I've always looked forward to my birthday – initially for purchasing an outfit for the day, deciding whom to treat and where, and the excitement of gifts. Of course, there was also the customary cake-cutting, which someone had taken a lot of trouble to order for me and all (except me) would finish off. However, my perspective on birthday celebrations shifted after my 30th. It no longer became about showcasing to the world that I had grown a year older but rather an opportunit