When I realized that I had to spend my 21st birthday at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, I'm not gonna lie, I was disappointed.
For months, I had planned on celebrating my birthday the best way possible. I've dreamed of transforming into the 'Henny God' (IYKYK) and doing ratchet activities with my friends. I've also dreamed of being the baddest chick that day, glammed up from head to toe. Birthdays are a big deal for me because they are the one day of the year that I feel the most blessed.
Everything in life is not always peachy, but the past month or so has felt like a nightmare. Every day, either on your TV or Twitter feed, you see endless news on the coronavirus and its impact all around you, making your anxiety reach an all-time high. I'm also sure that in times when people try to cheer themselves up or look at the bright side of things, it's difficult to do so when all you see is bad news.
When my birthday finally arrived (March 27th), I had a great day. My family did their best to make the day special, such as ordering me a fancy dinner on takeout, as well as showering me with cards and balloons. I received a lot of messages from my family and friends, wishing me a happy birthday. I also made it a priority on that day to do what made me happy, such as watching my favorite movies, doing my makeup, etc. But during my birthday, I did a lot of reflecting, and during my time of reflecting, learned three important things from that day:
1. Sometimes You Gotta Roll with the Punches
The concept of "rolling with the punches" has been important to understand the older I get. In life, plans that you have mapped out will not happen the way you visioned it. For me, my plans for doing it big for my birthday didn't happen that way I wanted it to happen. And during those situations, it's completely understandable that people tend to panic or "get stuck" in what could have been.
Instead of being stuck on scenarios that could have happened, it's important to stay positive and know that there are some things you can't control. No one can ultimately stop the coronavirus or anything else from creating a hindrance to their lives. But what we can do is make the most of whatever life throws at us. Thinking this way will make it easier to get through hardships so that in the end you won't have any regrets or bad memories on life situations.
2. Most Things In Life Are Temporary
While some of the lockdowns due to COVID-19 have been extended for weeks or even months, this situation is temporary; it will not last forever. In general, most situations do not last forever.
If an important milestone, such as a graduation, wedding or birthday, has been canceled, always remember that you will have time to make that up. While your celebration might be on hold for a while, it doesn't mean that the celebration will never happen. Sometimes these temporary ordeals happen in life to open up doors for more opportunities or life-changing experiences. If that applies to you, use that time to do the things you've always wanted to do or never had the chance to while also being safe.
3. Always Remain Grateful
During this time, it's safe to say that almost everyone feels like they're being grounded. Life can also feel like you're being grounded for lots of things that you have no control over.
I admit that I felt like I being was punished and that not celebrating my birthday the way that I wanted to was going to be the end of the world. But, in my time of reflection, I realized that I'm grateful for so many things during this time of crisis:
I'm grateful for having a roof over my head
I'm grateful for always having God by my side
I'm grateful that my friends and family are safe and have not been affected by the virus
I'm grateful that I have the necessary resources to continue my studies
I'm grateful that I have the financial resources to help me during this time
I'm grateful to have doctors, grocery clerks, etc. in my community doing the best they can to help others
If you take the time to reflect on what you have in your life, I'm sure that you have a lot of things to be grateful for. If you ever get a chance, grab a piece of paper, and take 5-10 minutes writing down everything that you are grateful for. Whenever you feel like you've been ungrateful or selfish, just look at that list to remind yourself to still have gratitude.
For anyone who's celebrating their birthday during the pandemic, understand that everything will be okay. Also, don't let anyone tell you to have you don't have the right to be upset about your birthday, because you do. Birthdays are an important milestone in everyone's life, and it sucks to realize that you can't enjoy your day the way you want to. I suggest that when your birthday comes, use the time to reflect on these three things, as well as other important life values. Once you do that, your mindset will change and I'm sure that you'll have a more positive birthday.
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