A Month of Birthdays

“I will post and respond to my prompt here; you can respond when and where you want. Or not. But it is my birthday….”

May is my birthday month. For me, it’s a month of reflection and planning—even more than usual—and a month of celebrating. My birthday lasts the whole month long. This year, I’ve decided to give myself a gift each day—not go out and buy something each day (though I am sure there will be purchases)—but simply give myself something that I want. There are the esoteric gifts someone like me celebrating a mid-life birthday is supposed to want: time, friendships, health. And then there are the goodies that I want regardless of my age: pens and paper, planners and stickers, a Starbucks venti mocha frappuccino with extra whip—and wouldn’t it be nice if they had rainbow sprinkles?

While pens and giant frappuccinos occur at other times in my life, in May, I give (and get) them with solar return-level intention. I think of them as touchstones in my final approach to a new year—a way to recognize and indulge in what has been and will be important to me in this (and upcoming) season of my life.

And what is important to me now is writing.

So for May, I am gifting myself, and perhaps you, a journal prompt a day. Since we are talking about birthdays, I am taking inspiration from Gary Goldschneider’s giant tome, “The Secret Language of Birthdays.” Each day of the year has a theme and a meditation. I’m not going to explain the day’s meaning, just borrow a few of its words to push me into something to write.

And, depending on the day, I may gift myself inspiration from something else altogether.

2021