Something inevitable that happens to everyone each year: getting older. Several people have different perceptions of how someone should feel while they celebrate the day where they age another year. This can be due to a number of things, a fear of getting older, a fear of dying, and also societal pressure of what a birthday is “supposed” to be like. Personally, I view the day as a happy celebration, where I can live another year doing exciting new things, along with the advantage of becoming older that brings me new opportunities in life.

Birthdays for me have never been something extremely special, but I have always enjoyed the day doing something that I loved. On my 16th birthday weekend, I went to my favorite local art museum along with making a special candle to commemorate the day. I had a blast, and even though it was nothing grand I ended the day happy and excited that I was now 16. As the months have passed since I was 16, I have done new things I have never thought I would have had the confidence to do. I have passed my drivers test, begun painting and writing poetry, along with conquering around half of my junior year of high school. I have had ups and downs so far being this age, but the pros outweigh the cons, and I am so happy to have had another birthday under my belt.

Also during my life, I have had some health problems. Nothing greatly concerning, but I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. This causes me to have a severe allergic reaction to the protein gluten when I ingest it. Due to this, many of my days of my life have been spent feeling sick and also laying in bed with stomach pain. By celebrating another birthday, I am able to live another year with my Celiac disease under control. I also get thinking, what if I was born in the 1800s instead of now? I would probably be dead if I am being honest here, as many did not know what gluten was widely until the early 2000s. I am thankful that I live in a modern time where these symptoms of an immune reaction do not take over my everyday life anymore. Everyday I have another chance to try a new gluten-free food and conquer the autoimmune disease I have been born with.

In life, there are many ups and downs and I do understand the feelings of dread and sadness on a birthday. I try not to dwell too much on being sad over things, and try to think of the positives of things in my life. My birthday is a day to celebrate myself and my accomplishments I completed during that year. By doing this with my thoughts and emotions, I am able to flip how I feel and turn my feelings of dread and depression into feeling loved and wanted. In my opinion a “happy girl birthday” is the way to go.