03-07-05 - 8:08 p.m.

... since today is mine.

I heard someone say not long ago that he doesn't like birthdays because it's no big accomplishment to have lived another year, unless you live someplace like New York. I think that misses the point. A birthday is an occasion for people to affirm the fact that human beings are intrinsically valuable. You don't have to have achieved something in order to be celebrated. Just the fact that you were born is enough. And if you're the one with the birthday, it's an occasion to affirm the fact that being alive is intrinsically valuable. I've read that that's the Jewish view of life: life is a gift, and it's good. I don't usually think of birthdays exactly that way, but if I had to give a rationale, that would be it.

However, ever since I turned 25 a couple of years ago and realized with some panic that I was already halfway through my twenties, I have also taken the opportunity on my birthday to evaluate where I am in life and where I'm headed. Instead of New Year's resolutions I have birthday resolutions. In practice that's more what birthdays mean to me.