My Chapter 42: The joy of being celebrated.

Birthdays have always been more than just dates on the calendar for me, they’ve been milestones in how I understand love, celebration, and what it means to feel truly seen.

Growing up, my birthday always fell in the middle of summer. Friends were away, school was out, and the “big party” my heart dreamed of never quite happened. And for a while, that was hard.

I didn’t understand then what I do now, that love languages are different, and my parents simply didn’t speak mine. Mine has always been gift giving. Not about the price tag, but about the thought, the gesture, the joy of making someone feel it’s their day.

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The shift.

Somewhere along the way, birthdays became less about me and more about the people I love, especially my kids. I spend almost a year thinking about their day, not to make it bigger, but to make sure I get the details right. The kind of details that make them feel seen.

Now that Viktoria is older, we’ve started making special Pinterest boards together, filled with ideas for our birthdays. We plan, dream, and pin little touches we know will make the day ours. It’s become one of my favorite traditions.

My kids have been my greatest teachers. They’ve also healed me in surprising ways this past year, reminding me that joy isn’t only in the presents, it’s in the presence.

Turning 42!

This year feels different.

“Chapter 42” isn’t just my age, it’s the name of this blog, and a reflection of how I’ve learned to own every chapter, even the messy ones, and write the next with intention. Forty-two has always been an important number for me, so this birthday already carries a little extra magic.

Full circle.

As a child, I longed for a birthday that matched the picture in my heart.

Now, I long for soft ones, those fill my heart moments like blowing out the candles with my kids, singing “Happy Birthday” the long Venezuelan way. Because everyone deserves a moment that says, I see you. I’m glad you’re here.

P.S. If you’ve never heard the Venezuelan version of “Happy Birthday,” prepare yourself—it’s not just a song, it’s a whole event. We sing everything, and it just… keeps going. In the best way possible. Here’s the proof: https://youtu.be/GJkAPEo0eso?feature=shared