Another spin around the sun.

A list and a wish...

What do Snoop Dogg, Princess Honeybelle, and little ol’ me have in common? From the title of this post, you’ve probably already guessed it. Yes, we share a birthday — and today is that day.

There are a lot of people in the world who don’t like to celebrate their birthdays. I, however, am not one of those people. For a number of reasons (a big one being that I survived a disease in childhood that many folks unfortunately do not), I am grateful every time I successfully complete another spin around the sun.

In fact, I celebrate all month long. I lovingly and not-so-jokingly call this month Woztober. Yes, friends, I am THAT person.

I’ve had birthday celebrations of all sizes. Slumber parties, McDonald’s parties (those were a REALLY big deal in the ‘80s), and family parties, too. Also, being from a Mexican-American home, I got to have the party to end all parties when I was 15 (aka a Quinceañera).

Quinceañera #receipts

Since I was about 25, each year during my birthday week, I create a list of all the things I dream about making happen in the next year of my life. Then, I don’t look at it until its time to make a new list the following year. (Honestly, mostly because I just get distracted by everyday life and forget it even exists.)

So, when the week of my birthday rolls around, I remember the list, dig it out of whatever journal I’d written it in, and review what I hoped for and see what transpired. Surprisingly, many things on these lists get accomplished (the power of writing things down!), but there are always a handful of things that don’t.

One thing that has shown up on the list EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. is to write a book. (I’ve been talking about this for a long time, y’all.) And, every year, despite not actually writing one, I’d put it on the list again for the year ahead. Some dreams you just don’t let go of, it seems.

This past week, I looked at last year’s list. And I smiled, because I FINALLY made it happen: I finally wrote (and published!) a book. I got to check it off the list!

My birthdays don’t tend to be big and splashy like those McDonald’s ragers anymore, but they are still just as sweet and memorable each and every year — if only because I’ve gotten the gift of another spin around the sun.

So, when you send Snoop and Honey birthday wishes and treats today, if you could grant me a small wish, it would make this day even more special. Now that I’ve written the book, I’d love for people to know it exists — to add it to their beloved little libraries, if it feels right.

My wish: Could you please tell one person today about my book by sharing this link? Maybe that person is someone you know who has a list that says “write a book” on it, too.