Celebrations
I qualified for a driver’s license. I
take joy in my marriage every day
and not just on our anniversary.
Some believe that this style of
PEGGY PARADISE
thinking will even out the hills and valleys
of emotions that occur in their normal life
cycle. I, however, contend that it maintains
a constant state of euphoria, when you can
accept that you can be as happy eating a
hot dog as dining on steak. Likewise, New
Year’s Eve is not a special moment for
me, as my life begins again each morning
when I wake up. Much like in the movie
Ground Hog’s Day, I experience time on a
linear scale without ever having to feel that
whatever I might want to change cannot
be done. As Scarlett O’Hara said in Gone
With the Wind, “Tomorrow is another day!”,
and what a wonderful day it will be. Let’s
celebrate that. 9
Publisher / Editor
The P ublisher Po stulates
I CELEBRATE EVERY DAY OF
my life, and I mean that in two
ways. Firstly, as each day is special
to me, I celebrate it; and, secondly,
I celebrate every day because I feel so
fortunate to be living such a special and
happy life. My daily celebrations are my
way of remembering and giving thanks to
those who help to make each day special
for me. There are both advantages, as well
as disadvantages to this. One positive effect
is that it serves to make me aware that I
never experience boredom, unhappiness
or disappointment; as I am always looking
for the various ways that my life is blessed
on a daily basis. On the other hand, I tend
not to have special days that I look forward
to more than others, as the only special
day for me is the one I am experiencing.
Therefore, my birthday is just like any other
day in my life, so I don’t cherish it or look
forward to it with any special anticipation.
I don’t classify days as better or worse, as I
consider them all to be equally wonderful.
Much of this philosophy is created by
my constant attempts to live only in the
moment, whereby I don’t look forward
By Aaron R. Fodiman
Although I celebrate some days a little
more dramatically than others, every day
is a special treat for me.
to the future or back towards the past.
Whatever happened yesterday or whatever
may be coming into my life tomorrow
doesn’t change the joy I have of living and
existing today. Anniversaries, birthdays
and other such remembrances don’t seem
to effect me the way they do other people.
Some people struggle with my thinking
and believe that I am missing out on some
of the best joys of life by not remembering
days gone by for the happiness they brought
me and not building the excitement of a
future moment where happiness is bound
to overwhelm me. “Happy Birthday,”
or “Happy Unbirthday” – it makes no
difference to me what day it is. My only
concern is to search for and find that
which I can take pleasure in at that point
in time. The one exception might have been
my 16th birthday, because that is when
24 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015