Sunday 1 March 2015

Happily Accepting the Inevitable …

Today is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again – Eleanor Roosevelt

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The first day of March, St. David’s Day, heralds my birthday.

Birthdays don’t bring that much excitement any more.  When you have been around for well over six decades they kind of lose their appeal.  Although I am grateful that I have been around for that long.

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But it did get me to thinking – about life in general – about how many different  people I have been during my lifetime so far – and how many of those different people are still in the heart of me.  For we are the sum of all our parts.

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Every few years – perhaps a decade  – a new me takes over.  Everything changes – new hopes, new dreams, new ambitions,  new opinions – everything.  I couldn’t possibly be the same me I was at 10, 20 or 30.  You grow up, make choices that lead you on different paths – want different things - need different things.

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I leave all those different me’s behind – each one is in the past – what is important is the me I am now.  The one I have come to accept with all its faults and imperfections.  I try not to judge or reject myself any more – I now accept myself for who I am, not who I perceive myself to be, or what I want other people to believe I am.

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Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others.  Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval.  Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her. – Lao Tzu

Am I always this introspective when a new birthday comes and goes – no, not really – mostly the day just passes with a small celebration to mark the occasion – a few cards, the odd present  - with just a passing thought that another year has been added to the ever-growing total.

How do you feel about birthdays as you get older?

80 comments:

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  2. Happy Birthday to You, I hope you have a Wonderful Day x

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    1. Thank you Kay - I had a lazy day then went out with some friends for a long celebratory lunch which was delicious.

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  3. Happy Birthday, It's my birthday on the 13 of March and like you they have lost there sparkle, I am quite happy to let it pass by. I do find my self assessing my life at this time of year though moving into Spring fills me with joy and hope. I am at that age were people I know are passing or have become ill, I just want to make the most of every moment and not put things of for another year..
    I love the set of photos and phrases you have used... have a lovely day.
    Amanda xxx

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    1. Thank you Amanda. As I get older I appreciate the simpler things in life which bring me pleasure - just going out with my husband and some friends was most enjoyable - much preferred to a party and lots of fuss.

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  4. Happy Birthday - gave a lovely day.

    As for me and birthdays - they just come and then go.

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    1. Thanks Sue. Yes, they come and go - rather rapidly in my view.

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  5. happy birthday, a wonderful excuse for cake x

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    1. Thanks. No cake - but I did enjoy apple and toffee crumble.

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  6. A Happy Birthday to you Elaine. Hope you have a nice day with your loved ones.

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    1. Thank you Janneke - we had a lovely day.

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  7. Have a very Happy Birthday Elaine. The sun is shining and the daffodils are waving in the breeze. Just enjoy the moment.

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    1. Thanks Jessica - I did have a lovely day but it was blooming cold!

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  8. Happy Birthday Elaine, and be grateful you weren't named Davida. Go on; drink some Champagne!

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    1. Thanks Cro - Davida wouldn't suit me at all - and I did partake in a little fizz.

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  9. A BIG HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Enjoy your day. Suzy x

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  10. Happy Birthday Elaine.
    I always thought of myself as a sum of my ancestors that way there was someone to blame if I didn't end up quite as I hoped! Ha!
    I'm sure as with most of us that have passed the 60 line that we are grateful for a life fulfilled with accomplishments, understanding and love... Sure there may be a few regrets but perhaps if we had chosen those other paths we would not have ended up in the comfortable place we are now.
    Enjoy every minute of the day and those that lie ahead.
    Susan x

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    1. Thank you Susan. I am quite happy to be where I am now - the advantages outweigh the disadvantages - it's all a matter of positivity - don't you agree.

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  11. Happy Birthday Elaine! I do hope that your special day is filled with fun and flowers. I reached the same landmark birthday as you just over a year ago. I'm just happy to have got there :)

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    1. Thanks Anna. My day was filled with flowers - a pretty container full of tete-a-tete daffs and a Daphne Odorata gifts from my lovely friends.

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  12. Happy Birthday, I hope you are having a lovely day, Elaine. I think that each year I'm just glad to be still here - the one thing we can't avoid is the march of time:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie - yes time marches on - I little to fast for my liking but ho hum - it's the same for all of us - we just have to make the most of each moment I guess.

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  13. A very happy Birthday Elaine - I was just about to say the same as Rosie - I am grateful still to be here and happy that I continue to appreciate and enjoy so much especially when I see how it is for many others.

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    1. Thanks you Rosemary. We have lost so many friends over the last few years that you can't help be thankful for good health etc. You just have to keep on going on don't you.

