October, Joy, and Becoming
It’s not easy keeping up lately, especially without my phone. Life has been loud, fast, and full of responsibilities that don’t always give room to breathe. Sometimes, I feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up with time that keeps running ahead of me.
And now, it’s October again, my birth month. For some people, birthdays come with excitement and celebration. For me, they often come with quiet reflection… and a bit of anxiety. Every time October knocks, it brings with it the gentle but uncomfortable reminder that another year has passed, and maybe I still haven’t done enough.
I’ve always been that person who holds herself to high standards, maybe too high. I measure progress in goals met, milestones achieved, and dreams realised. And when those things don’t align perfectly by the time my birthday arrives, guilt creeps in like an uninvited guest. It whispers, “You could have done more.”
But this October came differently.
A few days ago, I received one of the most beautiful pieces of news: my close friend, who has waited and prayed for years to have a child, is finally pregnant… and due this month! When she told me, I froze for a moment, not out of shock, but out of awe. Her daughter will not only share my birth month but also carry a part of my heart. I’ll be her godmother, her Aunty with stories, her safe space, her cheerleader.
That single piece of news changed something inside me. It felt like God reminding me that life unfolds in its own rhythm. We don’t always get the timeline we want, but joy still finds a way to bloom, sometimes through the people we love.
So this October, I am rewriting what birthdays mean to me. I no longer want to see them as deadlines for unachieved goals but as gentle checkpoints of gratitude, reminders that even if I’m not where I thought I’d be, I’m growing, learning, and becoming.
Every October from now on, I want to celebrate progress that doesn’t make noise, the silent healing, the quiet resilience, the unseen self-work. I want to wake up on my birthday, not with guilt or pressure, but with a full heart, knowing I’m still becoming the best version of myself, one day, one lesson, one grace at a time.
My friend’s miracle reminded me that joy often sneaks in through small doors, an unexpected phone call, a baby on the way, or even a simple sunrise after a heavy week.
I’m choosing to see my life not as delayed, but as developing. I’m choosing gratitude over guilt, because even when I’m not where I thought I should be, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
And that’s worth celebrating.
Oh, I like the new Temilade ;-)) There's nothing wrong with high standards, as long as they don't lead to constant dissatisfaction and doubt.
October is the time to plant bushes, trees, and shrubs; they will then grow well and have the best conditions for a long, flourishing life. The same should apply to little people ;-))
Thank you so much for your kind words always.