Turning 22: A Birthday Cloaked in Silence and Reflection

It’s my birthday, but something feels off. The day I’ve been waiting for, the one that usually brings joy and celebration, seems unusually quiet. The anticipated greetings—those sweet messages of love and well-wishes—seem to have vanished into the silence. ?

The day started like any other. I woke up with the usual excitement, hoping to hear the familiar chime of my phone announcing messages from friends, family, or even acquaintances who remembered. But as the hours tick by, the quiet grows louder, and my inbox remains still. I refresh it a few times, but nothing changes. I wonder, Did everyone forget?

Birthdays are often a time of connection, a day when the world reminds you that you are valued and remembered. It’s not about grand gestures or lavish gifts; it’s about those small, thoughtful messages that say, I’m thinking of you today. But today, those messages feel far away, almost as if they’ve dissolved into the background noise of life.

Gift baskets

I start reflecting. Have people become too busy, caught up in their own lives, to notice? Or is it simply that the digital age, with all its instant communication, has ironically made us more distant? Whatever the reason, the absence of greetings leaves a hollow feeling, one that’s hard to shake off.

Yet, amid the disappointment, I realize something important: this day is still mine. Whether or not others remember, I know the journey I’ve been on, the challenges I’ve faced, and the growth I’ve experienced. The silence may feel heavy, but it also offers space for self-reflection, for appreciating the moments that shaped me into who I am today.

Perhaps birthdays don’t need to be validated by the number of greetings or messages received. Maybe they’re meant to be a personal celebration, a day for self-love and gratitude. While I can’t deny the sting of forgotten wishes, I can choose to fill the quiet with something more meaningful—kindness toward myself, a quiet acknowledgment of the strength it took to reach this year.

So today, as the anticipated greetings continue to drift into the quiet, I’ll celebrate in my own way. I’ll take a moment to reflect, to breathe, and to honor this day, for it’s still my birthday. And that alone is worth celebrating. ?