I was less than two months old when Neil and Buzz landed their small, fragile spacecraft on the Moon. This accomplishment was a big deal around the world and many people have talked about it in the decades that have followed. I have no memory of this event but many memories have followed and only a few involve the Moon. But enough about the Moon for now.
I look forward to my birthday: even as the birthday cake loses real estate to the increasing number of candles that show up for work; even if I don’t have anything special planned; even if I have to work1, like I did this year. Almost any anniversary2 is a silly concept: considering a day special because Earth is roughly in the same position around the Sun as it was when this thing happened before.
And yet anniversaries are not entirely silly because they are a measurement of longevity and stability. We celebrate anniversaries because something good3 or likeable has persisted: birthdays, relationships, marriages, abstinence, commitment to a goal, and other noteworthy achievements. We are happy; we are grateful. Sometimes, at least.
My opinion towards my own life has varied a lot of the years. While my life and I have their fair share of flaws4 I am fond of being around to celebrate birthdays. Some people might not consider being able to wake up and get on with your day to be much of an accomplishment but each day is the basic building block of a life and you have to be around for it.
Here is an acknowledgement: I live in a privileged demographic (white male middle-aged full-time employed knowledge worker in a quiet part of a first world country) and I try to make myself aware - regularly - that many other people have it worse than I do. So one hand, I realize that it’s pretty easy for me to think that starting a new day is a great thing because my days really aren’t bad at all despite the pandemic, brewing political unrest and global economic challenges: almost all of the health problems that I might have are quite manageable, I have a decent home, my family is doing well and my financial situation is stable. A lot of people have it much worse and I regret that things aren’t more fair for everyone.
And yet, each day and each year opens with mystery: what good thing (or bad thing) could happen next? Imagine if your life was 100% pre-determined to the slightest detail5 and you knew it all in advance. Would it make you any happier or more engaged with your life? Maybe. But maybe mystery is part of the spice of life.
So I will continue to look forward to my birthday and other positive anniversaries because who knows what will happen next? Some of it will be awful, much of it will be underwhelming and some of it will be good. Sounds like a decent deal to me. I just need to get a bit better at keeping myself in good health so I can enjoy what might happen next.
This is one person’s point of view: hopefully it will still be intact this time next year!
I realize my privilege is showing but I try to address that a bit later in this post.
Not limited to wedding anniversaries in this context.
I’m only focusing on positive events; there are plenty of negative events that are recognized on the anniversary of their initial occurrence. That’s a topic for a different post.
I’m thinking of an icebreaker game where you list how many medications and devices that you rely on for your quality of life - this could pass for a fun time after you hit a certain age.
I can’t conclusively provide that it’s not all pre-determined but on the other hand I have to wonder about any superior beings that pre-program belches, flatulence, flat tires and stubbing your toe. And those are just some of the small, relatively benign things.
Sending birthday wishes to you now, so they reach you on your day