“Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” — Aretha Franklin As we age, our birthdays become even more precious. Birthdays invite us to reflect on our past, our blessings, and where we want to be in the future. And who doesn’t love an excuse to celebrate something? My husband jokingly refers to the month of August as my “birthday month” — truly an exaggeration. But yes, the first week in August is my birthday week, and I’m taking full advantage of the opportunities to celebrate. This week, I’ve enjoyed opening cards and gifts, having a birthday lunch with a couple of favorite friends, and a dinner with…