31st.

I'm going to take some time tonight to wish Happy Birthday to myself and to document the soul-inspiring journey that I've gone through this past year.

Happy birthday, Shaza.

This time last year you were still learning how to live on your own, as a single mom to four beautiful kids. You got the hang of it (thank God!) and you did it quite well despite your clumsiness - you trip sometimes but you always rise back up.

You know now that when it comes to strength, it's not about how you look, how you feel, how you organise things - it's about being disciplined enough to acknowledge your weaknesses and to believe, truly believe, that you'll overcome your difficulties someday.

Opening yourself up to the possibilities that this wonderful world with its wonderful people can offer is also a very important lesson that you've learned this year. Yes, it's scary but you handle that fear differently today and if you notice, that's when your life started changing for the better. 

In a month, you'll be moving into your own space with your kids, and I know you're a little worried about living on your own but I also know that you're very excited about the prospect of having a little garden of your own. 😆

You took your time to learn about yourself during the past year which has definitely worked in your favour because as you learned to do what's best for you, you attracted a lot of positive energy into your life. 

There are days, of course, when you're tired but you know all that tiredness is not in vain because you are tired for the right reasons - like taking your kids out or learning how to sharpen your skills to be better at what you do.

The most important lesson of the year though is this - when you learn to love yourself, it doesn't really matter who loves you because when you love and appreciate yourself, everything else will fall into place. 

You're a strong woman, Shaza. You know that. 

Still Very Stubborn,

SFK

P/S Some photos below from my birthday celebration this year.