Happy New Year Birthday?

Ok hear me out…

I LOVE my birthday. I think I always have—I definitely do now. I love when others celebrate with me, but I also love being able to reflect on the past year and dream about the one ahead.

It is my NEW YEAR.

I struggle with January 1 being the new year and doing the whole goal‑setting thing. Maybe it’s because I’ve just come out of a very busy holiday season. Maybe it’s because it feels like the “expected” thing to do. I’m not exactly sure why, but I do know January 1 has always been a challenge for me in that way - and honestly, I rarely stick to whatever I name that day.

So let’s get back to birthdays. Mine is May 21. Feel free to say Happy Birthday here.

It hasn’t always been the easiest of days to celebrate. Deep grief has happened in my extended family on this day. Beautiful celebration has also happened on this day. We honor both. It is the beautiful paradox of life - deplorably hard and incredibly beautiful.

I use this day—and the days around it—to reflect, evaluate, dream, listen and be present in my own life. I take the day off from work. I play with friends. I spend time with my family. I smile. I laugh. I may even cry. And it’s a day I feel so present for. This has not always been the case for me, but over the past several years, I’ve been very intentional about this time. It is sacred.

It is my new year. It’s my time to set new intentions or renew old ones. It’s a time to revise unmet goals and celebrate the ones that have been met. It’s the time when I get to thank God for taking every step with me through the year and guiding me into the next.

I scroll through pictures from the year (deleting some as I go), enjoying the memories.

I’ve also started a tradition of running my age in miles… let me clarify. If I am turning 29, I would run 2.9. I am not turning 29. During that run, I get time to think and dream about this upcoming NEW YEAR for me.

How do I want to be more of me?

How can I harness my talents even more?

What needs to change?

What do I need to let go of?

What can I add in?

How can I, the real me, show up in my environment?

My birthday is a reminder to slow down, to not rush through my own life, to fully enjoy the hand-crafted latte, the conversations, and the small pauses.

What about you? When do you celebrate your new year? I hear rumors that some people don’t care much about their birthdays—cool. I honor that. But when do you set aside time to pause and reflect, to breathe and dream? 

Send me a message. I would love to hear when your new year begins.

I would love to Hear YOU Out.

Your Strengths Coach - Mary H.