Birthdays mean many different things to people. For me, it is a time to reflect on the life I’ve lived and the life ahead.

We grew up quickly. All of us did. When you’re young, the days seem long, and the years appear endless. You believe there will always be more time. You don’t realize you are walking through irreplaceable hours of your life at every step of your life journey. You think you are simply walking. However, the people around you: your family, your friends, those who lift you and those who leave you—quietly and permanently shape you, much like the wind shapes a mountain over many years.

Time is moving differently now. It quickens its pace. You feel the seasons changing faster. You lose people along the way, sometimes without warning. Good people. People who helped shape who you are.

Every person bears losses. Some are light, others heavy, and some never stop reminding you that life isn’t guaranteed. All faiths convey this in their own way: love while you can, because you never know how many chances you’ll get.

And that is the essence of life—it’s fragile, precious, and unpredictable. Each day is a gift, not guaranteed to anyone. I have tried to teach my children and grandchildren that message: cherish time, value relationships, and embrace life’s fragility.

As you grow older, life humbles you. You stop chasing the big things and start focusing on the small ones—like alone time, enough sleep, healthy food, long walks, and treasured moments with your loved ones. Life can be complex or simple; the choice of lifestyle is yours.

Getting older doesn’t erase who you are. Instead, it strips away the parts that never truly matter and reveals the authentic you. There’s no point in chasing youth; time always wins the race. It’s better to stand where you are—honest and unashamed—and recognize the worth of a life lived with both scars and blessings. There is a quiet beauty in that kind of acceptance.

With age comes a change in what matters. You stop confusing urgency with importance and stop mistaking noise for meaning. You learn to appreciate the simple things: a familiar voice, a warm home, the peace that comes from knowing who you are and who you love.

Remember this: Your job impacts lives, but it is not your life. We should work hard, but we must not forget to live our lives. Too many people overlook this.

We often fail to honor those who support us. We forget to thank God for both answered and unanswered prayers. I am grateful for both. I am especially thankful for my wife, my best friend, my soulmate, Bethany. God sent her into my life, and that is no small thing; it is unmerited grace.

Some children grow up in homes lacking love. They learn early that the world is broken, and they carry that brokenness into adulthood. They should not be blamed for this. I was fortunate—both of my parents loved and cared for me. All children need more love, not less; they need more understanding and more patience. If there is anything worth giving freely in this life, it is love. The world is starving for it.

Tomorrow is a gift that is not guaranteed. It has never been. We deceive ourselves when we believe we are owed another sunrise. Life is meant to be lived now, in the present, with the people who matter. Many only learn this lesson when time runs out. But we can understand it early. We can choose to live as if we truly value each day.

And perhaps that is enough—to recognize that time is a gift, to love fiercely while we can, and to remember that every breath we take is borrowed and precious. This is my birthday reflection at age 62—a moment to cherish the gift of life. I look forward to embracing each day if God grants me more time.

JC Bowman is the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee.

He is the Contributing Editor for TriStar Daily