Backstage Between the Birthdays

It’s been a while since I’ve written here.

Not because the stories stopped... but because life, as it often does, asked me to step backstage for a bit. Away from the noise, the stage lights, and the rhythm of sharing. It’s where the quiet work happens... where scenes are rewritten, props rearranged, and new acts are quietly rehearsed in the dark. That’s where I’ve been. Letting life take shape again, slowly and inwardly.

And in the midst of that quiet… a birthday arrives.

Birthdays have always carried a certain weight for me... once filled with anticipation, attention, affection. But over time, something in me has changed. These days, the excitement has softened into reflection. The joy feels quieter, deeper, less about celebration and more about connection. With the past. With the present.

With myself.

There’s a shift that comes with growing older, not just in years, but in perspective. Birthdays begin to feel less like parties and more like pause points. Moments to look around and ask:

How far have I come? What have I let go of? What have I grown into?

It’s not about candles anymore. It’s about clarity.

A Shift in Focus

We tend to think of birthdays as outward celebrations. But lately, I’ve come to see them as inward journeys... a time to check in with myself, not just be checked in on. Yes, there’s love, laughter, and celebration (and I’m so lucky to have that in abundance... my family always makes me feel seen, and for the past three years, my husband has turned each birthday into something genuinely magical). But now, more than ever, birthdays are about reflection.

Growth. Stillness.

It’s a space where I can say:

• I’ve grown.

• I’ve learned.

• I’ve survived things I didn’t think I could.

• I’m grateful for it all.

The Significance of Gratitude

There’s something profound in simply being here. Alive. Loved. Evolving. Birthdays are an invitation to reflect on all the people who walk this journey with us. The family who roots for us quietly. The friends who show up when it counts. The partners who learn the language of our hearts and speak it fluently, year after year.

It’s also a reminder of the beauty of becoming... not who we’re supposed to be, but who we actually are, once we let go of performance and expectation.

Beyond the Party

This year, I’ve found myself drawn to slowness. To the kind of celebration that doesn’t demand anything, not attention, not noise, not even cake (though let’s be honest, cake is always welcome). Just space. To breathe. To reflect. To honour how far I’ve come.

And to remind myself: This journey... this winding, unplanned, imperfect journey... is mine. And that in itself is worth celebrating.

So here I am again. Back on the blog. Still wandering, still learning, still writing... even if sometimes it's been in the margins.

Because life isn’t always about sharing the story in real time. Sometimes, the best parts are written quietly… backstage.