September 4, 2014, was my twentieth birthday.  The day was long and full of school and homework, which led me to say up until 1:42 in the morning.  The decision to remain awake into the early morning was not motivated by my need to finish homework.  Instead, I was unable to sleep because of the amazing people I have in my life. 

I walked into my suite in Pondside III, tired and drained.  Little did I expect the annual birthday decorations that brighten the birthdays of all of my roommates.  The decorations and thoughtful note cards arranged in a large “Two-OH” struck me.  Every note card held a message, a message of love from my roommates to me.  Some joking, teasing me for “always” being on time, while others described what they love about me, “Genuine friend, never lets you down, my biggest cheerleader.”

All of the cards were captivating in a unique way.  They initiated my late night of contemplating the traditional dynamic of a birthday.  The layout of my birthday schedule and the preceding months were clear.

My mom asked me what I would like for gifts so she can slyly pass along the missive to my relatives, who always scramble for ideas for all of our family birthdays.

Then the day comes; 12 a.m. hits and it is my birthday.  Realistically, on my birthday 20 years ago I hadn’t been born by 12 a.m.  My mom wouldn’t push me out for another nine-plus hours.

So why do we celebrate the day?  Why do we rejoice the day of our birth before the time we were even born?  Why do we celebrate at all?

Some may say to receive presents and be the “prince or princess” for the day.  However, that’s not how I wanted to spend my birthday.

Philip Bergeron / Graphic Design Editor

This summer I worked with an amazing young woman, Bosmat.  She was my Israeli co-worker at Camp Shalom, the Jewish summer camp I have worked at for two years.  She enlightened me with many different ways of thinking during our time together.

Her family has a tradition of saying thank you and appreciating the blessings in one’s life rather than focusing on materialistic gains we wish to have.  The focus of an American birthday is overwhelmingly materialistic.

While focusing on what we want the most, we neglect to appreciate our lives as they are.

For that reason, despite my childhood dream of marrying a prince, attaining the status of a royal  is not how we should spend our birthdays.

My parents are the reason I have this day.  I would be nowhere without my mom and my dad, who this past summer graciously reminded me that he did all the work in birthing me.  Nice try, dad!  But the thought of my parents and all they have done and still do to make me successful reinforced my recently formed belief that my birthday is a day for being thankful.

As a result, I am writing this article.  I am saying thank you to my parents for raising me with so much love.

For people I once considered to know nothing about me, I have discovered they are wise in infinite ways.

One thing that truly highlights my parents’ wisdom is the purchase of my father’s uniform.  Otherwise known as his “DADD” shirt or “Dads Against Daughters Dating.”

Unfortunately, for the sanity of my father, that advice has never really sunk in.

However, on a serious note, my parents along with my brothers are the ones who drive me crazy and protect me at the same time; they are my world.

My friends, who are kind and eternally accepting, I am thanking them for being accepting of my lateness, weird behaviors, forgetfulness and often-goofy affection.

Being accepted fully by people who do not have to love me because they are my family, but love me because of honest friendship; that is an amazing feeling.

Searching for a group of people who can look at someone and accept them fully is a challenging task.

I have those people in my life. I have those friends. I have those amazing relationships.  I want to thank them for being a part of my life in that way.

I go on from here praying that in a world where negative judgment and cruelty is prevalent, people can be grateful.

My hope is that people go forth doing what they can to give other people something to be thankful for.

Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com