Birthday Sentiments

Birthdays.

We each have one.

Some love theirs.
Some despise, or even hate theirs, choosing to not acknowledge its existence.
Some are indifferent.
Others have a love-hate relationship.

I love the idea of birthdays and what they stand for.
It’s a specific day that people in our lives celebrate and rejoice us - our existence, significance, and importance in their lives. They let us know how much we mean to them, for simply being ourselves.
And we should be celebrated, the miracles we are.

I also love how a birthday can be a time of reflection. To look back on how the last year was “spent” and to think about what you want the next 365 days to hold.
It’s also a celebration.
Celebrating a year’s worth of new experiences, trials, growth, laughter, tears, friendships, tribulations, memories, and excitement.

But some of those might be the exact reasons why some dislike their birthday.

They feel like they haven’t accomplished much or aren’t where they had visioned they would be.
The hardships and heartache outweigh any amount of “joy” a birthday is supposed to hold.
It’s a time when they feel the void of loss and/or absent relationships and the sting of half-hearted friendships (and birthday wishes).
For some it’s a time where painful memories are resurfaced, to relive them in your head.
Or maybe it’s simply because you have social anxiety and the thought of the attention your birthday brings is too much.
Perhaps, it’s a time where your expectations are let down.

Birthdays.
They have a different meaning to each one of us,
&
They aren’t perfectly wrapped up like some of the gifts you may receive.
but,
I hope no matter what your birthday is to you, and feelings it may stir up, that deep down you know how incredibly special you are, that you know that you are indeed a miracle, that you know that you belong here, on this earth just as much as anyone else, and make a difference in this world by simply being you.

I’m glad you were born.
♡♡♡


xo,
Alison