Celebrating Milestones - My Birthday Traditions

October is my favorite month of the year. The weather is changing, and nature is showing us it's best side. Every year as my birthday gets closer, I get a strange feeling. However, this year, I am very excited to mark this significant milestone. If you are like me and enjoy having things to look forward to, having traditions will help you celebrate.
 
Before we get started, I would like to wish my twin sister a Happy Birthday. Thanks for being my life-long birthday companion!!!
 
In this blog post, I will share five of my birthday traditions that help me celebrate this significant milestone every year.
 
#1: Taking time off work and other responsibilities
A few years ago, I started taking days off from work around my birthday. It was vital for me to take time out of my everyday routine and do something special on the day. Having the time to myself is one of my highlights, and I look forward to it every year.
 
#2: Having a birthday photoshoot
This is a new tradition that I started last year. It began as a personal challenge to do something that I didn't feel comfortable doing. Preparing for my session this year was scary. However, it was much easier than last year. I'll continue with this yearly tradition and face my insecurities. Check out my blog post titled "How I faced my biggest Insecurity" to learn more about my growth process.
 
#3: Reflecting on my life now and aspirations
There is a degree of solemnness that I feel around my birthday. I take the time to reflect on my past year and where I want to go in my new year. As I go through this process, I make time to be grateful for all the amazing things that have happened in my life and the lessons I have learned from the challenges I faced. Thinking about my dreams and aspirations motivates me for my new year.
 
#4: Planning for my next year
The good thing about having my birthday in October is that, it is close to the end of the year and marks the official start of my planning period for the next year. For me, it is a multi-week process that kicks off now. I have started writing down my goals for next year and thinking about the tools and resources I would need to be successful next year.
 
#5: Celebrating my accomplishments
It is very easy to forget to make time to celebrate your achievements. Around my birthday, I make it a point to celebrate my accomplishments and reward myself with something special. Being intentional about celebrating myself at this time of the year helps me actually do it.
 
Final Thoughts
I want to wrap up this post with ten lessons I have learned in the past year, through all life's experiences.
 

1. Know what you want and go get it - this might not be the easiest thing to do, but it is totally worth it.
2. Be bold - get out of your comfort zone and do things you have always wanted to do.
3. Speak up for yourself - if there is a situation you are not comfortable with, say something.
4. Be yourself - you are unique and have something to contribute to this world.
5. Make time to do things that you enjoy - don't let being busy stop you from enjoying life.
   
6. Surround yourself with amazing people - over this past year, the amazing people around me have been my rock.
7. Be resilient - especially in stormy situations, be tenacious and strong.
8. Live Intentionally - being deliberate about the things you do is essential for success.
9. Guard your happiness - no matter what life brings, choose happiness.
10. Take care of yourself - care for your body and mind.

 
Call to Action
What are some of your birthday traditions?