About unexpected Gifts

by Claudia

A few weeks ago, it was my 40th Birthday. I used to really love a good party to mark that occasion, but around the time I turned into an adult that needed to show up for work in the morning, this somewhat changed. Now the main thing I want to do on my Birthday is just something different, something small, something I don't do every day. It could be having coffee in bed, having my kids sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me and draw me a crazy picture, a nice dinner with my husband, something that sets my birthday slightly apart from all the other 364 days of the year.

But this year, when my 40th was fast approaching and a lot of people asked me about what I had planned, I found that I hadn't really though about it...and yet, my Birthday ended up being so very special and memorable that I know I will never forget what I did that day:

I got up at an ungodly early hour, laced up my running shoes, and showed up at our favorite meeting spot in the local Park, at 5:30 am (since the clocks had changed just one night prior, my body-clock was convinced it was actually 4:30 am), where my fearless friend Kirsten was waiting, in the pitch dark, cold morning.

We went out for a beautiful run along the Waterfront, in almost complete darkness, with the full moon's bright reflection shimmering across the bay alongside of us. By the time we were about halfway into our run, we happened to turn around to see an enormous, gorgeous orange moon setting behind the San Francisco Skyline. It was so stunningly beautiful, and it seemed like it was all put on display just for us (after all, who else would be crazy enough to be out and about at this time in the freezing cold wind??!??!?!)....

When we reached the mark of the 6 miles we had planned to run, we both decided to rather keep going than freeze to death (it was still pretty cold and windy), so we just kept on going, only to realize that in the end, we had "accidentally" ran 8 miles, just to keep warm and finish our lovely chat. Painless. Fun.

For a lot of sporty people, this might not be that unusual of a way to start off your day, but had you told me a year ago how I would start off my 40th Birthday, I would have laughed really hard and called you crazy.

A year ago this time, I was so entangled into daily life and work that the only sporty activity I would make time for was chasing after my kids, up to the day when I had somewhat of a health-scare: in the end, it turned out to be just a very painful kidney stone, but the symptoms felt like I was having a heart attack, and it got me a speedy ride with an ambulance to the nearest ER. The main thought that was racing through my head as I was doubled over, waiting for the Paramedics to show up (thank you, Suzy, for racing right over to call 911 and hold my hand while I was freaking out!), was that I didn't want to suddenly kick the bucket and leave my children to grow up without their mom.

As a result I decided that by the time I turned 40, I would turn myself into the fittest and healthiest person I could become, so that I could be around for them for a very long time.

So....on my Birthday, I am grateful for the gift of a friend that rolls out of bed on a cold, dark, windy morning to go running with me.
I am grateful for the gift of being able to run 8 miles without even noticing, while holding a conversation. I am grateful for being able put this newfound ability to work as way to help Mielle. I am grateful for the gift of being able to redefine who I am and how I live. This year, I had a great and truly Happy Birthday.



PS:

Lucky me - I also got my handmade Card with a poem my daughter wrote for me....It goes something like this:

"Brothers, Sisters, A(u)nts
Uncles, Dads,
Grandma's and Grandpa's....
But no-one is so great
then the old smartie-pants."

Priceless.