Happy Birth Month 2026

To be completely honest, I almost decided not to do my usual month-long birthday celebration this year.

The truth is, my mental health has been challenged.

Losing my dad has affected me more than I expected. Then there's my mom's transition date on July 14, her birthday on July 22, and today, August 2, marks my sister's transition date. Grief has a way of reminding you that love doesn't disappear—it simply changes form.

Anyone who really knows me knows I don't do anything unless my heart is truly in it. I couldn't care less about likes or follows. That's never been my motivation.

When you add running multiple businesses, serving clients and authors, and balancing home life, I simply wasn't feeling it.

Then I had a real conversation with myself.

I asked one question:

Why do I celebrate my birthday the way I do?

The answer surprised me in its simplicity.

I celebrate because life is hard.

Work is hard.

Leadership is hard.

Balancing everything is hard.

That's exactly why celebration matters.

"Happy Birth Month" didn't start as a marketing idea or a social media tradition. It started as an intentional decision to celebrate life. We're intentional about our work. We're intentional about our responsibilities. We're intentional about taking care of everyone around us.

Why not be just as intentional about creating moments that make us smile, build lasting memories, and remind us that joy is still available—even in difficult seasons?

Celebration isn't the absence of pain.

Sometimes it's our response to it.

So this year may look a little different, but the purpose hasn't changed.

Life is still a gift.

Joy is still worth pursuing.

And I'm still choosing to celebrate.

So here we go...

Let the shenanigans begin.

Or, more accurately...

Let them continue.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

I love you all.

Stay blessed.

— Jackie Smith, Jr.