I had a birthday last week.  An uneventful birthday.  One more link in the chain of many birthdays that came before it. 

A few years ago, I began the practice of viewing each year’s birthday as a microcosmic snapshot of my life.  It’s a day to take stock of the things that are important to me – are my friendships healthy and happy?  Do I have a good romantic life?  Am I fulfilled at work?   Am I spending time with my family?  Is art and creativity a part of my life?  Have I done something interesting lately?  Am I taking care of myself?  Do I like who I am?

This is the first year since I began this tradition that I wasn’t pleased with the answers.