The Unsung Hero Inside Us: A Birthday Reflection

Yesterday was my birthday, and as I took some quiet moments to reflect on the past year, I found myself feeling incredibly lucky. Not just for the people in my life, the beautiful experiences I’ve had, or the goals I’ve accomplished, but for something much deeper the miracle that’s been keeping me alive and going every single day: my heart.

It might sound simple, but when you think about it, it’s nothing short of amazing. My heart has been working nonstop for 34 years. That’s 34 years of pumping, beating, circulating blood to every corner of my body, making sure everything functions properly. It’s been at work before I was even born, and it hasn’t stopped once. It doesn’t take breaks, holidays, or weekends off. It’s the ultimate example of dedication.

And here’s the thing: it works even when I’m not thinking about it. Even when I’m asleep, when my mind is off and my body is in rest mode, my heart keeps going. It never shuts down. It’s a quiet, invisible force that powers me through every moment, every day, and I almost never give it a second thought. We don’t realize how much we rely on it until we stop and really think about how amazing it is.

Imagine the amount of trust we place in our heart. Every beat, every pump, every drop of blood that flows through our veins is directed by this tireless, constant organ. It’s there when we’re stressed, when we’re happy, when we’re excited, when we’re sleeping, and even when we’re lost in thought or deep in a conversation. It keeps working even when we forget to care for it, even when we don’t give it the attention it deserves.

I’ve always admired how it does its job, day in and day out, with no complaints. It doesn’t get to take a break like I do. I might feel exhausted after a long day of work or a tough workout, but my heart? It never gets tired. It just keeps going. Even when I’m sitting still or relaxing, it’s still working hard. In fact, it’s working hardest when we’re at rest. The heart never stops, never asks for a vacation, never takes a sick day.

What’s even more incredible is that it’s not just working for me, it’s working for all of us. Every person on this planet has their own little unsung hero inside, keeping them alive and moving, day in and day out. Our hearts are one of the few things in life that don’t need reminders, that don’t need a ‘to-do’ list or a motivational speech to get the job done. It just does its thing, quietly and without fail.

And in those moments of reflection, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. My heart has been with me from the very beginning. It’s been there in moments of joy, grief, excitement, and fear. It’s been with me during the highs and the lows, never asking for anything in return. It’s easy to forget that our bodies are full of such amazing systems, all working together seamlessly to keep us alive. But when you take a moment to appreciate the quiet power of your heart, it’s impossible not to feel grateful.

So, as I celebrated another year of life yesterday, I made a vow to give more thanks to the things I often overlook the things that just work in the background to make life possible. We get caught up in the noise of everyday life, in our to-do lists and goals, and sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate the miracles that are happening within us at every second.

Thank you, heart, for all the work you do. For every beat, every breath, every day. For the times you kept going even when I didn’t notice, for the times you kept me grounded when everything around me felt uncertain. For being a reminder that sometimes, the most important things in life are the ones we can’t see or control, but we can always count on.

Here’s to 34 years of heartbeats and to many more.

Cansu,