My birthday was yesterday and here's what I learned
If you want to have a good day—or even a great birthday—you have to *choose* it. It’s not about waiting for someone else to make it special for you. You have to take responsibility for your mood, your joy, and how you show up for yourself. It’s hard, especially when you’re feeling low (trust me, I get it, I'm dealing with depression😔), but the truth is, no one can create happiness for you if you don’t first decide to invite it in. So here’s my CHOICE: I’m choosing better days ahead. Even when it feels impossible, even when I don’t want to try—because I deserve joy, and so do you. Let’s choose it together. ❤️ When I woke up, I fought off depression four separate times—successfully. I told myself, Today can be good. Today can be better. But as the hours passed, I found myself waiting. Waiting for better communication, waiting for clarity, waiting for something to happen. All I really wanted was to spend time with people who care about me—to feel seen, loved, and valued. I thought maybe I’d get something accomplished around the house or head out for an adventure with my partner. That’s all I wanted: connection. Instead, the day felt like a series of stops and starts, moments of hope followed by frustration. Here’s how it went: - Morning: A slow wake-up, trying to shake off the heaviness. - Midday: Hours of waiting, unsure what was next. - Afternoon: Got ready for blueberry picking but ended up stuck in an argument that left me feeling even more disconnected. - Later: Picked blueberries with her family—nice in theory but still felt distant from what I needed. - Evening: Tried to help a stray dog find a home (a small bright spot). Finished the day with dinner surrounded by people who didn’t seem to notice how much I was struggling inside. I’ve realized something: if you want joy—on your birthday or any other day—you have to fight for it. You have to choose it over and over again, even when it feels impossible. Yesterday wasn’t perfect, but it taught me this: I deserve better days ahead. And even though today feels heavy, I’m holding onto that truth.