#1) When I turned 30, a few people threw me a surprise birthday party at a Chinese restaurant. I was greatly appreciative, but in all honesty, I wanted to be alone. I had never felt this way on any birthday prior, but the years leading up to this point had been super heavy. I certainly didn't know what I did now, but that is when the stir of me...understanding the significance of solitude...began to manifest inside me.
#2) My 50th birthday abroad last year: I was traveling all over Europe {had been for a few weeks at this point}, and on the morning of my actual birthday, I wanted to grab a coffee at a nearby cafe which I had grown to enjoy. It didn't seem we had time for it, which made me irritable. "It's MY birthday and I want a cafe from this spot"...little did I know that a cruise ship pass was waiting with my name on it at the bottom of this cobblestone road, destined for Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Ibiza, and more! Needless to say, to hell with that coffee! I had a ship to board!
Changing the narrative around birthdays has been huge for me. I love the juxtaposition between your 30th birthday (the longing for solitude) during a party being thrown and then on your 50th the longing for the cafe and the surprise waiting on the other side exceeded expectations and like you said to hell with the cafe ☕️ 🤣.
Both stories expose the varying layers of you and those lucky to be around you.
#1) When I turned 30, a few people threw me a surprise birthday party at a Chinese restaurant. I was greatly appreciative, but in all honesty, I wanted to be alone. I had never felt this way on any birthday prior, but the years leading up to this point had been super heavy. I certainly didn't know what I did now, but that is when the stir of me...understanding the significance of solitude...began to manifest inside me.
#2) My 50th birthday abroad last year: I was traveling all over Europe {had been for a few weeks at this point}, and on the morning of my actual birthday, I wanted to grab a coffee at a nearby cafe which I had grown to enjoy. It didn't seem we had time for it, which made me irritable. "It's MY birthday and I want a cafe from this spot"...little did I know that a cruise ship pass was waiting with my name on it at the bottom of this cobblestone road, destined for Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Ibiza, and more! Needless to say, to hell with that coffee! I had a ship to board!
Thank you for this amazing reply!
Changing the narrative around birthdays has been huge for me. I love the juxtaposition between your 30th birthday (the longing for solitude) during a party being thrown and then on your 50th the longing for the cafe and the surprise waiting on the other side exceeded expectations and like you said to hell with the cafe ☕️ 🤣.
Both stories expose the varying layers of you and those lucky to be around you.
You know you are one of my favs!
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like it was filled with so much love 🥰
Thank you so much Zefan!! It was! Trying to make the most out of being in limbo! Good to hear from you.