My Birthday Month, A Time of Celebration!

Posted: August 30, 2025

To all my fellow August birthday celebraters I hope everyone is having a great time celebrating. I've had a great birthday month! When August arrives each year, it prompts excitement and times of reflection. As I look back at the year, I definitely had some tough moments I did not expect, and it reminded me...

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

And I had some great times that I did not anticipate. I often challenge clients about the Cognitive Distortion – Disqualifying the Positive and I had to challenge the thought process on my birthday. I was sick for the first time on my birthday! Plans for the day changed dramatically.

The second blog I wrote entitled “Think About It” introduced the Cognitive Distortion – Catastrophizing. If you haven’t read it, please go back to the April 21st blog and read it. I talked about how my prom many decades ago did not go as planned and how our thoughts can have a positive or negative impact on how we experience a situation.

Now back to my birthday month and Disqualifying the Positive, this type of thinking focuses on the negative part of an event and dismisses the positive aspects. This type of thinking can greatly impact our mood and behavior. Now let’s talk about my actual birthday, yes, I was disappointed that I was not able to engage in plans for my birthday, but I still enjoyed the day. I took the day off, napped, enjoyed family, opened presents, and ate my favorite dessert, ice cream cake.

One thing that helped me manage the disappointment is that I celebrate my birthday throughout the entire month. I had to remind myself of other enjoyable times throughout the month. The brunch place I didn’t get to try out on my birthday is still open and I can try it out another day. I keep a list of things I want to do so I don’t forget. Yes, I have a list for everything and a color-coded Google Sheet. Don’t judge me, it’s a strategy I use that helps me. Rabbit hole moment…but please use strategies that help you.

What am I saying? I want you to enjoy your birthday AND don’t forget to enjoy and celebrate other moments throughout the year.

Here are some things I celebrated throughout the year:

* Engaged in mental health activities and speaking engagements in my community

* Family member graduated from college

* A new business venture began in August

* Many opportunities to engage in volunteer work

* New addition to the family; I have a new role!

* Just in August, clients made huge progress in treatment; AHA moments! HUGE WINS!

* I gained a friend and continued to cultivate the friendship

* The people in my Support Circles are growing and my Support Circles are stronger than ever

* Started a blog; I’m enjoying writing more

* Friends’ new business opportunities

* Joined a new professional group which adds to my Support Circles

* Many, many opportunities to encourage the people I love to do the things they love and remind them of their ability to do what they’ve been called to do

* Another year of doing the work I absolutely love…HELPING AND CHEERING PEOPLE ON!!!

THE LIST GOES ON! I celebrate things that directly impact me and great things that others are experiencing. I’ve had so many celebratory moments throughout the year and that is why I refused to be down about being sick on my birthday…literally coughing as I’m typing this sentence.

I challenge you to avoid hyper-focusing on what didn’t happen or what went wrong. I am not encouraging you to stick your head in the sand and act as if everything is okay. I’m challenging you to practice gratitude for all the things that are going well or just okay. I rather okay than bad.

Soooo your homework…my clients often hear this, ha-ha, take some time to make a list of things that are going good in your life, things to celebrate, and activities to engage in more. Take some of the energy and time spent reflecting on problems to shift on celebrating and planning for what’s next. Please don’t get stuck in the past. Looking back can help us make adjustments and learn from it, but don’t get stuck looking back you risk missing the present and things to come!

It's August so we are talking about me reflecting on the year, but I don’t wait for a year to pass to reflect and celebrate. I would miss too many things. Play the game with your family, a friend, or yourself, identify 3 good things about the day. It doesn’t have to be spectacular things. Don’t hold your breath waiting for extraordinary things to happen before you celebrate. Celebrating doesn’t have to be big, it could simply be practicing gratitude, sharing it with someone, or saying thank you out loud.

Here's a list of some of my everyday (seemingly) small things:

1. A sunny day

2. School bus arriving on time

3. Safe arrival home from driving on highway

4. A friend sending a text checking on me

5. Laughing with someone

6. Having dinner with my family

7. Not raining when I exit the grocery store…I hate wet grocery bags

8. Neighbor offering assistance with a daily task which lightens the day’s load

9. Receiving a compliment/kind word

10. A peaceful, relaxing day

THESE ARE ALL WINS! I CELEBRATE THEM!

It might seem odd to celebrate some of the things on my list, but I must be intentional that I don’t spend too much energy on inconveniences and minor irritations. If I find myself fussing too much I make the effort to practice gratitude so my mood doesn’t become negative. Take the challenge and I guarantee if you stay consistent it will have a positive impact. I can’t stay frustrated if I’m celebrating! Enjoy the wins in your day!

Until Next Time, Take Care,

Darsha D!