Celebrating My Birthday on International Women’s Day
As a little girl, I never thought I would be the woman who has seen and experienced the things I have. I never pictured that life would look like waking up each day and figuring out how to keep my head above water for that day, because that task doesn’t look the same as it did yesterday, but still waking up grateful to no longer be drowning.
I remember the happiest of birthdays as a child, carefree and innocent, nothing able to bring me down.
I remember one birthday, inside of that motel room, underage and inebriated, then coming face to face with the person who would shortly there after expose me to the darkest nights of my life
I remember many birthdays following that day trapped in my addiction, praying that this dose would be the one to make me forget while hiding in my car because I couldn’t be in the same four walls as my current abuser
And then I remember the birthday, feeling my unborn daughter wiggle around inside of me
And I remember my last birthday, sharing my cake with my daughter, with tears of wonder and joy in my eyes, because that moment almost didn’t happen
And I walked into work today, with balloons and cupcakes waiting for me on my desk, with a smile on face, followed by the chance to provide hope and support to beautiful, deserving women, who never thought they would see and experience the things they did.
Today, on my birthday and international women’s day, as well as all the other days coming, I will walk along all the women in my life, helping them as they help me, to keep our heads above water.
To every single woman out there, I hope you make a splash today.
