It's My Birthday
It's my birthday this week. I'm turning 56. I love birthdays and celebrating in general.
Celebrating and being celebrated are important energies. Allowing yourself to be celebrated can be tough. It can be weird accepting attention and effort!
Loads of people don’t like their birthdays, some are uncomfortable with the attention but so many people get messed up with the anxiety of ageing. This is something I cannot understand. Being alive is a privilege and I’ll take old over dead any day!
I definitely believe in another year older, another year wiser, another year of experiences collected. But here's what I've noticed about getting older - it's not about losing energy, it's about becoming more selective with where you spend it.
When I was younger, I scattered my energy everywhere. I said yes to everything, tried to please everyone, and thought more was always better. Now I understand that energy management isn't about having endless reserves - it's about being intentional with what you've got.
I use each birthday as an audit. It's a chance to assess what's working, what's not, and what needs to change for the year ahead.
Here's what birthdays have taught me:
Energy wisdom comes with age. The older I get, the better I am at recognising what truly energises me versus what just keeps me busy.
Saying no gets easier every year. I become more comfortable disappointing people if it means staying true to my energy needs. This isn't selfishness - it's self-preservation.
Quality over quantity becomes super important. I’d rather have five meaningful
conversations than fifty superficial ones. I'd rather do three things well than ten things poorly.
Your energy preferences evolve. What energised me at 25 exhausts me at 55. Don't judge your changing needs - honour them.
Taking time to acknowledge your growth, your achievements, and your resilience fills your energy tank in ways that nothing else can.
Birthdays aren't just about getting older - they're about getting clearer. Each year brings new insights about what matters, what doesn't, and how to allocate your precious energy accordingly.
As I step into the 5.6 version of me, I'm grateful for the lessons each year has taught me. I'm more protective of my energy now, more selective about where I invest it, and more generous with myself when I need to recharge.
I am more and more committed to myself - committed to looking after myself, committed to doing things that the 5.7 version of myself will be happy with!