I celebrated a birthday this past weekend. For several days, cards arrived in the mail, mostly poking fun at the process of aging and regaling the virtues of friendships that, like fine wines, improve over time. I organized an outing to a jazz club that many of my gal pals opted in on. Perhaps not their favorite form of entertainment, as birthday girl, getting to choose for the group is a privilege I delight in.

I bought myself a new sweater — not from a thrift store. (I actually had to cut the plastic tags off.) I shared the honors of blowing out the candles that topped a birthday cake with a friend whose birthday is within the same week.

Ah rituals, I love them. They bring life to a very feeling level. They circumvent information that often cloak more important things and remind you that it’s okay to feel sad or excited or hopeful. HUMAN.

Several years ago, I started a habit, a ritual, which I conducted before meals to celebrate the everyday. I don’t know why I stopped observing this ritual, but I brought it back this past week when I decided to honor a craving I had to eat pancakes.

I microwaved a few slices of thick-cut bacon (a rare indulgence) and mixed up a bowl of pancake batter using eggs and milk and oil; the real deal. I tossed in a few dried cranberries.

After I arranged the bacon and pancakes on my plate (and poured on some real maple syrup), I stuck a small candle in the top flapjack, lit it, and began singing Happy breakfast to me.

At different times, I’ve stuck candles in omelets or burgers or potatoes or meatloaf, lit them and belted out Happy dinner to me, or Happy lunch to me. Associating the special occasion tune with something I usually do without any thought seemed to bring me to a new level of appreciation for the everyday.

When people think of having gratitude for little things, it still often revolves around something turning out in a pleasant way like choosing the grocery store checkout line that moves the fastest or grabbing a parking space on the same block as your destination or finding a place for a good $15 haircut. I know I’m often on the lookout for small boons.

But being grateful for small things and celebrating the everyday is more fundamental than this. It’s about seeing everything as God, or everything as Consciousness or energy. Maybe you have your own words. EVERYTHING is part of LIFE. Being alive is cause itself for celebration.

LIFE is a constant stream of different experiences, not just a highlight reel. I want to remember to take gratification from showing up for the work, growing from my experiences, and to feel grateful for being part of the dance.

I’ve been sad lately. I’ve noticed feeling regret that I’m not where I want to be. Sometimes I wonder why I haven’t fully taken on habits and beliefs that would serve me better. It’s easy to forget that each time I fall short and begin again, there is a new understanding of myself that actually takes me closer to full expression.

I think I really like the ritual of singing Happy Breakfast (or Happy Dinner) to me because the ritual reminds me to celebrate showing up for everything.

Making time to sing amid the joys and disappointments — the messiness of life — is no small thing.