My family has always made a big deal out of birthdays. My parents always always made a point to make us feel special on our name days, whether it be parties, cards, or signs, there were always surprises big and small to let us know that we were loved.
So as I've gotten older, I have always loved celebrating my birthday. Not because of the gifts but because of the reminders that I am loved. And believe me when I say that that means more than any material gift ever could. I say all of this because as we come upon my 40th birthday, I have had a rough go of it. I never ever cared about aging before. It's just a number. I have always been proud to turn whatever age I was turning. Until 2020. I don't know if it's the state of things; COVID, election, COVID, mean people, angry people, mad people, not being able to spend time with my family, not being able to hug the people that I love, seeing people not taking things seriously enough, living in a perpetual state of anxiousness and exhaustion OR if I have just reached a time in my life where I am blah about birthdays.
I don't think I'm blah about birthdays.
My mom and dad reminded me that turning 40 is not something to be sad about but a reminder of all the things I should be grateful for. So I decided instead of grumbling about this birthday that I don't get to spend with friends and family due to the dumpster fire that we are currently in, I am going to make a list of the 40 things I am most thankful for.
1. Coffee - Doesn't really need an explanation. I look forward to it every morning and think of it as a treat whenever Jeff and I have some in the evening. I really love coffee.
2. Chocolate chip cookies - Making them, eating them, I love them. Maybe one day I will get to make them all for you again??
3. Grocery delivery - God bless the people who invented Shipt. I haven't been physically grocery shopping since April and I do not miss it one bit. If YOU are a Shipt shopper or you know someone who is, please thank them for me. I appreciate your service more than you know!
4. Food delivery - Piggy backing off grocery delivery... what an absolute life saver it is to be able to have good food delivered to your door... and not have to talk to anyone. It makes me so damn happy.
5. My coworkers - I spend more time with these girls than I do my own family. We are family. I can't tell you how much better they make my days. ESPECIALLY these days. They are my free therapists and I couldn't love them more
6. My house - It's home. I love it.
7. My dogs - LOL even Athena. They're funny and annoying and loud and they are A+ snugglers. Everyone should have a dog. They are so good for your mental health.
8. My family - I love them. I miss them. I miss them so much.
9. Books - They are my escape. My break from this every day world. I am so unbelievably thankful for books.
10. Stress and anxiety relief - see above. These days more than ever we need mental health breaks and days. Whether your stress relief comes in the form of therapy, having a drink with people you love, eating, reading, painting, coloring, writing, exercising... Whatever it is. How lucky are we that we have so many outlets to choose from?
11. Vodka sodas - because they are refreshing and I just really enjoy them and I am happy that after all these years I finally found an alcoholic beverage that I like.
12. Reeses pumpkins and eggs and Christmas trees - Sure, I love myself a regular reeses cup, but the chocolate/peanut butter ratio is exponentially better in the pumpkins etc. It's just a fact.
13. My neighborhood - I cannot tell you how much I love being able to walk around a real neighborhood with my dogs. It is such a special thing.
14. Teachers - Thank you. For adapting to a new way of teaching. For trying so hard to get these kids the knowledge they need to grow up in this world. Thank you for reaching out and making sure the kids with anxiety are okay. That the kids are eating. That the kids who need help have the resources to help them achieve their goals. You are what makes these kid's minds blossom. So, thank you.
15. People who are kind - It seems a silly thing to be thankful for. Everyone should be kind. But, nowadays, it is far more common to come in contact with someone who is mean and angry than it is someone who is patient and kind. I am so grateful for kind people. We need more.
16. All essential workers - ESPECIALLY the health screeners at the doors and on the phones of all the doctor's offices, dental offices and eyecare offices. THIS is a job you do not want. THIS is a job where the person performing this duty gets yelled at and sighed at and eyes rolled at. It is the person who is trying to keep YOU healthy and safe inside of the establishment you are visiting. Sure, you may have been asked the standard covid questions a million times by now. Maybe even twice the same day, but you know what? The screener doesn't know that. The screener is just doing what they are told to do and to be honest, it's probably the most important job in the office because it is the first step of keeping that building healthy. So, the next time you go to the doctor and the person at the door or desk asks you a list of questions and checks your temperature and asks you to please put a mask on, be nice and just answer them and more importantly; answer them HONESTLY. It doesn't take much. I promise it doesn't. They are just as tired of having to ask the questions as you are of hearing them.
17. The Governor - Say what you will about Big Gretch, but I could not be more proud to come from a state where the person in charge has my safety as her number one priority. I am not here to argue with you about what your thoughts are about her. I am here to tell you that I am thankful for all she has done (and is still trying to do) to keep us safe.
