Clink: It's my BIRTHDAY!

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I love birthdays. And I especially love my birthday!

I used to expound on how this day in history is waaay too special for just one day, often beginning the celebrations from the 15th of July and continuing until the 15th of August. Yes a whole month. And yes I obviously take myself waaay too seriously as well.

Yet since 2010, I dread making plans. My brother asked me on Sunday what I wanted to do today, and I replied that all I knew is that I wanted to attend Mass, because I don’t like planning anything – he said that’s what lonely people say.

I suppose there is some truth in that for lonely some people.

In my defense, the plan was to be in Tuscany, as I dreamed about here. When that didn’t work out, I tried to secure tickets to St. Marten…but that didn’t work out either. (See why I don’t like making a birthday plan?) But I still maintain my “No Working on my Birthday” rule.

So since I have the day to myself, no office, emails, queries or follow-ups and definitely no Facebook, here is my new plan, which is not a plan, because I really only want to be happy today…however it turns out. I will most likely be awake at midnight, so I will take a moment to say a prayer of thanksgiving. I plan to attend Mass first thing in the morning. Hopefully, that will mean being able to watch the sun rise as well. I want to eat some of my favourite things…so there will be breakfast at one of my favourite places. Then maybe a massage and lunch. There will most definitely be Tiramisu. After that…the plan is to keep it simple.

My birthday post 2010 is always tinged with sadness, mummy died eight days after and even though my sister and brother usually make time for me today and when we get together I feel like she is with us, it doesn’t make it easier. But still I smile, because I have 3? reasons to!

By the end of the day, I hope to have had a moment to reflect on last year and all I have to be grateful for now in this moment.

This is has been my anthem for the last 7 months and I suppose for a long time to come. I hope you listen and enjoy. Happy New Year to me. Life and blogging is ever-evolving. Here’s to a life of simplicity, contentment and Love.

Cheers to an awesome year ahead…cuz “ah come out to live meh life…I’m the happiest gyal alive”!

Day 26 – Perfectly Imperfect

Fireworks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MEEE!!!

Today’s affirmation:

I give more than I receive today.

It’s my BIRTHDAY!!!!

As much as I love, love, LOVE my birthday, I tend to be hard on myself whenever it comes around. I usually have this idea about how I want everything to be, hoping that it would all be perfect and often times it comes with disappointment. Today, I decided that I wasn’t going to focus on receiving, since this was the source of my unhappiness. I expect things of people and usually without even giving a hint as to what those expectations are, and well because the majority of the human race are not telepathic, I usually don’t get what I expect. So today, none of that. Today I am going to give in every way I can and not focus on the small things.

My sister took me to breakfast and then we went to Mass. It was simply lovely. The Gospel today was the parable of the mustard seed.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” (Matt. 13:31-32)

I have heard this gospel many times but this time the priest said something very poignant in his sermon. He said the mustard seed is tiny and as tiny as it is, inside it contains everything for a mighty mustard tree to emerge. Talk about an AHA moment. I am so hard on myself when a new year approaches, always looking back and measuring where I am to where I want to go. Not considering that each step forward is in fact a step forward and that I have everything I need to achieve everything I am going to ever achieve inside of my right now. I was perfectly imperfect just as I am. I say perfectly imperfect because I am pretty good at making mistakes. Like I make them ALOT. But that is how I learn and grow and evolve. My gift to myself today, is permission to be perfectly imperfect, knowing that I am enough just as I am in mustard seed state.
It was the greatest gift I received so far.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”
Matthew 17:20

Isnt that some strong birthday medicine!

So after Mass, leaving absolutely filled spiritually, I thought I was heading to Lucy’s for our lunch date. Only, my sister and Lucy had a lovely surprise planned for me. But first there was the biggest surprise of them all…

TIRAMISUUUU!!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows just how much I love Tiramisu. I can eat it everyday for the rest of my life and never get tired. And this folks, this turned into my biggest gift of all. I was going to share *gasp* my tiramisu. I really am growing up.

After collecting the dessert, on to my surprise: A lovely day at Maracas beach with my family. I could not have asked for a better day. I didn’t care to. Tomorrow I will think about plans for the new year. Today I’m going to savour the love all around me. Cherish all the people who took time out to wish me a happy day, especially my friend Rowan, who messaged at 12 on the dot. I feel truly blessed to have so much love in my life. I look forward to another year of realising dreams in love.

Happy New Year to me! Light and Love always.

Below are some of my favourite photos taken by Lucy during the day.

Coconut Palms, Maracas Bay

Sunny days…sweeping the clouds away….

Lounging on Maracas Bay

Lounging on Maracas Bay

Me and my Aunty

Me and My oldest Aunty

Singing Happy Birthday and cutting the cake

cake cake cake cake cake cake cake cake

Me

I couldn’t contain my self, I was laughing so hard

Sunset, Maracas Bay

Sun setting on a lovely day