Pretty much all of my life, my birthday has fallen on December 22nd. It's not the date I would have chosen – in fact, it's not the date I was supposed to show up on this planet (I was six weeks early). But it's my date, and there is a lot of positive spin to it. As Mrs. G points out, in her inimitable optimism, it's the first day of spring! Well, in the sense that the days are now getting longer again, having turned the solstice corner.
It's also a day that is close enough to the end of the year that it inspires reflection. What has the year that is about to wrap out brought in terms of blessings, lessons, friendships, opportunities, dreams, challenges? What are my plans and goals for the new year ahead? These are the thoughts that will occupy me in these waning days of 2010, which will happily be filled with the love and friendship of those most near and dear to me.