Why I Celebrate My Birthday
(and Why It’s Not Really About Me)

I’ve always loved celebrating my birthday. Not because I’m celebrating Me; that would be weird.

Not because I need a party, presents, or an extra excuse to eat cake — although, let’s be honest, cake should be a daily vitamin LOL!
But because for me, a birthday isn’t about me.
It’s about celebrating my life.

The real, messy, beautiful, bruised-and-still-beating life I’ve lived so far.

Every July, I take time to celebrate the people in my life; the new relationships and the relationships that keep getting better. I celebrate the lessons and my growth. I take time to reflect — not just on what I’ve accomplished or what’s changed, but on the truth that I’m still here. Still standing. Still becoming. And that’s no small thing.

I’ve survived more than most people know.
Car rides that turned into near misses. Plane trips that made me rethink my spiritual prep.
Seasons of mental health battles, including the kind no one talks about in polished leadership bios — like suicidal ideation.

I’ve had moments where I wasn’t sure I’d make it.
Where I smiled on the outside and still wondered if my inner world could hold me together.
Where I showed up for others while quietly feeling invisible to myself.

And yet… I’m here.
And that alone is worth celebrating.

This birthday, I didn’t throw a big bash or curate a highlight reel.
Instead, I did something sacred: I honored my past and recommitted to my future.

I sat quietly and intentionally looked myself in the mirror.
I whispered thanks to every version of me who got me here — the fierce one, the tired one, the one who kept showing up.

And I made a decision:
This is the year I stop flirting with my future self… and start living her.

It’s time.

Time to step on the stages I’ve prepared others for.
Time to use my voice — not just in safe spaces, but in bold, public ones.
Time to stop waiting for the “perfect moment” and claim the life I’ve been visioning for years.

So no, I'm not weird; I don’t celebrate my birthday because I want attention.
I celebrate because I’ve made it through things that once tried to take me out.
I celebrate because I know I’m still here for a reason.
And I celebrate because my story — like so many of ours — is sacred, even when it’s not shiny.

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt behind,
If you’ve ever survived silently,
If you’re still waiting for the “right time” to step into your full power —

Let this be your sign:
You are right on time.
Your voice matters.
Your story is not too much — it’s exactly enough.

And if you’re wondering what to do with the life you’ve been given —
Maybe start by celebrating it.

Until next time, celebrate and keep owning your shit!
Shawn

#OwnYourShit #SacredLeadership #MentalHealthMatters #SpeakYourTruth #HumaningIsHard #HappyBirthdayToMe #VoiceOfBecoming