Another 5th June: A Day Of Mixed Emotions.

Every June 5th happens to be a special day in my life. The day I left the confines of my mother's womb to mother earth. The day I had my first cry, and equally enjoyed the first embrace from my loving mother.

However, this date would have left me without a father. My dad was involved with an accident while rushing home to take my mother to the hospital to birth me. In fact, he was trapped under his own car. If not for some good Samaritans who rallied together to save him, he would have gone to the great beyond. But mercy said No! No, because that day had already been commissioned to bring forth good news and not a sad one.

I am Gemini, a special breed and a beautiful soul. I'm grace personified, that's why June 5th is an auspicious day, a day of good fortune, filled with testimonies and celebrations.

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Happy Birthday To Me. 🥰

Today made me feel a lot of emotions - excitement and anticipation, joy and happiness. gratitude, nostalgia, somber reflections, etc.

Being alive to celebrate another birthday is a precious gift and I'm eternally grateful for that.

I had a quiet birthday, no party or celebration. It was another working day so I was focused on work. However, I had anticipated it to be a pleasant one, filled with good wishes, cheers and lots of gifts and I got more than I wished for. The show of love was much more than I could imagine. From the moment I woke up till the evening, my phone kept buzzing with calls and heartwarming messages from loved ones, friends and some acquittance. And the gifts, oh, I got surprising monetary gifts too. 🥰

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To make it even more special and memorable, I attended the 12 0'clock mass at Christ the King Cathedral, Aba, - to thank my creator for His blessings and the privilege of witnessing another birthday.

Coincidentally, today's mass happened to be a mass for the dead - sort of a farewell to a deceased person. As I sat in the mass, watching the coffin of the deceased, I was reminded again, of the impermanence and twists of life!

While I felt happy and grateful for life, another lay lifeless, with no emotions.

Seeing how her family and loved ones were crying and grieving, I couldn't help feel a tinge of sorrow and empathy for them. This change of emotion lead me to reflect on life's uncertainties, twists and turns, vanities, and my own vulnerabilities.

In that moment, I felt much more grateful for the gift of life, my loved ones, health and all in between. Immediately, these words came to me;

Yes Lord, it is me. Oh! yes, it is me.
I'm the one you've shown mercy.
I'm the one you've shown love.
I'm the one you've shown compassion,
Yes Lord, it is me. 🙏

Despite the somber atmosphere, I felt blessed and in good spirits. I was also grateful for the privilege to mourn and commiserate with the family of the deceased, just like it was instructed in the Holy Book.

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After the mass, I went to the Marian shrine, lighted a candle and made some wishes.

From there, I headed to Happy Customer Supermarket, and bought a box of chocolate which I shared with my colleagues and some office neighbors.

Even though there wasn't any party, chocolates won't be missing. Hahaha!

Oh, I kept some for you so just pick one and say a prayer for me. 🙏

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Although birthdays are a time for celebration, they're also an opportunity to reflect on the past year and think about our experiences, the lessons learned, what and how we've changed, and what we're grateful for.

While others would have been worried about aging, unmet expectations, and pressure from celebrations, I didn't give a thought to them. I am aging, so what? Everyone is. But you're yet to achieve this and that, bla bla bla. Yes I know, but I have records of achievements and triumphs which have brought me where I am today. I decided on low-key birthday and that was it. It is my day and I decide on what goes, lol. 😂

As I look to the year ahead, I'm hopeful that it'll bring me good tidings, valuable opportunities and connections. We grow everyday, so I'm excited to continue growing, learning, unlearning and relearning to be a better version of myself. The unmet expectations will all be sorted out in their own time.

Happy Birthday To Me. I love me loads ❤️❤️

Thank you for reading.

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Author's Photos

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