Greetings Everyone,
I hope you are all well today. As you can tell from my title, today is my birthday. All you need to know right now is that I am somewhere in my mid to late 30s. I do not fear becoming older, as it is a rite of passage. With age comes wisdom. I can assure you that I have learned numerous lessons navigating through this thing we call life. I am thankful for each lesson.
Reflecting on my various experiences, I realize I have come a long way. I am not the same person I was. I am happy with my progress, but I have more progress I need to make. I am stronger than I used to be. People have seen me as weaker than most throughout my life due to my quiet and mild-mannered nature. I continue to prove them wrong. I was bullied for the majority of my life.
Now, I articulate my feelings; opinions and refuse to accept any treatment that is less than desirable. I am described as a firecracker. I am tame for the most part based on my upbringing. My mother is religious and begs me to behave. She is meeker and milder, and she hates confrontation. Now my father on the other hand is hardcore and a bit intense. He does not take mess off of anyone. He is confrontational and has no issue fighting. I tend to be a mixture of both.
I am proud of the woman I have become. I am family oriented and take care of my family. I have a decent job and make decent money. I wish I received more money because the struggle is real. However I know there are people who are less fortunate than me, I work in a rewarding field where I do something I love such as helping people. I am educated and still love learning. I enjoy teaching as much as learning. I cannot emphasize enough that we can all stand to learn something from one another. We are one.
2022 has been a rough year for me due to various reasons. It is okay because of my growth and perseverance. I am thankful for my therapist who has helped me process many things. I am thankful for my family and friends. There is one friend in particular who stands above the rest. He was there for me through thick and thin this year, often sacrificing to ensure I was okay. Words cannot express my gratitude. He also took me to a nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday. It is important to surround yourself with various people who will love, support, help, and uplift you no matter what.
Each birthday (circle around the sun) symbolizes a new beginning. May we remember everyone who did not make it to a new birthday this year. I personally lost many people to COVID, illnesses, and other reasons. Remember everyone: any day above ground is a good day. We are not immune to the trials and tribulations of life. Life happens and there is so much suffering in the process. Always strive to do your best. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Pay it forward if you are able to. Display gratitude. Ride this until the wheels fall off. Live life to the fullest. Celebrate every day.
As always, thank you for the love and support you continue to show me. It means so much. Peace and blessings everyone.
❤ Rayne Elise ❤
Discovery Journey 