Why My Mom was Right About Birthdays

It’s my birthday!!! Hooray!!

As I mentioned in What’s Your Birthday Personality, birthdays are a busy time for me. I spend a lot of time evaluating and resetting, which all leads to a celebration… celebration of my birth. You see, when I was growing up, my mother made a big deal about birthdays. Not with a big party (rare occasions), not with a lot of gifts (mostly clothes for back to school–the luck of being born on payday right before school starts), or overly sentimental cards.

No, we would spend the day doing whatever you usually did, perhaps going out to eat or just sitting with each other. And no matter what, she would tell me the story of my birth, how I came to be in this world. She has been telling me this story for as long as I can remember, so much I feel these are my memories now–how she and my father met, her surprise pregnancy, their rushed marriage, and my arrival on this earth.

Research indicates over 92% of us arrive in this world “unexpectedly.” As in, our births were not planned. As for me, I was definitely one of those unplanned surprise babies to a very young college couple trying to navigate adulthood. And yet and still, my birth story has taught me many things about being human–about my existence on this planet.

• My arrival on this planet matters

• I have something to contribute.

• Embrace the mess—something good can always come out of it

• Love comes in many forms

• I am exactly enough as I am.

• Never assume responsibility for the errors of those around you.

• Forgiveness frees you. Not the other person

• Showing up for another person can be the most extraordinary give you can give another person

• Birthdays are a gift–it means you still have something to do and offer the world.

• Thank those who got you here who have loved and supported you through life, especially this past year.

Most importantly, do what you want on your birthday! Do not anchor your expectations on other people. Instead, choose to love yourself today as it sets the tone for the rest of the year.

So this week, I encourage you to treat each day as your birthday (I know I will!) Embrace the possibilities of the unknown with less trepidation and more awe and wonder. Know that most of us got here because of unplanned, which means we were meant to be here. One of our greatest joys is discovering that meaning.

DEEPER CONNECTION: Join me every Wednesday on Clubhouse in my club, ‘Find Your Happy,’ where we talk about creating a life you love and the tools your need to get there.

Want to talk more?? Click here, and we can speak about happiness, stress, and honestly, anything you need to get off your chest. I’m serious. Come chat with me.

Please share one of your birthday lessons in the comments below! Let your imperfections shine!

You are here for a reason. And you wouldn’t have the desire for something better if you didn’t already have what it takes to make it happen.

Light & Love