Birthdays remind me that you don't get the same moment twice in life.
Birthdays are, should be, a huge celebration of my parents, myself, and the people in my life. Birthdays remind me what "I love you" means to the core. Acceptance for the person that you are and that they do not wish to change you into someone else. It means they will love you through the worst of times, loving you even when you're not in the mood or too tired to do the things they want to do. They love you when you're down, not just when you are fun to be with. It means that they care enough to nurture what we have and cherish it enough to not let go. It means they think of you, dream with you, hope with you constantly. Birthdays reflect the love I give away and the blanket of love that covers me.
• Birthdays are wonderful, especially the one I just or perhaps still celebrating.
• Location: Ocean Restaurant in Five Points South District - Birmingham, Alabama
The reason I stinkin adore birthdays is simply the call to pause deeply. Another year… full of revelations, accolades, joy, loss, triumphs, exhaustion and… this next part is much longer. It’s the rise. The comeback. It’s the birth of the new you. And it’s not easy.
I have strength. I am a risk taker and worth it.
I left a lot of myself behind, letting go of all the parts of me that I’ve outgrown. I no longer make myself small anymore. I no longer bend to fit where I don’t belong anymore. This year is about going all in. My soul is whole and here, all for this moment. Right here. Right now, this version of me, who knows exactly who she is, who she’s not, who she will never be again.
I stop apologizing for who I am. I’m not sorry for what I had to do to get here, and I’m not sorry for the time it took to learn my worth. I don’t belong in the box of who I am supposed to be according to everyone who wasn’t me. I am a woman comfortable in her own skin. It’s time. I earned it. I no longer wear the expectations of anyone else and I no longer let anyone else decide what I am worth.
Nothing is taken for granted. Every thing is a gift. And now it’s time to celebrate it. Life is about collecting wonderful people who see your magic and help you spread it. If you lend me your eyes, I can change what you see. Expressing joy returns it to you and has the wonderful effect of attracting even more.
Be who you needed when you were younger. So I am just going to spend the rest of the next 365 adventures laughing. And probably eating. A LOT. Someone once told me to not bite off more than I can chew. I rather choke on greatness than nibble on mediocrity because I am my BEST with full chipmunk cheeks. Happy birthday plus one and more (to meeee) ♥
