I’m 40 and it’s okay! #BirthdayDiaries

It’s Friday and I’m in love! Friends, think happy thoughts. This is a belated post, for a blog site that features mostly all the parties I’ve hosted for my son, and when, today, more than ever, DIY is the way to go, I felt a blog post was in order. Plus, I’m 40, it’s kind of a big deal! 😉

I love hosting parties. But I never really did like to host mine. It’s the day after Christmas, so it’s sort of anticlimactic. For many years, since we spend holidays vacationing and traveling, my birthdays were celebrated intimately away from home. If we’re in the US, back then, I spent it shopping, getting my spaghetti (as required by tradition to have long noodles for long life) from the food court of the outlet stores, or aboard a Shinkansen. This year, quarantining, sheltering in place, social distancing and all, I hosted a small get together with just my family and few friends (*sings I get by with a little help from my friends).

My dear friends in the Philippines, if you’ve been following me from before, it’s just so easy to DIY parties here with the supplies aplenty. No need for party coordinator, caterer, etc.. Downside. You don’t have a cleaning crew. 😅

It would have been nice to gather, to celebrate it with my parents, my sisters and brothers, my nephews, my family, my relatives, my many titas and titos, I miss everyone dearly. So to my real life oppa, my Chaseyboy, my family, my cinggu, my friends (tempted to say to all the boys, oppa and dongsaeng I’ve loved before ✌🏻😅😉), to everyone, thank you for being a part of my 40 years. Thank you for sending me your warmest and sweetest birthday greetings and wishes. They’ll keep me afloat for the days, weeks, years ahead.

So I’m 40? Age is just a number (though joint and muscle pains are real 😅). I have moments when I thought my memory is failing me. Here in the US, you can write a letter (I love that about here) to your doctor, I’ve sent her all sorts noting my feeling of increased forgetfulness, that I’m possibly having a heart attack, etc. They’re really pro. They all tell me to relax. It’s all in the mind, my blood works are current, etc. So. I’d like to say my cup is half full. And I look forward to filling it up with moments of joy and meaningful, soulful (and Seoulful) connections and encounters. It’s not easy to be always positive, I’ve been told that it’s difficult to maneuver with my mood swings. I’m a work in progress. And it’s okay. I’ll get there.Like you, I have good days, I have bad days…it’s okay not to be okay, so let’s shine brighter, be kinder, braver and wiser and love like there’s no tomorrow! ❤️