Lately, I’ve noticed a growing trend—fewer and fewer people celebrate life’s milestones. Birthdays pass without recognition, anniversaries are forgotten, and even wedding dates slip from memory.
At the same time, loneliness and depression rates are rising. Studies show that the lack of social rituals and meaningful celebrations contributes to emotional disconnection and mental health struggles.
According to research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who regularly celebrate small or big moments experience higher life satisfaction and resilience.
Could it be that by neglecting these moments, we are unknowingly distancing ourselves from happiness?
A Moment of Waiting, A Moment of Hope
As I neared the end of my pregnancy, long past the predicted due date, I turned to mindfulness to stay calm. I spent my days walking in a garden filled with orange trees—some in bloom, others bearing ripe fruit—a small paradise during the pandemic lockdown.
Living minutes away from the hospital gave me a sense of security. But despite all my preparations, my baby wasn’t showing signs of coming. So, I began repeating a simple mantra:
🕛 “Today is a good day to celebrate a birthday.”
I whispered it to myself, hoping the power of intention could ease the process.
A Difficult Birth, An Unexpected Turn
After four exhausting days in labor, I gave everything I had to deliver naturally. But when medical complications arose, we had to go for an emergency C-section.
On a Monday at 14:51, our son, Rafael, was born. At 18:30, I finally held him in my arms for the first time, breastfeeding him and feeling the overwhelming joy of our long-awaited family of three: Pawel, Rafael, and me.
A moment to celebrate.
Yet, the pandemic stole some of that joy. My husband was only allowed to stay for three hours before being sent home. We were left in the hospital, alone.
Loss in the Midst of New Life
Just before Rafael’s birth, I received devastating news—my grandmother had passed away. My family, far away, was busy with funeral preparations, while I was bringing new life into the world.
Grief and joy collided in a way I never imagined possible. We had no family nearby, only a few friends from work, and in those moments, loneliness had never felt so real.
But we didn’t let it overshadow our son’s birth.
Little did I know, the hardest part was yet to come.
A Mother’s Nightmare
Around midnight, after a long and exhausting day, I finally closed my eyes, holding Rafael close.
Then, a nurse rushed in, her voice urgent:
“We have to take your baby. Now. With or without your consent.”
I froze. My mind raced.
There was no time for explanations. Blood tests revealed a high infection level, and Rafael needed an immediate 10-day antibiotic treatment. Before I could process what was happening, he was taken from me, placed in an incubator, and isolated.
I had just given birth. I was recovering from surgery. My husband couldn’t be there. My family was grieving. And now, my newborn was gone from my arms.
Far from feeling like celebrating, I was drowning in a state of shock.
Finding Strength in the Darkness
I had battled burnout and depression before. This was trauma.
💡 Prolonged labor. Medical complications. Emergency surgery. Loss of control. A perfect storm for postpartum trauma.
But something inside me shifted.
Instead of spiraling, I turned to the one thing that had saved me before—mindfulness and gratitude.
Every 12 hours, I cradled Rafael while he received his antibiotic infusion. My body ached. My heart ached more. But as I watched him grow stronger with every feeding, I felt my own strength return.
And in those fragile, painful moments, I realized something profound:
🎉 Every breath is a reason to celebrate.
It’s Always a Good Time to Celebrate
We often wait for “big” reasons to celebrate—birthdays, anniversaries, promotions. But what if we celebrated the small victories?
That’s why, to this day, I live by my mantra:
🕛 “It’s birthday o’clock.”
Not just once a year. Not just for Rafael. But for every single moment that reminds us—life is worth celebrating.
Even in difficult times, hope grows when we choose to recognize the beauty of small, meaningful moments.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
All these experiences—resilience, mindfulness, and gratitude—have shaped us in ways we never expected. They are just one part of a much larger journey—a journey of learning, growth, and transformation.
Through the years, we’ve gathered insights, tools, and daily practices that have helped us navigate life’s challenges and become more resourceful, no matter the circumstances.
This, along with many other defining moments, inspired us to bring these learnings together into:
📖 “1% Happier Me Today: Mastering the Path to Authentic Resourcefulness. Tiny Habits Lead to Big Breakthroughs.”
A 90-day workbook designed to help anyone develop and master the essential skills of resilience, mindfulness, and gratitude—proving that even the smallest daily actions can lead to life-changing breakthroughs.
And to fully celebrate these small yet powerful steps, yesterday, Pawel and I organized a beach party for our son’s third birthday.
It wasn’t just Rafael’s birthday. It was our anniversary as parents—parents who had transformed painful moments into a blessing for life.
💛 A heartfelt thank you to all the friends who showed up. You are more than friends—you are our wider family.
✨ FREE Bookmark Download: A Daily Reminder of Celebration & Happiness ✨
💡 To help you embrace this practice, we’ve created a special gift for you!
We’ve designed a beautiful bookmark featuring the “It’s birthday o’clock” mantra, and on the backside, a gift of 8 simple practices that anyone can apply to improve their happiness by just 1% daily—in only 14 minutes a day.
✨ FREE Bookmark Download: A Daily Reminder of Celebration & Happiness ✨
💡 Hover over the link below to preview the bookmark, then click to download!
📌 Tip: Print it out, keep it in your favorite book, journal, or planner, and use it as a daily reminder to celebrate life’s small moments.
What About You?
- Do you take time to celebrate the moments that matter?
- Have you ever faced a difficult time that taught you the value of gratitude?
- What’s one thing you can celebrate today, right now?
Let’s bring back the magic of honoring our lives—not just on special occasions, but every single day.
Because in a world where loneliness is on the rise, celebrating even the smallest victories reminds us that we are not alone. Hope grows in moments of gratitude, connection, and shared joy.
💛 Happy birthday o’clock to you—and to all of us! 🎉
Sunteți minunați! Sunteți puternici! Sunteți de admirat!
Mulțumesc pentru ca împărtășești cu noi din experiența ta!
Fiți binecuvântați!
Multumim din toata inima, Paulina! Iti simtim binecuvantarea si iti suntem recunoscatori ca ne urmaresti in calatoria asta plina de aventuri! Speram ca prin ceea ce cream, contribuim cu un procent in plus la fericirea si bunastarea ta! Te imbratisam si iti transmitem toate gandurile bune!