Arab World: Birthday Food for Thought · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Several bloggers from across the Arab World are marking their birthdays online with philosophical posts, describing their lives, hopes, accomplishments and dreams.
Syrian Abu Fares contemplates on the meaning of life as he marks his birthday. He writes:
It’s my birthday. I can’t claim to be at the halfway point anymore.
Considering how I lived my life so far, how I’m living it right now and how I plan to live the rest of it, I have serious doubts that I’ll make it to 98. If you’re searching for regrets between the lines you won’t find any. You won’t descry any deep sense of contentment either. I’ve missed numerous chances and grabbed a few improbable ones out of the blue. I’ve stumbled and stood up, many times. I’ve loved and failed, yet I’m in love again, forever.
Jordanian Ali Dahmash, who has turned 36, discusses what happened to him during the previous year and adds:
The key word for last year events and what is yet to come, is Change. Change is good. And in these times we live in, change is always continuous. Everything around me keeps changing. The economy, the people, the technology and the way we communicate. My hair color is changing, my vision is changing but this is all part of the cycle of life. I’m hopeful that the coming year will bring good changes in a time I need it the most, because this is the time of the year that I commemorate my 36th year on this planet.
Meanwhile, in Bahrain, Maha Al Yousif  will be celebrating her birthday with friends in nearby Kuwait. She writes:
Happy Birthday ME ;-)
I will be celebrating this weekend in Kuwait with 2 of my best friends
And Jordanian 7aki Fadi, who lives in Canada, notes how she forgot to mark her birthday on her blog and adds:
I am 33 years old. YIKES! How did the years fly like that people??? Like, seriously, I don’t understand how I am 33. And I hate odd numbers , they are kind of creepy don’t you think?