Birthdays seem to come round all to swiftly these days and are occasions more for commiserations than congratulations nowadays! What they do do though is to make one stop and reflect and this is what I have been doing - did I reach my potential (whatever that was!) Have I achieved what I set out to do (not really since I never knew what I wanted to do anyway) Could I have done better, should I have done more etc. I remember our junior school motto was I am, I can, I ought, I will - not sure I have lived up to it though!
Me aged about 3
When I retired some years ago I suddenly realised that I had never decided what I wanted to be when I grew up and now it was too late! I am not sure I have been successful - whatever one means by that - nor have I achieved anything of note. I made a bit of a pig's ear of parenting, have not travelled the world nor wanted to, have never taken office as President of the WI or anything like that and when my "willow coffin" day comes I fear the eulogy will be very brief!
Me aged about 6
However there are plenty of plusses - I am still here and that can't be a bad thing since I have lost several friends in recent years, one younger than me - I live in a beautiful area, still with the same husband I started out with all those years ago (though some days that might be debatable as a plus and I am sure he might say the same!) I have everything I need even if not all I want, I no longer have to get up early if I don't want to nor struggle to work through the rush hour traffic, I can go on the bus for nothing with my bus pass, I can be as eccentric as I wish and nobody notices or cares except me, I have many clear memories of my childhood even if I have to think to decide what day it is or what I did yesterday! Yes although I could say "Regrets I have a few but then again too few to mention" (apologies Lesley!) life has been good on the whole and today is the start of the rest of my life and I mean to make the most of it whilst I still can!
I have received lots of cards and good wishes and amongst the gifts was a book of sayings to do with getting older (the friend who sent it is a little older than me so can get away with it!) and my favourite page is this one.
I will certainly take heed of it and the one below made me laugh - I hope I shan't take to napping in the car!
Oh and one major plus is that I have discovered blogging and found a whole new world full of friends out there - thank you all so much for visiting my blog and for your lovely comments - I love reading them and value each and every one.
23 comments:
Hi - wishing you a very Happy Birthday!
What a great post - I'm feeling all those things you mentioned - children, husband, have I left it all too late etc. It made me smile to see I'm not the only one -
I look forward to following your blog -
xxx
forgot to mention how lovely the photos are - x
This was such a lovely post to read today, made extra poignant with your beautiful photos.
I think the majority of people feel the same way about life. We all want to make a difference and be remembered for doing something memorable, but I think we forget all the little everyday things that make a difference to the lives of the people around us.
Happy 'Starting the rest of your life' Day.
x
Happy birthday. I hope you enjoy it and every day.
Su
Happy Birthday - as others have said, you are not alone in your wondering!
I wish you a very happy birthday! Lovely photos and lovely young lady in them. Many happy returns!
Happy Birthday, dear Jane!
You look beautiful in the pictures!
Happy, happy birthday Jane, your life story sounds SO familiar. Lovely photos of you, and the ones of your book make it look like a billboard!I think the second one would be rather good at the side of the road. Hope you are having a pleasant day.
Jill x
Happy Belated Birthday wishes! Lovely photos, how interesting to read your meditation on your life so far - I think you may be underestimating the positive things you have done, but I really do appreciate your honest reflection. Have a wonderful year now.
Happy Birthday! I seem to be doing a lot of that sort of pondering too...but your thoughts have reminded me there are some good things still to look forward to - not having to get up for work is very appealing!
Happy Birthday Jane! Wishing you all the very best for a wonderful year ahead. Lovely photos!
Jeanne
x
Happy Birthday Jane! I hope you had a wonderful day. Love the photos of you as a child, they are really beautiful.
Jane,
I am a day late! So sorry I didn't pick this up yesterday so my birthday wishes are belated but still sent with much affection. Your words read straight from the heart and other comments show how we all identify with them, so you're not alone! I notice you sneaked a song into the post again.... but I can forgive you anything on your birthday. Hope it was a good day and long may the celebrations continue. Lesley xx
Sorry Jane, I'm a little late but Happy Birthday! That was a lovely post to read and it was great seeing your childhood photo's. As we get older I think we all do reflect on our life choices and what we are about/have been, but I'm a great believer in fate and what will be will be.
x
Oh HOW DID I MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY??????? It was the same day as my son's!!!!!!
I hope you had the most brilliant of times.
When I read the opening of your post, I realised that you might as well have been writing about me........ It would appear that an awful lot of us feel the same about our lives and that is heartwarming in itself.
X
Absolutely lovely photos, and I hope you've had a lovely Birthday. I hope this next year is a good one - with lots of crafting and blogging!
Kate x
Happy belated birthday Mrs MJ....as long as you have no regrets than life is most definitely worth all that you acheive.
Nina x
Hope you had a fabulous birthday and enjoy many more in the years to come. I agree with the first saying about growing up. That's my outlook on life. Happy crafting and blogging in the year ahead!
Penny
Happy belated birthday Jane......a taurus, I should have known. My darling daughter is a taurus and she could have written that. Lacking in self esteem.
You were a beautiful little girl......I know from reading your posts that you are generous of spirit. You are artistic and creative.
Life is a journey.....we choose the paths we take. It is never too late to fulfill dreams, no matter what your age. I know, I am living the dream now......like you I walk the path to older age, so it came late but I got there.......
BTW I love your writings to, another plus eh??
What a lovely collection of thoughts. I think we all wonder how things turned out the waythey did, for better or worse , especially when we visit the past as we we both seem to have been doing lately. Happy Birthday and here's to many more.
x
What a lovely post, thank you! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Lots of jelly and cake and pass-the-parcel, no doubt....
Happy Birthday!!! I love the photos of you as a little girl - you are lovely!
Lucy xxxx
Hi Jane
Thanks for the lovely comment on my blog. Didn't see the One Show but have just watched it on iplayer. How interesting was that! What lucky people to have an original...There I go again..coveting something else!
Jenny x
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