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  14. Happy, happy birthday Elaine { My Mum's birthday was the 1st March, mines the 1st Feb and many members of my family are on the 1st of the month …… just thought I'd tell you that !!! }
    I don't really analyse things on my birthday …. I just enjoy myself !!
    Wishing you a wonderful day and many happy returns. Much love. XXXX

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    1. Thanks Jackie - I don't usually analyse things either and I soon came out of my introspective mood and enjoyed the day immensely. Thanks for your kind wishes.

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  15. Happy Birthday! I've just celebrated a 'mile stone' birthday myself and I've never been more content. I agree with you, just being who you are is the key to happiness. I believe there are three things that one must do everyday.. learn something new, share with others, and be grateful for small pleasures. That's my game plan at least. Best wishes on your special day X

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    1. Thank you very much Debs. They are wise words that we should all try to live by. Thanks for visiting.

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  16. I love the Eleanor Roosevelt quote, what a corker. Many happy returns Elaine, as Cro says have some champagne, it always adds some sparkle.

    Jean
    x

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    1. Thanks Jean. Do you know I agree about that quote and had never thought about it like that before - one to remember.

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  17. Hello Elaine,

    Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

    We no longer count our birthdays and only barely mark them. Better by far to have, as is the custom here in Hungary, a name day. Each day of the year has particular names attached to them so all Hungarians have a birthday and a name day. We could then forget the passing of the years and just celebrate the name. Cheers!

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    1. Dear Jane and Lance.
      Thank you for your kind wishes. Birthdays can be difficult and I don't particularly look forward to them - a Name Day sounds a good alternative. But I enjoyed my birthday all the same.

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  18. Wow - what fabulous flower shots, Elaine. I like your compositions. I never make much of a fuss on my birthday, but my grandchildren often make me cute presents, and I hear from old friends. I'll be 71 soon and as you mention, I am a composite of the many different transformations of myself. I actually like this old self - I feel very accepting of her. Happy Birthday to you!

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    1. Thanks very much Barb. I was a little disappointed as I wanted the background to come out pure white but on the screen it looks grey. I hope I feel the same way as you do when I reach your age. Thanks for the kind wishes.

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  19. Happy birthday Elaine, hope you had a good day. My birthdays also just come and go without much fuss, although I was 50 last October and some family members came for a visit so that became more of a celebration. I agree with you that a lot of things about us changes over time, on the other hand I am surprisingly much the same person as I was 25 years ago.

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    1. Thanks Helene - yes I had a lovely day. I don't like much fuss I must admit but a simple lunch with friends went down a treat.

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  20. Happy Birthday wishes to you, Elaine, as spring's renewal lifts our spirits :) Love your outlook echoed in your chosen quotes ~ The spring flowers are set out so prettily. I particularly like the green hearts on the inside of the snowdrops. Here's to a wonderful year!

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    1. Thank you Glo. I try to remain positive about getting older and hope I am succeeding. I had to do all sorts of contortions to get a photo of the inside of the snowdrops and am pleased with the results. The gardens around here are full of them a lovely sight to be sure. Yes, I'll second 'here's to a wonderful year'.

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  21. Gorgeous photos to correspond with your words today Elaine! And a very Happy Birthday to you dear friend! I enjoyed everything about your post here today...it really moved me as I think about the passing of time often and how that changes me.....my favorite quote you have up there is by Lao Tzu. I like getting older. Stuff doesn't shake me like it did when I was younger and I enjoy the simple things a lot more than ever. Wishing you a wonderful week friend! Thank you for inspiring today! Nicole xo

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    1. Thank you dear Nicole for your kind words - they always cheer me up and make me smile. Enjoy your week too.

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  22. Happy Birthday!! I hope that you had a great day! xx

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  23. I've not seen the Eleanor Roosevelt quote before; I like it. As for birthdays, maybe they are not as exciting as they once were but as long as I am mobile and have most of my wits about me I am happy to have another one. As a friend once said to me, when I complained how close I was to forty, the cemetery is full of people who wouldn't mind having had a chance at forty. I was chastened, her brother had died at that time and he was 27.

    I'll finish on that cheery note

    Ms soup

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    1. I agree with your friend - life really is too short to complain about ageing

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  24. Happy Birthday for yesterday Elaine, and thank you for the positive thoughts and beautiful signs of Spring that you marked it with. I liked Greer Garson's quote about it being impossible to say how old I am because it keeps changing all the time!

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    1. Thank you Lucille. To be truthful - I can never remember how old I am and have to count it out on my fingers every year. Greer Garson is absolutely right.

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  25. The you you are just now is wise indeed!

    Happy Birthday for yesterday Elaine.

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  26. Happy (belated) Birthday Elaine! Some lovely and eloquent thoughts.

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    1. Thank you Ann. I found the quotes inspiring.

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  27. Happy (belated) Birthday Elaine! Some lovely and eloquent thoughts.

