September. A time when we say goodbye to our summer nights and hello to autumn mornings. When we retire our tank tops and pull out cozy sweaters. We start fresh a brand new year, a new season and embrace change. September has always been my favorite month of the year. And I’m sure you’re assuming it’s because my birthday is smack dab in the middle of the month and I would tell you you wouldn’t be completely wrong. But not only do I get to celebrate my birthday in September, but my mother’s, my Nana’s and my parents anniversary is all within one week of each other. This month really brings me back to love. It brings me back to beautiful memories with the people who mean the most in the entire world to me. It brings me back to flowers, hugs, family get togethers, baking cakes and laughter. It brings me back to me as a happy, carefree, completely loved little girl. And whenever I think of her I smile.
My Nana’s birthday is the day before mine, September 15th, and she’s been gone now for quite some time. I still remember her eccentric, colorful personality. Her generosity was unlike anyone I had ever known in my entire life. She would quite literally give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, whether she knew you or not. When her birthday comes, I think of her fondly and remember her pure heart. I strive to embody that heart everyday and do her proud with how I treat the world around me. She valued kindness and love. It didn’t matter what you did for a living, your accomplishments or your status. My Nana didn’t see much of that. She saw peoples hearts and the most amazing part about her was that she gave everyone around her immense love whether or not she got it in return.
My parents anniversary is two days before mine, September 14th. Their unfailing love and passion for one another has set such a standard for me and my relationships for the rest of my life. What amazes me the most about my parents is how opposite they are as people but how strong they are together. Their opposites bring out the best in one another and how lucky am I to have grown up with that? When I think of their anniversary, I think of my dad coming home with flowers year after year for my mom. I think of young me asking my mom a million questions about their wedding whether or not I had heard them a million times before. I think of how much I love them. I think of how much they love me and I feel so grateful for that.
My mother’s birthday is one week after mine, September 21st. Although, my due date was on her birthday exactly! My mom is my best friend, my hero and my protector. She is my ying and she is my yang. She is the first thing in my life to come to mind when I think of what I’m grateful for in this life. The endless birthdays together, yoga classes, trips to New York, coffee in the morning, wine at night (now that I’m legal) are some of my favorite moments. She encourages me to chase my dreams and she reminds me to stay rooted. Our relationship is a gift. It’s a give and take. She is the most compassionate, giving, beautiful, loving person I have ever known and she is just like her mother in that way. She taught me humility and loyalty. Everything I am, I owe to her. I am so proud and lucky to be her daughter.
September is a special time for me. It immediately brings me back to who I am to my core. It reminds me of the endless love I have in this world and beyond. It fills me up to the brim with everything that matters and doesn’t leave room for anything that doesn’t. So if you ever hear me mention my love for September, you’ll understand.
