January 19, 1989

Over your lifetime, how many specific dates could you identify that you would say with some certainty had a measurable positive impact on most of the days following it?

January 19, 1989 is such a date for me. Twenty seven years ago today at 10:07 a.m., my daughter was born. Not every day since then has been measurably better, but the great majority of them have. She has undeniably helped me become a better person. And I'm incapable of fully describing all the other ways she has enriched my life.

I became a parent for the first and only time at thirty nine years old. For years before that, I clearly recall people reacting to my statement that I would not be a parent until I felt ready by telling me "You're never ready." I always had the same response - "Then I guess I'll never be a parent." So I will always be grateful things worked out so incredibly well once I finally felt ready.

Happy birthday sweetheart.