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This what it would look like with 53 candles!!
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Today,
January 24, 2013 is my 53rd birthday. I’ve been looking forward to
this birthday for a very long time. Why? because I think there’s something
magical about turning 53. For one
thing, it represents -- in numerology -- entering into my fourth pinnacle…which
is my last visit. The one (last pinnacle) where all of the previous paths in [my]
life lead us to this point. The direction that you and I will be moving into
for the final years of our life on earth.
I’m very
excited because I understand now that my previous times of turbulence..time of
storm will become the darkness before the morning comes. The light that shines
-- the dawn-- is upon me. Now I can see clearly; this is how I see myself at
age 53 and beyond.
It’s Time to Party
So, how should
I celebrate my 53rd birthday? Definitely, I’ll take my wife out for
lunch or dinner (some other type of activity). I can’t decide if I will eat
healthy @Jasons Deli, or eat greasy spoon,
fast and fun at the Kettle restaurant (an old-fashioned diner near my house).
Whatever the
case, it’s gonna be a glorious day! Another thing about it [my birthday] is
that it helps me to celebrate the year 2013…which I believe will be an amazing
year for me. Last year [2012] brought challenges (particularly career
challenges) that -- looking back -- if I knew now what was to come, then I’m
not sure I could’ve gotten through it all. Yet I did; and having gotten through
it, I’m Stronger and Better. I’m also
softer and more free-flowing. I have a deeper sense of belief; a deeper sense of
trust and certainly a very deep sense of faith. Faith in a power that is bigger
than myself.
Looking back
over my life, it’s been a really fun time. Having entered into the army at age 17,
going overseas to the Far East for a number of years, I returned to the United
States and continued my military career as a military musician for 20 year span
of time. This time wasn’t without its challenges, but at the same time it was a
most interesting and magical life because I was able to travel. I engaged and
interacted with dignitaries and Heads of State. Had I just continued to live in
my hometown and follow the road well
traveled, I wouldn’t have been exposed to such wonderful adventures.
No Regrets
I’m very
proud of the fact that I’ve had a marriage spanning three decades. I have two
wonderful children who’ve grown up to be very, very fine. I’m also very
grateful that I see people differently at different paths in different areas. I
now know that there is no one right or wrong way (with the exception of doing
harm to oneself and/or doing harm to others); not making the planet worse off
than what was prior to our arrival here.
There are
many, many different ways of life with different paths to success on Planet Earth.
The definitions of success are plenteous, thus, there is no time like the
present...The Now!
So as I enter
my 53rd year, the question of what will happen to me in life as I
age? Understanding that what we are, is not what we truly are in the physical and
material sense. Truly, what we are is a combination of [our] mind, body and
spirit. The spirit is ageless. Sometimes we identify so much with the body, and
the decaying of the body (the aging process), that we attach our minds or to our
overall mental spirit.
The body’s aging
and decaying is a natural process. Our spirit is ageless and it only becomes
aged through our own machinations of getting old. ‘I will be old, not only in
body, but also in mind’, we tell ourselves. On the other hand, I know that I
can remain youthful by adopting a youthful perspective…but without resorting to
childish and silly behavior.
The Conclusion of the Matter
Having said all
of this, I’m going to see my 53rd birthday as a new beginning! Today
is the first day of the rest of your (and mine) life. [reminds me of the cereal
commercial, Special-K from Kellogg’s] I really
believe that. And so today is my 53rd birthday, January 24,
2013.
I am beginning the first day of the rest of my life. I’m so excited!
Looking
forward, with a spirit of gratitude and looking back in hindsight to draw upon
lessons learned; believing for great things to come my way. Hoping, praying,
and being patient for the receipt of all of the great blessings that God has
store for me.
I ask all of
you to join with me, in celebration of my birthday, and ask that you all start
this day as the first day of the rest of your life. Know that our greatest
times are ahead of us..not behind us.
Blogger– M.J. Monaghan writes:
Honestly, I haven’t typically gotten too excited about my birthdays, but for some reason in the past two or three years, I’ve started to actually enjoy them. So, without dragging this out, my birthday wish is to continue to get to know you all, more and more each day, and share myself from the bottom of my heart.
Oh, and if you do want to send cake, cookies, ice cream, or really expensive gifts, you know where to find me…(listen to more of my 53rd birthday celebration via podcast...http://encouraging-people.podbean.com/2013/01/24/celebrating-my-53rd-birthday/)
