It seems about this time of year, our thoughts turn to all things patriotic, including our national monuments.  Sometimes happy, sometimes somber, monuments are a reminder of people, places and events.  And evidently, remembering has been an important human activity for a very long time.

Some of the world's oldest monuments, including Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the megalith alignment known as Nabta in Egypt, are more than 4,000 years old.  While we may not understand their significance today, their mere longevity assures us that somebody placed enough importance on them to build them with great care.

Then there are our personal monuments.  Neither stone nor granite, these are equally important in our lives and can be divided into three groups.

1.  Happy Monuments -
These are the ones we love to celebrate every year, like birthdays, wedding anniversaries, holidays.  (Yes I do like to celebrate birthdays; they mean I'm still here and I get presents!)  Happy Monuments are not necessarily celebrated world-wide, but they're all a big deal in our little corners of the world.

2.  Somber Monuments -
These are important, too, like the day a loved one died, or the date of an event that changed the course of our lives.  They're often recalled out of respect, and the world can never have too much respect.

3.  Me Monuments -
This is the category where the courage lesson comes in.  You'll notice the previous two monument types generally involve at least one other person.  A Me Monument is one you visit all by yourself, in the quiet of your mind.  It's the first time you (fill in the blank) or the last day you (fill in the blank again).  They're the monuments that have made you exactly who you are at this very moment. 

They require courage because they might be so good, we're afraid we'll appear boastful if we crow about them. Conversely, they might be painful to remember.  Yet remembering them is important as it makes us realize we experienced dark times and found our way back to the light.

Regardless of their nature, Me Monuments are important in two ways. First, their existence is proof we're alive.  And secondly, as I said, they require courage.  Any time you can exercise your courage is a good thing! 

Here's to ALL the monuments!