{"id":391,"date":"2013-01-14T08:49:14","date_gmt":"2013-01-14T08:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=391"},"modified":"2013-01-13T20:28:48","modified_gmt":"2013-01-13T20:28:48","slug":"birthday-coming-up-dont-worry-be-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/01\/birthday-coming-up-dont-worry-be-you.html","title":{"rendered":"Birthday coming up? Don’t worry, be you!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Aging can be problematic for many people, but especially for those of us whose health conditions sometimes make us feel as if we’ve aged way beyond our years.\u00a0 Nothing like arthritis in your 20s, or a heart attack in your 30s to make you feel as if you’ve joined the ranks of senior citizens way before 65! And, yet, even if you do feel old beyond your years, people might tell you that you “look too young to be so sick,” thus multiplying your confusion and frustration. Or, in my case, by accident I’m sure, some might peg you as way older than you really are…and you’ll face a decision point: worry that it might be true, or look upon the “oops” with amusement. Two examples:<\/p>\n

Years ago, when I was digging into my first “real” job, I received an AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) membership card. The anomaly struck me as so funny that I pinned it to my cork bulletin board for all the world to see. I certainly didn’t feel ready to retire, and I sure didn’t feel old. But I did like the smile that the little card brought each time I saw it; those “golden years” sure seemed far off, someone’s data base notwithstanding.<\/p>\n

That card is still in my possession, pinned to another cork board in my current workspace. It shows its age, having turned from white to yellow, but it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it? And, alongside it will soon be pinned another piece of mail that I recently received. This one, an advertisement, invites me to go “on a wonderful, sentimental journey back in time” to 1942 (!), apparently a year that the folks putting together this mailing seem to think I really enjoyed. Did I?!<\/p>\n

The point of this is that, throughout life, some will think and say (or mail you something) that you look younger or older than your numerical age. But appearances and numbers have nothing to do with outlook on life, approach to adversity, enthusiasm for what you are doing, and friends, family, and others with whom you surround yourself.\u00a0 In fact, the number of birthdays we celebrate have nothing to do with who we are as people (except, perhaps, in ushering us into the realm of eligibility for ‘senior’ discounts). After all, in Scipture, we’re told that God knows each of us by name from before we are born, not that he’s tracking each of our birthdates on some celestial calendar.<\/p>\n

Each birthday\u00a0I have brings with it\u00a0a sense of accomplishment, too. It might not have been easy, or pretty, to live through another 365 days, but I (and you) met the challenge! I say we\u00a0wear those years with a large dollop of pride and profound thanks!<\/p>\n

Don’t worry, be you!<\/p>\n

Now, would someone please tell me what was so wonderful about 1942?<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aging can be problematic for many people, but especially for those of us whose health conditions sometimes make us feel as if we’ve aged way beyond our years.\u00a0 Nothing like arthritis in your 20s, or a heart attack in your 30s to make you feel as if you’ve joined the ranks of senior citizens way…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[345,343,344,29,44,346],"class_list":["post-391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-encouragement-in-life","tag-aging","tag-birthday","tag-birthdays","tag-chronic-illness","tag-chronic-pain","tag-getting-older"],"yoast_head":"\nBirthday coming up? 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A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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