18. My friends - I miss my friends. I haven't seen my friends in so long, but just because we haven't seen each other that doesn't mean I don't love and miss each and every one of you.
19. Jennifer Garner - You guys, I am not a crazy person, I swear. I am completely genuine when I tell you that I love her. She is a bright spot in a dreary social media world. She is truly gifted and kind hearted and so damn funny. I am grateful that our world has someone like her in it.
20. The fact that my kid is so good at math and computers - He's just smart and I don't miss the days of having to help him with his math homework. He just gets it. Math was so difficult for me growing up. OH MY GOD, I had the hardest time with it. So that makes me SO incredibly thankful that he doesn't struggle in that area because it was torture for me.
21. Motrin - I get a lot of headaches. see; the world we live in
22. Jeff - my Fred. The one who puts up with my absolute crankiness. The one who listens when I have a shit day, The one who never judges when I start crying for no reason. The one who always makes me smile. I love him a lot.
23. Charley - What a kid, man. He's smart and funny and so damn creative and sometimes he will say or do something so brilliant that it knocks me off my feet. He's just good and I'm proud to be his mom.
24. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite - You know, it's that app that is kind of like the Pokemon game but not nearly as popular. I just enjoy playing it because it makes me feel like I am back in the universe (a wizard. It makes me feel like a wizard).
25. Harry Potter - Speaking of... I am so grateful to have this world that I can constantly jump back into. Whether it be with a movie marathon or rereading the books or just talking about it. It is so much fun to be part of a universe as elaborate and creative and fun as HP.
26. People who are willing to stand up for things - whether it's the world or a cause you are passionate about; we need more people like that. People fighting for a common good.
27. Taco Bell - There are few things I get more excited about eating than Taco Bell
28. The Hallmark channel - It calms me and it makes me happy and I know they are cheesy and I always know how they will end, but what's wrong with getting a guaranteed happy ending every time? Not a damn thing, I tell ya.
29. Chocolate creme oreos - They. Are. Delicious.
30. My dishwasher - I had never used a dishwasher until we got this house. I cannot tell you how much time and energy that stupid washing box has saved me.
31. Sleep - I love sleep. It makes me so happy. Athena doesn't let me get much sleep these days but the days I do get to sneak a nap in here and there make it all the more special.
32. Everything bagel seasoning - Have you tried it yet? It's amazing. I put it on everything. Natalie made me an everything bagel seasoning cheeseball (see below) and it was DELICIOUS. You should get some because it will make you happy too.
33. This one step hair dryer/volumizer - It makes my mornings so much faster
34. Face Time/House Party/Zoom - What an unbelievably convenient thing to have when you aren't allowed to be around people.
35. Twinkle lights - party lights, Christmas lights etc. They are pretty and make me really happy. Jeff is good about indulging my love of twinkle lights
36. Greek salads - Especially from the Leo's in Westland. The are delicious.
37. Reese's Take5 bars - Yes, it's another reeses product but it's different because of the PRETZELS in it and they are heaven in a wrapper!
38. Comedian Sarah Cooper - Good lord, nothing has made me laugh like Sarah Cooper has made me laugh during this god forsaken pandemic. Thank goodness for the people who are able to make us laugh in these stupid times.
39. Cookie/Cake decorating videos - Sometimes when I am extra anxious or stressed or can't sleep, I go on instagram and search decorating videos and let me tell you, there is nothing like watching a baker flood a cookie with some icing or fancily slap some frosting onto a cake to relieve your brain like this can. I promise you. It is so relaxing.
40. Vanilla sweet cream cold brew from Starbucks - SO GOOD. I haven't had the patience to obtain as much Starbucks as I would like to these last few months. The lines are SO LONG and their mobile ordering was so insanely chaotic last time I tried it that I've been too afraid to use it since, BUT when I do have the time to wait in the 40 minute drive-thru line, it is SO worth it.
Anyway, thank you to all of you for always brightening my day with funny memes and videos and pictures of your kids and animals. It always means more than you know. As harsh as social media can be, I am thankful for good parts.
My family set up a surprise for me for when I got home from work tonight. Decorations all throughout the basement, balloons, streamers, signs, collages, food and gifts. The best is the birthday board put together with kind words from all of you. So, if you contributed to this... I don't have the words to express how eternally grateful I am for all of you. It is a wonderful feeling to know how loved you are and you all made this pretty down in the dumps almost 40 year old sob like a baby.
Thank you.
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Look at this. Just look at it!
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| This was my dinner. |