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  28. Oh Elaine - Happy birthday - so sorry I am late reading this. I hope it was a fine one too. There are wonderful blessings to aging - first I do think we start to accept ourselves and not judge by what others say or do. Wish I would have understood that in my 20's and 30's - would certainly have enjoyed those years more. Loved seeing muscari and snowdrops. Can't wait until we see them blooming here. In the meantime I will enjoy yours. Have a great day.

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    1. Thank you dear Debbie. I seem to be much more content than I was in my 20's and 30's I think at that age you are struggling to find your true self - I think I have found it now and am happy to go along with it. Enjoy your week and look after yourself - no more accidents.

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  29. Happy birthday. I try to totally ignore age and birthdays. My birthday is just after New Year when everyone seems to be on diets!

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    1. Thank you Kelli. You know this is weird - just before your email came through I was thinking about you - physic or what.

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  30. Happy birthday (a little late)!

    I love your first 2 pics, they look just like elegant botanical prints.

    In my book birthdays are an excuse for cake.

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    1. Thank you - better late than never - ha! Thanks for compliment about the pictures too - I have been experimenting. Sadly I didn't have any home made cake but I did have a vanilla cream slice from the bakery.

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  31. Ahhhh, happy belated birthday, I do hope you had a good one!
    What a fantastic post with marvelous quotes and really stunning pics, did you photograph them against a white background? I loved the blue crocus pics, would you mind if I painted a combination of the third and fourth pics?
    It is a wise woman who comes to know and accept herself, I am finally at that stage too.....it comes with experience doesn't it?xxx

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    1. Thanks Dina - yes I did have a good birthday - a leisurely lunch with some friends made it a happy day. Glad you liked the photos - yes I did use a white background, unfortunately it has come out greyish on the blog which is a disappointment. No, of course I don't mind if you paint the crocus - I take it as a compliment. My husband said they looked like a watercolour painting when he saw them. Yes, I agree, knowing and accepting yourself does come with age and experience.

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    2. Thanks for that, I'll post a pic when done, I have several flower exhibitions coming up and your pics are a total inspiration.....you should paint them too! The backgrounds don't look grey, they look like beautiful watercolour paper.xxx

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    3. I look forward to seeing your paintings when they are finished.

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  32. I see that my comment didn't appear so...Happy birthday, I hope that you had a lovely day.
    Nice post and lovely pictures. Flighty xx

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    1. I wonder why that happened - thank you anyway I did have a good day. Thanks Flighty.

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  33. Dear Elaine,
    This is such a beautiful post. I wish you a belated Happy Birthday.
    You are so right, when you say we change. We do. We accept things in different ways and see things differently, for the better i do believe. Sometimes though, i still like to think that there is the little girl inside of me.
    your photos of the sweet little irises are lovely, i have a little water color of irisis that i painted about 3 years ago. not framed it yet.
    I love birthdays, although i dont make a fuss. Its always my children, that want to do something for me.
    Wishing you a happy week..
    val xxxx

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    1. Dear Val
      Thank you. I hope you don't mind me correcting you - but they are crocus not iris - perhaps it is the way they are displayed that confused you. Have an enjoyable week yourself.

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  34. A special month March ...... Happy Birthday.

    I love March, Spring is around the corner .. and your pictures are great,

    Hope your week is going well

    All the best Jan

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  35. Will you find me clear down here at the very botton of your list? Happy Birthday. We do grown and change and that is a good thing. I love your photographs.

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    1. Yes I've found you Ann - thanks - yes I agree about change as long as it is for the better. Have a good week.

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  36. First off, a belated Happy Birthday! I like your images. I have been thinking of trying to do some botanical studies somewhat like the first two- maybe when spring finally arrives. (So far there is no sign of spring. More snow today!)
    In answer to your question- my birthdays pass simply, much as you indicate yours do. I feel like I am the same "me" that I was when I was 20, 30...and so on.
    Always I feel like I am waiting for something- I don't know what. I grow impatient and ask myself "What are you waiting for? Seize the moment!"

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. I know what you mean about feeling as though you are waiting for something. Sometimes I am the same - just waiting for the epiphany or lightbulb moment that says yes, this is what I have been waiting for - maybe it will happen, maybe not.

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  37. Dear Elaine,
    Happy Birthday to you! (Sorry I'm a bit late). I wish you the very best for the new year of your life. The flowers you brought yourself - I'm speaking of your beautiful photographs - might be the result of a lesson one learns when one gets older (though hopefully: early in life): one is the master of one's happiness - others might help, but the best comes from what is within oneself - while perceiving what is outside of oneself.

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    1. Thanks Britta. I agree - I think we should never stop striving with our lives as I feel that we should make the best of our time here.

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  38. Belated happy birthday wishes I'm glad you had a good day. Sarah x

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  39. wow amazing
    very beautiful


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