Happy (Belated) Birthday to All July Babies! 🥳

This July, I celebrated a birthday. It wasn’t loud. There was no big dinner, no crowd waiting at midnight with cake, candles, or confetti. Fewer people remembered — and that used to bother me. Used to.

Once upon a time, birthdays were marked by back-to-back messages, long paragraphs from friends, surprise calls, and the occasional gifts wrapped in bright paper. In those moments, you felt seen. Celebrated. Remembered.

But as we grow older, something shifts.

This year, I didn’t count messages. I didn’t wait for midnight calls. I didn’t measure love by how many people remembered. I measured it by how present I felt with the few who showed up — not just for my birthday, but for my life.

And what a beautiful shift that has been.

From Loud Celebrations to Quiet Presence

We live in a world that often glorifies loudness — the viral, the visible, the grand. And for a long time, I equated joy with noise. If it wasn’t big, it didn’t feel real. But this year, my celebration came with a road trip — a journey through Kenya’s heartland, with close friends, warm laughter, thoughtful gifts, and conversations that nourished the soul.

It was in those quiet moments — somewhere between the open road and soft laughter — that I realized how deeply I’ve grown.

What the Past Year Has Taught Me

The past year has not been easy. In fact, I would call it one of the most emotionally intense periods of my life. Not because of any one big event, but because of how many quiet battles I fought that no one else could see.

I have had to:

• Learn to speak up for myself — even when my voice shook.
• Unlearn the belief that I need to be perfect in every room I walk into.
• Relearn the value of slow, steady growth — the kind that doesn’t trend but transforms you.

Professionally, I have walked into rooms I once felt unqualified for — and held my own. I have been trusted with impact. I have supported tech talent, helped place them in meaningful roles, mentored, written, hosted sessions, and contributed to communities that matter deeply to me.

But the real win?

I have become softer with myself.

Career Highlights That Weren’t Just About Work

This past year has been one of meaningful work. I’ve learned to balance deliverables with dreams, structure with soul. I’ve helped others grow — and in doing so, saw how much I’ve grown too.

Some moments that stood out:

• Watching junior developers I mentored land their first roles.
• Hosting events where real, honest conversations happened.
• Writing stories that people told me “felt like you were talking directly to me.”
• And even when the wins were not external, learning to acknowledge them internally — the discipline to show up, the resilience to keep going.

Behind the scenes, I have faced doubts, deadlines, and days where I questioned everything. But each time, I returned to purpose. That quiet whisper reminding me: This is bigger than just you.

🖤 The Bittersweetness of Growing Up

I’ve noticed that growing older is less about blowing candles and more about shedding old versions of yourself.

It’s the realization that:

• Some friendships don’t fade — they evolve.
• You no longer chase attention — you cherish alignment.
• The best gifts aren’t wrapped. They’re felt.

This birthday reminded me that there’s dignity in stillness. That sometimes, the best celebration is reflection. And that fewer people remembering doesn’t mean you’re less loved — it just means everyone is walking through their own fire, too.

Lessons That Will Travel With Me

Here are a few truths this year etched into my heart:

1. Quiet growth is still growth. Just because it’s not seen doesn’t mean it’s not significant.
2. You don’t need to be everything for everyone. Show up for those who matter — and let that be enough.
3. Success isn’t always linear — or visible. Some of the biggest wins are deeply personal: boundaries kept, peace maintained, healing embraced.
4. Gratitude is grounding. No matter how hard things get, there’s always something — or someone — to be thankful for.

🎉 To Everyone Who Celebrated This Month

If you too had a birthday this July — I see you.

Maybe yours was quiet too.

Maybe you also looked at your phone and felt a little sad at first… and then reminded yourself that joy isn’t found in numbers, but in presence.

Maybe you too have grown — not just in age, but in wisdom, in depth, in direction.

So here’s to us.

To those still figuring things out, but walking anyway. To those who carry both hope and heaviness with grace. To those who no longer need the world to clap for them before they celebrate themselves.

A Hope for the Year Ahead

As I turn the page on another year, I carry forward this:

• Softness: with myself and others
• Curiosity: to keep learning
• Purpose: in all I do
• Gratitude: for what was, and what is still to come

And I let go of:

• The need to be everywhere, all the time
• The pressure to always be perfect
• The comparison that robs joy

📝 Final Word

Birthdays aren’t just about aging. They’re about becoming — into someone more whole, more aware, more true.

So, whether your birthday was filled with noise or stillness, with many people or a few, I hope it brought you clarity. I hope it reminded you of who you’re becoming.

Because that’s the real celebration.

And if no one else told you:

Happy birthday. I’m proud of you. Keep becoming. 🎂✨