Birthday Reflections

Like everyone else still walking this earth, I celebrated another birthday this year. It wasn’t a milestone like 16, 18, 21, or 40, but as Mike Rowe says (and I love this line), “I’ve never been as old as I am right now.” Thankfully, his follow-up about everything hurting hasn’t quite kicked in for me yet though I’ve been warned by my elders: “Just you wait.”

Still, I’m not sitting around waiting for the aches and pains to show up. Aging is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean I need to sit and wait for it to happen. If I’m blessed with more decades to explore this life, I want to fill them with purpose, learning, and yes, celebration.

And let’s be honest: the real reason I celebrate my birthday? Heather’s banana cake. It’s amazing and definitely worth growing another year older for. 😉

But beyond the cake, birthdays have become a time of reflection. I’m grateful to be surrounded by family and friends who want to celebrate with me—just as I want to celebrate them on their special days.

This year, that gratitude runs even deeper. We’ve said goodbye to some dear family members and our beloved dog Sammy. They each lived long, meaningful lives. Their passing reminded me: birthdays aren’t just markers of time—they’re reminders to keep living.

Because no matter how many years have passed or how many we have left, there’s always more to learn like:

• How long it takes to drive to Oak Grove, Minnesota for a 6:22 tee time.

• Or what it means to be a “standard bearer” at a PGA Tour event.

• Or how to use a Meta Oculus VR headset that my son loves but I still haven’t tried.

• Or how to use technology like AI that will revolutionize my work and more.

• Or even what treasures I might find in a tote in our basement when trying to clear some space like this gem. Do think the cereal is still good from 1998?

  
  
  

Here’s to another year of learning, laughing, living—and banana cake.

Learn in the Flow of Life.

– Jason