Sixth Cycle – #Birthday #Dreams #FreeBook

Image by Frances Locke from Pixabay

Today, the 31^st of January, is my birthday – an occasion for joy and for reflection. I’m grateful to have made it through another year with health, relationships, finances and sanity intact. When you’re as old as I am, you become acutely aware of just how fragile and how precious life is. Every day is a gift – the maxim might be a cliché, but it’s still true.

Many people I’ve loved, people who were dear companions on my life’s journey, have passed on. I try not to mourn, reminding myself that change is the only constant in the universe and that holding on too tightly is a recipe for suffering. When we look back over our lives, we can choose to focus on what was lost or on the new challenges, adventures and joys that each successive season brings.

Aging is not easy. When your vision blurs, your joints ache or your memory goes blank, it’s tempting to complain or to sink into depression, contemplating the specter of diminishing capabilities. Sometimes I succumb to that temptation.

Then I remember all the wonders my life has provided over the years. I can truly say that most of my life dreams have come true. I’ve had a stimulating and varied career that allowed me contribute to society while earning enough to comfortably support myself. I’ve enjoyed amazing erotic adventures yet ended up married to a sensitive, compassionate, intelligent and funny man who makes every day a pleasure. As a child, I fantasized about traveling the world; as an adult, I’ve visited dozens of countries and now live in one of the most fascinating places on the planet. Aside from my “real world” job, I’ve had the opportunity to be Lisabet Sarai, writing stories to entertain and perhaps challenge my readers and belonging to a community of beloved colleagues who share their own creative visions.

Today’s a specially auspicious birthday, according to Asian tradition. It is my Sixth Cycle anniversary. In the west, we tend to segment our lives by decades: you’re in your twenties, your fifties, your seventies, and so on. In China and Southeast Asia, they count in twelves, according to the eastern Zodiac. So today, having reached the venerable age of seventy-two, I have complete six cycles of twelve years.

The people in my adopted country would celebrate a Sixth Cycle anniversary by visiting temples or giving to charity. If you’d like to help me mark this day of good fortune, I invite you to visit my Charity Sunday post from a few days ago and leave a comment. I will make a donation to my chosen cause for every comment I receive.

In addition, I have a birthday gift for you. For a limited time, you can get a copy of my paranormal romance The Eyes of Bast absolutely free. Just go to Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1390042) and use this coupon code: FV59Z

This offer expires on Valentine’s Day, so don’t wait to claim your free book.

I’m full of joy and gratitude on my birthday. I’d like you to be, too.