When Sixteen Felt Different

My birthday is on the 17th, but the party is on the 22nd this year, so the whole thing already felt a bit unusual. What actually made November special was the tradition my mom and I have. She gives me one gift every day from the 1st to the 17th. Tiny things, thoughtful things, just her way of making the month feel warm.

Because of that, I was excited long before my birthday.

The random smiles, the outfit planning, the butterflies of finally turning sixteen. All of that began way earlier than it should have.

But when the 17th arrived, it didn’t feel as magical as I imagined.

Nothing major went wrong. It was just small things that kept messing with my mood. It felt like I had used up the excitement before the real moment. And with the celebration still five days away, the day ended up feeling a little incomplete.

The one steady part of the day was my mom.

Her calmness, her effort, her seventeen days of gifts. They held everything together. Sometimes a birthday is not perfect, but the love around it still matters.

"Kabhi kabhi din khaas nahin hota, par log hote hain."

So sixteen did not start with fireworks.

But it started with love, and that counts for something.

And now, with the celebration on the 22nd, it feels like the story is not finished yet.

There is still a part two waiting, with the fun, the chaos, and the actual party energy.

I am really excited to write about that next. 💌

Till then, a birthday gift from you? I'm pinning an old post in the OneStep Family group, let's revisit the warmth I started this blog with!

Love you all 🫶🏻