admin
My birthday is today; usually a day of celebration, happiness, and the companionship of people who love us. This is a day we should expect to feel unique, valued, and cherished. But when I think back on my own birthday, I discover a sad reality: even though I know my flaws and shortcomings, I have never had the kind of celebration many take for given. Strong reminders of how different my experience has been come from the lack of congrussiveness, birthday wishes, and silence of the day.
Birthdays are sometimes considered as turning points—events to honour the path of life, successes, and the people who accompany us in our celebrations. These are times when friends and relatives gather to show their love, to honour us and to acknowledge our presence in their life. Birthdays are for many connected with sincere greetings, celebrations, and gestures meant to make one feel appreciated and cherished.
Birthdays were never the major celebrations I saw in films or heard about from friends growing up. Rather, they were usually quiet, unassuming days with little to no recognition from anyone around me. It seemed as though my birthday just merged into the background of daily life, not because I lacked friends or relatives. I have always tried to be a thoughtful friend, a loving family member, and a caring coworker; nevertheless, on my special day the same kindness and appreciation have seldom ever been returned.
As I count another year today, I am quite conscious of my flaws. Each of us has unique habits, flaws, and personal conflicts. I’m not unique either. I welcome my flaws since they define who I am and help me to grow. I know the areas I still have to work on, my errors, and the ways I let down others. Even with this self-awareness and acceptance, though, I find myself empty when my birthday goes unreported.
It goes beyond simply the lack of a party or congratulations notes. It’s about the sense of being passed over and the more intense need for approval. Birthdays are, after all, a time when we want for validation and a reminder that we count to others close by. These are times when we yearn for a clear statement of love and gratitude, a mirror of the relationships we have cultivated over years. Lack of such actions leaves a hole, a place where we long for acceptance and validation.
Still, the knowledge that my value is not based on others’ celebration of my birthday helps me to find comfort even in this seclusion. Lack of celebration or congrats does not lessen my value. Rather, I am learning to enjoy the still times and to value the small deeds of compassion that might not always be accompanied with grandeur but are nonetheless significant. Though some may not, I am learning to honour my path, celebrate myself, and acknowledge my successes.
Maybe it’s time to establish for me what a birthday represents. I may chose to celebrate in my own manner rather than depending on outside approval. I can consider my development, the knowledge I gained, and the fortitude I shown. Today presents a chance for me to honour the person I have grown to be, practise self-love and self-care, and create goals for the next year.
Though it may not be remembered today with great parties or exuberant congrats, it is nonetheless a day to honour. This is my day, one to honour my life and the road that has gotten me to this place. Navigating this birthday with a sense of introspection and calm contemplation reminds me that the real meaning of celebration is inside. It is acknowledgement of my value personally and a promise to keep developing, learning, and savouring life with all its flaws.
Therefore, it is a day of modest self-celebration even if it might not have the pomp I originally dreamed for. It reminds me that I have the ability to respect myself and enjoy my own successes even in the lack of outside validation. I shall carry with me the knowledge that the love and respect I have for myself defines my value rather than the festivities of others as I go ahead.