I had a meltdown today thinking about the same thing. I can relate to every word you’ve written here. I’ve never celebrated my birthdays either, even during college. It has impacted me so deeply that I now dread my birthday and start having anxiety attacks as the date approaches. I understand that you shouldn’t have expectations from others and that you should do things for yourself to stay content and happy. But no one talks about the immense mental strength it takes to do so, and eventually, you do get tired.
I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m exhausted from having to provide for myself in every way. There comes a time when you need a genuine friend or companion—someone who can simply be there for you while you take care of yourself. In every phase and situation of my life, I’ve found myself fighting alone, and honestly, it’s very exhausting. I’m not sure if this makes sense, but this is exactly how I’ve been feeling over the past couple of weeks.