...birthday flavors

While reading, listen to:

The clock on the nightstand strikes eight, triggering the mechanism to sing the known song of the morning. The sound reaches my ears, and today, instead of a grumpy sigh, a smile paints my face.

It's the 29th of August, my birthday.

Excited, I rush through my morning routine, because I am on a mission today: do something for me, celebrate with those closest to me, and cut my birthday cake. Even before settling on my birthday outfit, I know today will be marvellous.

Birthdays contain one crucial task for me: It is the day I glimpse back on the previous year. It is time I take for me, usually in a coffee shop with a big cup of stimming black gold before me and a generous serving of chocolate ice cream. And then, like a delicious cake, I can't wait to devour, I slice into each month I have lived, savouring the layers of joy, challenges, and growth it brought me. I read my journals and flip through the photographs on my phone. I take my time recalling where I stood last year on this day and how each experience created textures in my life. Some smooth and delightful, others crumbly and bittersweet.

When I left the coffee shop this year, I had a mandatory sign-off in my car. My favourite tuns got blasted, melodies that hold so many precious memories. And when my car turned onto the driveway, it was time to share my joy with those closest to me. My younger brother came next, bringing me my strawberry cheesecake birthday delight.

And it is finally time to cut the cake before me. The knife cuts through layers of the cake, slicing it piece by piece. With each bite, I taste the wisdom gained, the love shared, and the dreams nurtured.

Each year, the flavor of my cake becomes richer and more complex, new experiences adding fresh layers and exotic tastes.

The white whipped cream leaves the sweet taste of the previous year on my tongue, and the rich filling reminds me that the next year has new layers in store for me.

This year's taste leaves me with the thought:

"Life, like a birthday cake, is meant to be savoured, layer by layer, until the last crumb is licked off the plate."

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