I know I just did one of these on Friday, but, hey it’s my birthday!
Your gift can be to indulge me in another Lyrical Life post.
Oh, really, darlings?! You shouldn’t have.
I don’t feel much older than last year.
Youth means different things to people. It may be a matter of convenience that I’ve redefined my own idea of “youth” as I’ve aged, but the word means something different to me now that I’m older.
It means being open to ideas and to holding on to your hope. It’s retaining a little bit of idealism despite having seen some jacked up stuff go down in this thing we call life. It’s also holding on to happiness, passion, and laughter.
It’s that place where fear still lives, but it’s in the trunk of the car pressed underneath a 50 pack of diapers and pillow pets. Young is that feeling you get as you sit with your best friend on the hood of your car at a rest stop somewhere on the way from Memphis to New Orleans, eating Doritos, drinking a Diet Coke and making jokes about potentially being the inspiration for Mississippi Burning II.
It’s about being unafraid to… well, to just be you no matter what.
We all start off that way: being okay with being us and not knowing how to be any different. Getting “old” takes that away from us.
In this sense, we don’t have to get old. We can stay young forever.
For my birthday, as a gift from you, I would like you to be able to draw upon on the love and beauty in your surroundings and find the energy you need to fight the idea that you should be something other than what you are.
Do you think if I squeeze her hard enough, she'll just STAY this age?
Too tough to take photos with mom. It's a phase. Right?
Tariq and Nuha catching snowflakes in Niagra Falls (Canada). He's totally going to kill me for posting this. It was nice knowing you.
Fear not when, fear not why,
Fear not much while we’re alive,
Life is for living, not living uptight,
See ya somewhere up in the sky,
Fear not die, I’ll be alive for a million years, bye bye,
So not for legends, I’m forever young
My name shall survive
Through the darkest blocks, over kitchen stoves
…
With a little ambition just what we can become here,
And as the father passed his story down to his son’s ears,
Younger kid, younger every year, yeah
So if you love me baby this is how you let me know.
Don’t ever let me go, that’s how you let me know, baby
(Forever young, I want to be forever young, do you really want to live forever, forever)
Happy Birthday!
Thanks! And I love that you come here even though we disagree about all things political. Thank you… it means a lot.
Happy birthday honey. Maybe you can add something to your take on “youth”? Maybe something along the lines of that amazing feeling you get when you are given the latest tech gadgets unexpectedley? Hint hint…
And yes, you will pay for posting that ridiculous photo of me.
Btw…completely unrelated to your birthday, but still worth saying that I can not call you “honey” anymore without thinking about Yusuf tellingme the other day that since I am not Winnie the pooh, you cannot be honey! He’s brilliant.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Have you asked Yusuf how he knows you are not Winnie The Pooh?
He really is the most brilliant boy ever.
MACBOOOOOK AAAAAIRRRR. AND a handmade card. You are awesome. I love you.
Happy birthday Faiqa! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Thanks, seeing you name just made me super happy.
Happy Birthday, gorgeous. Hope it’s the best one yet, and that they get even better from here.
They will, Inshallah.
Happiest of birthdays to you!
Thanks and thanks SO much for the AWESOMEST Facebook happy birthday EVER!!
I’ve been trying that “squeezing them to make them stay young” trick, but somehow my baby has turned into a tween! Happy birthday!
So. You’re telling me that it does NOT work. Damn.
Happy birthday then, with me wrapped up in a bow and being myself, as you requested.
Um… now that’s a scary picture…
You sure I can’t be somebody else just a little? I don’t want to frighten the children!
I cannot imagine a world without YOU being yourself. THAT is scary to me. Because if you can’t do it, none of us can. No pressure.
Happy Birthday! I hope your day was inspiring.
You know… it was. And thanks!
Happy Birthday, Faiqa AKA Superior one!! I hope your day is as fabulous as you are – if that’s remotely possible! xoxo
Thanks, lady, love you!
Happy birthday, dear Faiqa! Have a wonderful day
Thanks (and I did!)
Today’s your birthday? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Because you’re a douche and everyone hates you.
Happy Birthday! I hope your day is as wonderful and insightful as you are.
Aww, thanks. That was a great comment. Very “make my day.” Not Clint Eastwood kind, the happy kind.
I want to know who the hell you were eating Doritos and Diet Coke with!
MY HUSBAND. You know that line in the Bible about God being a jealous God… you’re like the God of being Best Friends. If it makes you feel better, I would never eat Doritos and drink Diet Coke on my SOFA with anyone but you.
hope you are having the happiest of birthdays, my friend. i am so glad you were born. let’s all celebrate!
Thanks, my love!
Happy birthday!
Thanks!
Happy Birthday, Love.
Thank you.XO