Day 36 blog

Today is my birthday, and honestly it started at midnight. My friend from Tennessee, we will call him Martin, called right when the clock hit twelve to wish me a happy birthday. What should have been a sweet moment turned into me being emotional, because the plans I had been looking forward to fell through. I had told my close friends that I already had birthday plans, and that we could celebrate together when they come out to Texas in a week and a half. Since those original plans failed, none of my girls came out, so it was going to be a birthday with just myself. That reality has been sitting heavy on my heart. Martin walked right into the middle of those feelings and ended up listening to all of it.

My morning still started the only way it ever really does, with the gym at 5 am. I pushed through even though I wasn’t feeling great. I had caught up on so much sleep yesterday that at least my body felt rested, even if my energy didn’t.

The day was pretty quiet after that until Martin showed up at my house. With flowers. He had jumped on a last minute flight to come spend the day with me. Luckily the flight is only around three hours, but still, the effort meant everything. I was shocked, and honestly, it lifted me in a way I didn’t expect.

He knew I didn’t want to go out anywhere because my energy has been so low, so he surprised me with something even better. He brought in a chef to cook us dinner right at home and had my favorite cake delivered. We spent the afternoon walking around my property, talking about life and business, and just slowing down. It felt peaceful. Like the kind of birthday I didn’t know I needed.

There were little moments throughout the day that made it feel special. A few unexpected messages, small reminders that even when plans fall apart, the right people still show up. The quiet parts of the day felt important too. I think sometimes the best birthdays are the ones that do not look the way you pictured but still find a way to become meaningful.

Tonight I am ending the day feeling grateful that someone cared enough to fly out, grateful that I still showed up for myself this morning, and grateful that this birthday, even with the sadness that came with it, still had moments worth remembering. And today I also get to bless someone with $500 for my birthday giveaway, which makes this day feel even more complete.

Signed, Paulina.