June is my birthday month. Yes I am a June baby!! I have had a complicated relationship with my birthdays. Yes I am one of those people, who used to get super excited about birthdays! I have celebrated with my friends throughout the school years, at home only, as my birthday falls during summer vacation. 

However the real excitement of birthdays arose during my college years, as there is no vacation in medical college and I had a thick group of friends, who would start countdown as soon as the month of June would start. Those 5 birthdays are my best memories, and then I got married and perspectives shifted. Sometimes birthdays have to revolve around treating in laws, while some years it would be taking the kids out, for their own pleasure. 

The husband often suggested for a quick getaway, but I always turned it down, as I wanted to be "available" to accept everyone's wishes and all. Birthdays have always been a big deal for me, I too celebrate my loved ones' special days with lot of pomp and show, so expected a bit in return too, on my own day. However, every year turned out to be worse than the previous ones. As I turned off my Facebook birthday reminder, even close family members and friends forgot to wish me. I realized how shallow everything is. 

For the first time in 35 years, in 2023. I spent my birthday in Tanzania, holidaying, away from my parents and my younger one. I definitely missed them immensely, but it felt so so so damn good. My phone wasn't reachable and I didn't even care who bothered to wish me. Of course, very significant people in my life remembered after a couple of days, on seeing my post on Instagram. 

I have been a happier person for the past 3 years because I am editing my life, weeding out all the unnecessary family members. This year, I will be in Finland, celebrating my birthday with my husband and elder daughter. Of course I would terribly miss my little one and my parents, but I am ready to be selfish to have the time of my life. I know, barring my close college and school friends, no one is going to remember me. And when I will post on Instagram, my so called friends and fam members would be posting stories and whatsApp statuses. 

I have let go of expectations and of course celebrating others too, who don't make me feel good. It's my day and I don't need anyone else to make me feel good. Thankfully, my husband is taking me on this grand Baltic/ East European trip, so that I can celebrate it my way. I am very grateful for that. No expectations, no disappointment.

 This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (June) Challenge with theme word (Day).