Being a mom means your time is never really your own...until it is. My birthday always falls at that awkward time—end of summer, back-to-school chaos, everyone scattered. This year I realized it doesn’t have to be just one day. Every day can be a celebration. As a Virgo and a middle child, I’ve never craved the spotlight. But I do love feeling seen and cared for. This summer was fun, but also stretched me thin—guilty for not spending enough time with my mom, guilty for not catching up with friends, guilty for not doing “enough” with my kids. So this year, I gave myself the gift of peace. I cleared my calendar and carved out three uninterrupted hours—no meetings, no obligations, no one waiting on me. Just me, buying something fancy with my hard earned money, eating dim sum without sharing or asking who wants what on the menu, sipping hot coffee... and savoring the freedom of nobody needing anything from me. Oh and having company of just me. I realize I love basking in my own company cuz I hate frivolous small talk. I know it sounds cliché, but here’s what I’m learning: the older I get, the less I care about the noise. The less I care about pleasing everyone. And it’s freeing. Each day, I hope to give fewer f@ks—a lot of my older friends have told me this is one of the huge perks of getting older—and gain more joy. I want to surround myself with women who inspire and uplift. I want to get stronger—not just for me, but for my kids. I want to accept compliments, speak nicer to and about myself, and live with an abundant heart. I want to spread love and humor, because that’s how people heal—and no one loses when it’s shared. You don’t need a birthday to have revelations—but sometimes it’s the reminder we need. Celebrate yourself every day, in your own way. #sappypost #birthdaypost #virgos #august30