The meaning of “high” birthdays...

When we're still young, birthdays are seen as positive and pleasant milestones on the way to growing, learning and maturing, but once these usual boundaries are crossed, the meaning of one extra year is more bad news than anything, unless we're able to appreciate it as an extra arrow in our quiver or one more layer of wisdom.

At that point, birthdays serve to remember that we're still lucky to be participating in a wonderful world and that we should cherish whatever fortune, health, talents and luck we're still blessed with.