“Being Grateful: It only comes once a year.”

Some of you might have a very important date you couldn't forget in life. Some were about memorable past events, such as your first met, first success stories or others may be about remarkable things that had happened unexpectedly in your life. However, there's a specific date on which we never planned to be an important part of our lives but it came to be one.

When a child is born, that particular month, day, and year will be forever remembered especially to the parents and to the child itself. That day will be remembered and celebrated yearly, to remind us that we are given a new year in our existence.

Last September 19 (Sunday) I marked the 26th year of my life here on Earth. In that 26 years, I only remember a few celebrations I had during that date of my birthday.

I was once a child who dreamed about birthdays, I was excited whenever my birth month arrives.

Some memories were still clearer to me.

It was during my elementary years when my mom and dad were still okay, I recalled my birthday was being held at school.

The chairs were arranged in the corners of the classroom and the long table was in the middle together with the snacks my mother prepared for everyone.

That's how I celebrated my birthdays way back when I was still in elementary with my mom. But I only remembered one and after that, my excitement about birthdays fade as my family was torn when I stepped into grade two.

I was still excited but not about my upcoming birthdays anymore, I'm excited whenever our teacher instructed us to arrange the chairs on how we arranged when someone's having their birthday in class. Somehow my memories, while I was the celebrant, lingered during those times.

Until I turned into high school, I seldom celebrate my birthdays at home. My father was too busy with school works, he can't cook too that's why he just handed me money to spend on my special day.

It's up to me how or where would I want to spend it.

So as the celebrant I rarely spoke about my birthday at school and only my closest knew about it. I treat them with food for recess and after dismissal, we will go to the pizza shop and I will treat them there. Sometimes I treat them with burgers, it depends on what my friends want. That's always the scenario of my birthdays until college.

I never have an exciting birthday, I don't even experience being a debutant. For me, my perspective about my birthdays was just it's just an ordinary day, as always.

I never saw anything special about it to call it “my special day”. But as I turned mature, and as I aged with lessons of life with me, I realized birthdays are never ordinary days.

Because on that day, I was given existence and a chance to experience how and what life is. I am lucky I survived until today without sickness and with a family by my side.

So the “ordinary day” which I considered before, will be my special day annually from now on.

I may not be rich, I may have different problems facing today, my birthday will never be postponed, I will still age, I will grow white hair as years passed by.

That's why I learned to appreciate myself especially when my birthday comes.

As I wanted to love my family more, I realized that I should love myself equally on how I show my love to them.

That special day only comes once a year, so indulging yourself with love and treating yourself with the things you love is never a sin.

So last Sunday, I don't have a specific plan for that day, I wished to go to the church but we can't since kids aren't allowed to go out with us. So I decided to just stay at home. However, I woke up and was greeted too early in the morning by my loved ones. I felt I was so special as I heard their messages to my ears and read some heartfelt passages sent to me online.

That day became precisely “my special day” as I was treated specially by my husband.

He cooked me something for my birthday, Spaghetti as requested by the kids and Bihon for the “olds”. He asked me if I want a cake but I refused.

I said a simple celebration like this will do, and I thanked him for being a good partner to me too.

I also received a gift from my cousin and she made a video of me and posted it on Facebook. It's kinda embarrassing because most of the photos she used were throwback pictures. 😅

Some screenshots of the short clip she made:

Yet I really appreciate her simple gifts.

Last year, I also shared here how she surprised me with a cupcake topped with a candle on my birthday too. My cousin is like my sister and best friend as well, she knows everything about me so well.

My birthday last Sunday was just simple but memorable for me. I just wanted to thank everyone in the BCH Community who extended their greetings for me. Thank you so much for making me feel special on that day. I am grateful I met all of you here guys.

To my #Club1BCH family, thank you so much, guys.

And to everyone on noise.cash and Twitter, thank you very much, I truly appreciate you all. 💚

Birthdays will always come to remind us that our time is moving, and we can't do anything about it. Let's just be grateful for every new year added to our life.

I know we don't have the same ways of celebrating birthdays. Some celebrate, some do not, yet let's not always forget to thank God for that another year to live in this world. Because not everyone's given a new chance to breathe.

Age is just a number, but how you live your life still matters no matter how young or old you are. ☺️

Again, thank you everyone, and whoever is celebrating her/his natal day today, I'm wishing you a happy birthday and more blessings to come.

Thank you for reading! Maraming Salamat. 💚

Written by: @eommaZel