This past Tuesday, February 16, was my 19th birthday. From about the age I tuned 13, I have had a strange relationship with my own birthday. For some reason, I feel the giant pressure on my shoulders to have the PERFECT day. Perfect outfit, perfect hair, the perfect people involved, and the perfect food…I just get overwhelmed because your birthday only happens once a year and I never want to just waste it. When I was little, my birthday was always the best day of the year. I feel like there’s this stigma that is put into all younger kids’ heads about birthdays. They’re glamorous and perfect and wonderful. I found this concept to dwindle as I got older. I began having tests on my birthday, practice on my birthday, and homework on my birthday…the stars used to align for the perfect February 16, but then reality hit.
For my birthday this year, I was very unhopeful. Instead of being home surrounded by family and friends, I was in this weird, little dorm room in the middle of freezing cold Penn State surrounded by strangers. Also, in the middle of a pandemic. To be completely honest, I was dreading Tuesday. Everything was so different this year from any previous birthday and it brought in some anxiety. I was afraid I was just going to be alone in my dorm room all day and eating dining hall food. I had nothing planned.
Even though I had nothing planned, this birthday ended up being one of the best birthdays ever. My roommate surprised me with a nice breakfast and a cute little gift. After classes, we went to the HUB and got my favorite meal: Chick-fil-A. To make things even better, my boyfriend and his cousin (who is also best friend) ended up coming up to Penn State to surprise me! I was so excited to see them that I burst into tears when I saw them in the parking lot. They brought me flowers and took me out to dinner. I realized that I had no reason to worry and stress about having the “perfect birthday”. The “perfect birthday” came when I began to find joy in the small things and make the best out of every situation.
Every day has the potential to be a good day and I think I forget that I have the power to control that!