the European tradition of throwing your own birthday party and buying gifts for your guests. I know many people who do not feel the same way. They are either uncomfortable celebrating their birthdays, or downright hate it. I find it difficult to put into words why your birthday is something to love.

Recently I read a poem, Remember, by Joy Harjo, 2019 U.S. poet laureate. So far, her poem is the closest I can get to explaining why birthdays are so fantastic.

Remember

Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember. -Joy Harjo

So beautiful and true.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to memorize this poem. When I’m dancing around like a crazy person on my 50^th birthday this year, and someone says, “I don’t like to celebrate my birthday. Why do you like it so much?” I’ll recite it for them. And they’ll think I’m nuts, but at least I can expand on my usual answer, “Because it’s so much fun!”

Happy Birthday, 2020! So glad you’re here.

Be inspired. Go forth. Create your day.