5 May 2009

Happy Birthday to Me!

Gwen of All My Seams has an excellent sense of timing. She bestowed upon me the Blogger Buddy Award today. Not only am I honoured and humbled by her kind gesture, but I can't help but think it's a pretty nifty birthday present too!

Today is my 39th birthday and all day long colleagues kept reminding me (in a good natured way) that next year will be the big 4-0. I think there is a misguided perception that women can't handle aging well. I actually don't mind getting older. I think for many woman, with age comes a greater self-awareness and contentment with oneself. I am now more comfortable in my skin than I ever was in my teens or twenties. So, I welcome each of my birthdays and as they say, it's better than the alternative!

27 comments:

BeeBee said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you had a good one. And any birthday is better than the alternative, so celebrate another one and look forward to the next. Hey, it's an excuse to eat cake.

Barbara at Cat Fur Studio said...

Happy, happy birthday! I agree with you - with age comes wisdom and self-awareness. That, combined with a sense of fun and discovery, makes life an awesome gift.

Lisette M said...

Well said Shannon! Happy Birthday to you!!!!!

gwensews said...

Bravo! I can tell you that, although my body may be 61, my heart is still 16! Happy Birthday!

Jamie said...

Happy Birthday!! And I can't agree more about aging. Granted, I just turned 30, but everyone I know told me that I was going to have a nervous breakdown by turning 30. Yes, it's a milestone, but I feel like I'm getting better and better the more time that goes by! Obviously you are too, which I greatly admire!

Marsha said...

I wish you a very happy birthday! And trust me....the 40s aren't so bad!

Dawn said...

Happy happy birthday!

Nancy in A2 said...

Happy Birthday, Shannon.

Unknown said...

Hope you had a lovely birthday. g

Carol said...

Happy birthday. I agree with you about aging and I wasn't concerned about turning 40, but something happened when I turned 45. I started thinking that the next milestone is 50 and I still find it hard to think of myself as someone middle aged when my 20's seemed like only a minute ago. Aging plays tricks with your mind.

Tany said...

Happy Birthday, Shannon!

2BSewing: said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful Birthday! :)

Mardel said...

Happy Birthday, a bit belated! I agree with you about birthdays. I think birthdays are a celebration of getting older and wiser and more comfortable with oneself.

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday!! May 5 is my mother's birthday.

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Happy birthday! I hope you had a good one.

Myrna said...

Shannon - turning forty is FABULOUS. In anticipation, I threw my own 39 party so "we" could do it my way. It was a LOT of fun. I highly recommend marking the moment.

- Myrna

http://blog.myrnagiesbrecht.com

Summerset said...

Happy Birthday to you! I have to agree with your thoughts - we're close to the same age, so I understand.

lorrwill said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (late, sorry!)

BCN - UNIQUE designer patterns said...

Happy Birthday Shannon. it is for many years. I hope you have a good day and much happiness.

Teddylyn said...

happy Birthday! Enjoy each year for the special gifts it provides. Last year was the big 6-0 for me--it has been a wonderful year so far. I hope 39 is a year of many rewards for you!

Maggie said...

Happy Birthday Shannon! I think of 39 as the "Jack Benny" year. For all of you youngsters out there, he was a famous entertainer that always gave his age as 39 no matter how old he got...and he lived to a ripe old age! Carol said it best, aging plays tricks on you. To look ahead seems like forever, but to look back seems like just minutes have gone by. Enjoy each day, it's a gift.
Marguerite
PS A good friend had a surprise shoe party when she turned 40. (Her husband ran it!) Each guest had to bring her a pair of shoes, size 7 for a gift. She got 38 pairs, everything from sandals to slippers to high heels. So with your love for shoes, I say you start planning this for next year, or drop hints along the way.
Marguerite

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday.

Worry not about the big 4-0 - I managed mine with the support of several dirty Martinis. I needn't have worried - my 40's have brought me untold happiness....and I'm only 2 years in.

Kitty Couture said...

Happy belated birthday, Shannon!

kiltsnquilts said...

Belated Birthday Wishes! I always scoffed at those who had problems with the big 40 - then had a moment myself when it was my turn! I had loved my 30's so much - but I can honestly say, 2 years in, that my 40's have so far been every bit as good as my 30's! Age is just a number - it's all in the mind :-)

Anonymous said...

Very well ment belated happy birthday wishes to you! And I second your thoughts about age - I am 39 as well and just feel good. Not at all afraid of getting older, no, I am able to experience each day much better! Besides, got no time to worry about such things. ;)

Nancy Winningham said...

Happy belated birthday. I agree about the whole aging thing. I don't mind telling people how old I am since it doesn't matter whether I say I'm 22 or 62. I still look like I look and act like I act. Now if changing the former could change the latter, that would be a different story LOL

angie.a said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! And I totally love the shoe birthday party, AMEN. We could call yours Shoes for Shannon (although that makes you sound like a charity case, bwahahaha)