Today is my birthday, and the past week has been difficult. I’ve been tested in ways that reminded me how fragile and strong life can be at the same time. But I feel myself coming out on the other side okay—and maybe even better for it.
I’m learning that when things happen, they usually happen for a reason. Not as punishment, but as lessons. Life is a series of experiences meant to shape us, stretch us, and ultimately make us better people if we let them. I’m learning not to take everything so personally or carry every burden as if it were meant to break me.
I’m also learning how to let go. Even when I don’t agree with people. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Holding on only drains energy that could be used to live, to love, and to heal. I’m learning to enjoy the people who are around me now, because none of us are promised forever.
My husband is my greatest strength and my strongest pillar. He grounds me. He loves me in ways that don’t require words. He understands me, listens when I need to vent, and stands steady when I’m not. I truly don’t know where I would be without him. In moments like these, I look at him and know with certainty that marrying this man was the best decision I’ve ever made. He is my best friend, an incredible father, and my calm during chaos. When I’m in a flare, he looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes, and I don’t need reassurance—I already know he would do anything for me.
This season of life isn’t easy. Living in America right now isn’t easy either, and the weight of it all adds to stress in ways that affect my body and my health. Over the past few days, my inflammatory disease has flared. The cold was relentless, and my body finally said it had enough. It’s a reminder that I can’t control everything—and that I don’t need to.
What I can control is gratitude. I am deeply thankful for my family, for the love that surrounds me, and for the strength that grows from it. That love will continue to make me stronger, teach me to love harder, and guide me toward peace.
As I step into another year, I do so with more acceptance, more appreciation, and more grace—for myself and for others.
between the flares 
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