Happy birthday Shanny!
A few weeks ago, I decided that the 4th of each month would be a personal celebration, akin to a monthly birthday. In my mind, it felt less cliché and more like a symbolic rebirth, a chance to reset each month. The idea is to leave behind memories of the previous month and welcome new, hopefully better ones. I'm not entirely sure what these celebrations will entail, and I don't expect anyone to partake in what has now become a personal tradition. Nonetheless, on these days, I intend to prioritize feeling significant—a pursuit of happiness for myself.
And so, the journey begins.
After five failed outfit attempts and a light makeup session, my birthday celebration adventure commenced. I chose the gallery as my first stop, inspired by an idea that sounded better in my head and looked more appealing on TikTok. Despite being truly underwhelmed by the art and somewhat overwhelmed by the chatter of a small group of strangers, I strolled around for about an hour, capturing the moment with pictures before moving on.
The next destination was Café Blue, where I aimed to fulfill my writer fantasy of crafting a piece in a café ambiance. Unfortunately, the reality fell short of the cinematic portrayal – the space was cramped and noisy, a challenge for my neurodivergent brain. Determined to make the best of my birthday, I ordered a frap and a wrap, claimed my corner, and pulled out my laptop. With every sentence I wrote, I felt like I was conquering my social anxiety.
Although I was doing this alone, I felt celebrated. The only approval needed was my own. So, here’s my birthday gift to you all – a happy piece. I acknowledge that this may not have been a grand celebration, but it was mine. A time to celebrate myself, enjoy a happy meal, engage in some people-watching from the corners, and find happiness within myself – defining my own joy. I'm unsure of what the other ten birthdays will look like, but if I have anything to do with them, they'll be damn good (Obviously, I will have something to do with them because it is my idea). It sounded better in my head!
How are you celebrating yourself this year?