This year, my birthday isn’t about candles, cake, or wishes whispered before blowing out a flame.
It’s about something far deeper.
It’s about still being here. 💛

Being different shaped my entire life.
The quiet stares.
The unspoken judgments.
The questions people never asked out loud — and the pain I learned to hide behind polite smiles.

There were days when existing felt heavier than it should have. Days when I wondered if I was too much, or somehow not enough. But every scar I carry, every imperfection, every hard moment slowly built a strength I didn’t even realize I had.

Today, I choose kindness toward myself. 🤍
Not perfection.
Not approval.
Just honesty.

When I look at myself now, I don’t see what once hurt me — I see:
✨ a survivor
✨ a fighter
✨ a heart that refused to break

So don’t congratulate me for getting older.
Congratulate me for choosing myself — every single day.
For standing back up when it would’ve been easier to disappear.
For turning pain into purpose, and wounds into wisdom.

And if you’re reading this, hear me clearly:
Your difference is not a flaw.
Your scars tell a story of strength.
Your presence matters more than you know.

Still being here — breathing, trying, becoming —
is already a victory worth celebrating.