This year, I spent my birthday in Turkey, not celebrating in the usual way, but giving thanks for the life I’ve been able to live.
I visited tombs and graves, including those of former sultans. Standing there was a reminder that no matter how powerful, wealthy, or influential a person once was, life is finite. Everyone ends in the same place. That realisation didn’t feel heavy — it felt honest.
It made me reflect on how fortunate I am. I’ve had the freedom to travel, to learn, to work with animals, to meet people from many walks of life, and to choose a path that values experience over possessions. Not everyone gets that choice.
Marking my birthday this way felt appropriate. Rather than focusing on getting older, I focused on being present and appreciative. It was a moment to slow down and acknowledge what I have, rather than what I might want next.
Being in Turkey, surrounded by history that is both visible and lived alongside daily life, reinforced that perspective. The past isn’t distant here — it’s woven into ordinary streets and routines.
Visiting these resting places wasn’t about death, but about remembering to live with intention.This birthday didn’t need noise or ceremony. Gratitude, reflection, and awareness were enough.
Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421), the 5th Ottoman Sultan – The Green Tomb
Muradiye Graveyard