There’s something kind of magical about a birthday that lands right in the middle of the holiday season. The lights are already twinkling, the world feels a little softer, and celebration is already in the air. For years, I told myself I’d celebrate “later.” Everyone’s busy. The calendar is full. It’s loud. It’s rushed. But this year, I decided not to wait. I threw the party anyway. In the middle of December. In the middle of a full season. In the middle of a year that didn’t go the way I planned. And here’s what surprised me: people came. They showed up beautifully, generously, joyfully. There was music and champagne and laughter and warmth — the kind that has nothing to do with the weather. If you’re waiting for the perfect timing, this is your sign. If you’re telling yourself it’s too much, too close to the holidays, too inconvenient, too indulgent — this is your sign. If you’ve been putting off celebrating yourself because life feels busy or heavy or unfinished — this is your sign. You don’t need a milestone. You don’t need permission. You don’t need to earn it by having everything figured out. Throw the dinner. Wear the dress. Invite the friends. Light the candles. Take the photos. Joy doesn’t have to be practical. It just has to be chosen. Consider this your official nudge to throw the party you’ve been dreaming about — even if it’s imperfect, even if it’s small, even if it’s right in the middle of everything. Especially then