Have you ever told people, "Please don’t make a fuss about my birthday," or felt an overwhelming wave of discomfort, guilt, or anxiety when someone tried to celebrate you?

In this deeply personal and vulnerable episode, we talk about the unspoken reality of birthday trauma. After navigating some resurfacing childhood grief following a recent birthday, I share my journey of growing up with a mother who made me feel like an inconvenience for wanting to be acknowledged - and how that shaped my belief that I was unworthy of celebration.

We unpack the emotional weight of transitioning from toxic, neglectful dynamic patterns to finding a "soul family" who chooses to spotlight you simply because they love you. We also dive into the psychological reasons why so many of us learn to downplay our special m ...