TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Aries (March 21-April 19): Someone who is out of touch with his or her own business will be overly involved with yours. This is beneficial to no one. Life will work better when the everyone takes responsibility for what is rightly theirs, nothing more, nothing less.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Honor the unsung helpers in your life. Anyone who makes you look good deserves your lavish praise and maybe a treat, too. Bonus: Your self-esteem gets a turbo charge.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Though you happen to be in a driven mood, you’ll stay the course even if you know you will never achieve the glorious goal. The true reward is in who you become for having dared to dream. The prize is but a bonus.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): You love to be around creative people like you, and ones who aren’t like you, too. Sometimes very creative people say and do the wrong thing, but you offer a measure of leeway for this because they give you so much.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s not that you want people to go out of their way to serve you, but a little well-deserved special care would be nice. The human touch is a kindness you appreciate in whatever form it comes, metaphorically or physically.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There’s something you could do better if you had formal instruction in it. The training will not be as difficult, time-consuming or costly as you think it will be. Look into it!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Because you’re so alive to the possibilities of life, staying on course will be a challenge. Your Actress Barbara Rush is 91. Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula is 88. Opera singer Grace Bumbry is 81. Actress Dyan Cannon is 79. Author-historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is 75. Country singer Kathy Forester is 63. Actress Ann Magnuson is 62. Rock musician Bernard Sumner (New Order, Joy Division) is 62. Country singer Patty Loveless is 61. Actor Julian Sands is 60. Rock singer Michael Stipe is 58. Actor Patrick Cassidy is 56. Actor Dave Foley is 55. Actress Dot Jones is 54. Actor Rick Hearst is 53. Singermusician Cait O’Riordan is 53. Actress Julia Ormond is 53. Tennis player Guy Forget is 53. Country singer Deana Carter is 52. Rock musician Benjamin Darvill is 51. Actor Josh Stamberg is 48. Actor Jeremy Licht is 47. Actor Damon Gupton is 45. Actress-singer Jill Marie Jones is 43. Alt-country singer Justin Townes Earle is 36. Christian rock singer Spencer Chamberlain is 35. Actress Lenora Crichlow is 33. Comedian-actress Charlyne Yi is 32. Actress-singer Coco Jones is 20.

interactions may feel unfocused, yet there’s a whimsy in your mood that will add an interesting creative element to your work.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Different places grow different plants. Environments matter. Try to see the entire context of the issue. Maybe the people involved in a problem are not the ones who

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Chances are, “I’ve tried everything,” really means, “I’ve tried a few things.” Failing is hard, but it gets easier as you keep going. If nothing has worked, that doesn’t mean nothing will. Keep trying new things.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Everyone has holes in their education. These missed lessons are like potholes that can cause an accidental trip-up, but at least that will help you to identify where you need to fill in the blanks.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To remember well is a gift. To forget well is also a gift. If neither is within your grasp today, then it’s only because your brain is busy with a third talent — to project well. You’ll recognize potential and imagine the best of what’s possible.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Ralph Waldo Emerson said that common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. You’ll have such an outfit of genius on today as you solve complex problems with practical finesse.

Today’s birthday (Jan. 4): Your moral fiber gets stronger even as it gets more flexible. Your philosophy will shift — a sign of maturity and a function of the adjustments you employ to make your life work better. New relationships blossom. April brings a big deal. Improved finances will have to do with this shift of mind and lifestyle. Scorpio and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 44, 47, 12 and 6.

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