Well, It's That Time Of The Year...

Yep, it's here!

I'm not sure about where the last year got to, but once again it's time to celebrate my birthday. Now by celebrate, I mean that I figure if I wake up on the right side of the grass each day...I'm doing good! One thing for certain, it beats the alternative.

When I was still working in the "brick and mortar world" of retail, I called my birthdays my "3 Up Days". That was what I considered success, to WAKE UP, GET UP, and SHOW UP! Now days I only need to accomplish the first two to feel like I am having a good day. Doesn't take much these days to float my boat!

A really special friend sent me a care package, which was a very special surprise to me! It contained a couple of very appropriate "Hermit" gifts, including chocolate and a wonderfully fragrant soy candle. The most perfect part of this surprise package was a brand new coffee cup, which quickly became my new "favorite", replacing the old one which was retired with honors.

You want to know what makes this type of gift so memorable? It's the very idea that someone took the time out from all they had going on in their life to remember you and to let you know they are thinking of you. No matter if it is just a pleasant phone call, a nice looking card with a heartfelt sentiment, or a well-timed "care package" worth a 1000 memories...the part of these things that means the most is the time spent by the individual to remember you that is the most heartwarming.

Sometimes we forget that the act of sharing of our personal time and thoughts is the best gift of all. To share a smile, a hug, a call, or a visit allows us to bring the sometimes mundane and slightly less than full existence of a fellow traveler on life's road to a brighter level if even for a short time. By giving of ourselves, we in turn find ourselves becoming more.

Now, if you want to join me...I'm going to light my new fragrant candle, fill my brand new coffee mug and retire to the patio. There I can ponder the age old question we all ask ourselves on our birthday..." How did I make it this far and what the Hell happened to the last year?"