Celebrating Another Birthday During the Pandemic

Some of you are blessed enough to celebrate only one birthday during the mass closing during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am not one of them. Rather, on this day, I am celebrating yet another year of life. Last year would have the great big blow out party; instead, it was just a fizzle with just immediate family. This year, general society has gotten to the point where I could have a small party with friends – outside in a strip mall. Later tonight, I met up with my immediate family and had a sashimi plate, lamb kebabs, and a German Black Forest cake.

Because I am not on Facebook or any other social media site except this one and LinkedIN, my page will not suddenly explode with well-wishers who got notified automatically. So far, the only people who have wished me a Happy Birthday are 1) my bank; 2) my old law school; 3) my dentist; and 4) above all, the people who mattered most – my family, my uncle Geoff, and close friends. 🙂

As I was thinking about the events of the past year and beyond, at the end of the day, I have a lot to be thankful for. Rather than dwell on the bad things, let’s just give thanks to God for what He has done.

1. I am healthy. My cousin Petrina and one of my uncles have health issues now and while I am praying for God’s healing touch on them, I thank Him too.
2. I have a job. Specifically, I have a new job which I started back in February. There are parts of my job that I do not enjoy but I have one.
3. I have a house and a place to call home. Yes, there is a 30yr mortgage, and it was not where I would have picked, but it is now home for the foreseeable future.
4. In the last 20 years, I had the chance to travel to some amazing countries, eat some amazing foods, and had multiple adventures. On this blog, I have pictures from Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand.
5. I have people from all cultures and all backgrounds and some I call friend. Maybe I am old school, but I put very little stock on “Facebook/Instagram friends” and connections. In fact, all the recent research documenting social media connections and so-called friendships paint a bleak picture of increasing depression, narcissism, and the desire to have picture perfect lives.
6. I have salvation in Jesus Christ. What more do I really need? Through Jesus, I have peace with God and fellow men and women. Through Him, I know I can count on hundreds and thousands of fellow believers to stand up and spread the Gospel to all the nations.

If you are like me and this is your second birthday during the pandemic, why don’t you too take a moment to give thanks? An attitude of thanksgiving is the best gift you can give yourself.