Birthdays are a time for reflection and rejoicing. And June 29 is a day when the universe nudges me to stop by, take a glance, and reflect. More or less, it’s like asking me, “Hey, buddy, is this really the story of life which you would have written?”
New Year’s, anniversaries, and birthdays are milestones. We look backward at our experience. It is a moment to appreciate our progress and acknowledge the path we have walked. The retrospection gives us the strength and clarity needed to move forward. The day just lets us slow down a bit and reflect, thank, and plan for the future.
Birthdays are the days of jubilation. All the joyous events remind us of the golden past days, really, the joy and beauty of life’s simple moments that we may have forgotten. They teach us to enjoy the present and to make every day count. All our well-wishers contact us on that day to shower their blessings. It brings families and friends closer.
Recalling times when we overcame difficulties can give us great confidence yet humble us to the fact that life is always uncertain. Such memories tell us how resilience helps us stay strong even amidst the worst phases of life. Without it, we would have drowned long ago. We remember our capability to handle challenges and strive to achieve goals. This can act like a boost in confidence to fuel us and keep us pushing forward.
Birthdays can be an easy tool for checking in: appreciating the journey, enjoying one’s time, and relating to how all those difficult situations were overcome.
Fear, Hope, and Survival: A Birthday Confessional Poem
Years pass by
I was once a toddler,
A school-going kid,
Teen, a college goer
A writer in the making.
And I will take more avatars.
How have I crossed the hurdles?
How have I cherished moments?
I look back at the path I walked through
Years back, I thought I could never reach here.
But I have done better than I imagined.
Some plans didn’t work.
The fate had many surprises.
It pushed me to a new path
Gave me varied experiences.
Humility and gratitude are the best, I find again.
And so is a disciplined life that values morals
If not, it’s a foolish dance, and I don’t want it.
I haven’t learned 1% of the world
Or won anything great.
I am a worthless dust striving hard.
I am a powerless being
I have fear and pain that block my future.
The soul has trauma to overcome
But yet love for the good
And the love from the universe
It pushes me to greater heights.
As the clock ticks to death
I am surviving and wish to keep going.
For more poems, visit Poetry By Shalini Samuel
