Celebrating My Birthday With A Grateful Heart. I'm A Year Older Today

When I look back at where I started from and compare it to where I am now, even though I have not arrived at my desired destination, I still have countless reasons to be grateful. If not for anything but for the free life - for the miracle of sleeping and waking up to see another birthday, I can't be less thankful. The joy of seeing another birthday is indescribable but undeniable.

My experiences so far has taught me a few lessons and a remarkable one is that the gift of life is the principal among other gift because hope is a function of life - that is, when life is sustained, then there is still hope. Even when it seemed that things are moving sideways, I remember that many people that have lost their lives would have gladly picked the challenges as an option instead of losing life itself.

I may not have gotten all that I have asked for but if I will be very sincere with myself, I will know that there are many things that I have gotten that I never asked for. For all these: for the hard times that brought out the inner strength in me, for the corrections that brought out the wisdom in me, for the blessings that made me to smile, for the favours that caused my little efforts to be amplified with great successes, for the mercies that hid my shortcomings - I am forever grateful.

Just like it has been said "family and friend are part of what makes us stronger, makes us feel belonged and of course, gives us the purpose to live." I can boldly say that a portion of my smile is a subset of families' and friends' and I remain grateful for that. In my errors, flaws and shortcomings, they never gave up on me and now, I have become a better version of myself.

Birthdays, no doubt, are millions moments to recount the blessings that one has enjoyed. Today, I cannot but count myself blessed for everything. Even if I had lost anything in the past, I still count it as blessing because I did not lose everything.

On this note, I express a deep appreciation to everyone that has been part of my life's journey and everyone that has affected my life positively, my friends and families, whose names are very numerous to be mentioned here because of limitations of time and space, I say a big THANK YOU to all of you.

_{Image from Pixabay}

May the light that you have shone on my feet that have lighted my paths continue to shine for the world to see. I love y'all deeply.

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