I cannot believe that it’s been an entire year since we last celebrated Clay Aiken’s birthday!  It’s amazing to me how time moves forward, but none of us seem to be getting any older 😉

For the most part, it’s been a quiet year, with bits of brilliance, excitement and joy mixed in.   In our Nation, it’s been a year of welcoming new members into our embrace and saying good bye to friends, to family, to loved ones.  It has been a year of reflection.

So here’s my “Birthday Musings”:

Life is precious, make the most of every second.  Life can be fragile, embrace those around you like there is no tomorrow – there may not be.  Don’t sweat the small stuff; it’s small for a reason.  Always try to see the other side’s point of view, even if you disagree (it makes for much nicer family dinners, don’t ya think?).

Don’t stew about things you have no control over.  Don’t allow anger, or disappointment, to get in the way of living life; don’t allow those feelings to tarnish special and precious moments – you can never get them back.

Be happy, love lots, and give back.  Take long walks, sing in the shower and rock your child to sleep.  Forgive, forget and move forward, don’t stay stuck in the quagmire of the past – or as was so eloquently stated in King Fu Panda “There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the “present.”   Try never to lash out with anger, but reach out with love.

Never put the cart before the horse, never look a gift horse in the mouth, always bet on the long shot and oatmeal is the perfect food.

Laugh long, loud and often.  Find the joy in all that you do (it’s there, but sometimes it’s hidden).  Get lots of sleep, drink plenty of water and eat cake!

And speaking of Cake, if it’s not too much to ask, may we please have a Christmas Tour in 2012?  We kind of miss celebrating your day with you – live and in person………

Oh wait, I forgot something….. Happy Birthday Clay!!!!  I sure hope a $50,000 grant for National Inclusion Project from Pepsi Refresh fits.   Thanks for being one year older so that I can share my rambling thoughts – that aren’t necessarily directed to you, as much as a reminder, mostly to myself, of what is important in this life.