Whether it is a pauper or a billionaire, king or commoner, the birthday is an occasion to celebrate. Every birthday is a milestone in our life journey.
People celebrate birthdays in different ways and for different purposes. For some, it is a joyous moment to be savoured along with friends and relatives.It is pure merry-making and sharing of joy and happiness.
Until the 30th birthday, getting old never crosses our minds. We look forward to the future with optimism. Years do not matter when the freshness of hope continues to inspire us.
“Don’t count your years, make your years count”
George Meredith
For others, especially those who cross the 40th birthday, it is not an occasion to merely celebrate, it is an opportunity to reflect on our lives- about what we have done so far, where we go from here and to what purpose. It is a time for stocktaking. Have we achieved our goals? Have we strictly adhered to our values?
“You don’t get older, you get better”
Shirley Bassey
When we reach our 50th birthday, our attitudes undergo a transformation. Reaching the middle of the life journey is a memorable milestone. One can burst with the zeal for life or look ahead with trepidation for an uncertain future.
“We turn not older with years, but newer every day”
Emily Dickinson
When we cross into the sixties, we breach the threshold of old age.
Many view the sexagenarian status as another step towards the grave. What is there to celebrate when the clock is ticking and reminding us of our mortality? For others, age is only a number.
“ Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”.
Satchel Paige
I am not talking about the seventies and the eighties because good health and caring relationships are the only things that are important at this stage of our lives. Nothing else matters including your bank balance or celebrity status.
“ You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake”
Bob Hope
Many people consciously choose not to beat their drums on their birthdays. ( count me in ). There is nothing wrong in ignoring your birthday. There is nothing weird about it. No, you are not anti-social even if you are in Facebook which has created a spectacle out of our birthdays.
Shakespeare captures the “ Seven Ages of Man” in this cynical yet beautiful passage in his play, “As You Like It”.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
[–]shivashivashiva 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)