Today is my 42nd birthday.
Looking back on the past decade, I deeply feel, “I have lived well.”
And more than anything, I want to tell myself, “I have truly fought hard.”

At the age of 30, I suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. At 31, I was officially recognized as having a disability.
That moment changed my life forever.
Things that were once normal became impossible.
Yet, I survived.

The past ten years have not been easy.
But that is exactly why I want to say:
“Living itself is truly remarkable.”

A Sudden Fall in Life
One day, at the age of 30, I suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed.
My left side wouldn’t move. I couldn’t speak properly.
The doctor told me, “With rehabilitation, you may recover to some extent, but returning to your old life will be difficult.”

At that moment, I didn’t fully understand what that meant.
But as time passed, I realized the harsh truth—
I would never return to the way I was before.

I took a leave of absence from work and eventually had to resign.
I lost my place in society.
The “healthy” version of myself was gone, and I had to live as a person with a disability.
It took years to accept this reality.

I often asked myself:

“Why did this happen to me?”
“Is there any meaning in continuing to live?”

Every day was a battle with those thoughts.

Even So, I Chose to Live
Even in the depths of despair, I continued to live.
Thanks to my family, friends, and the people who supported me, I managed to hold on.
Rehabilitation was painful, but I endured it because I wanted to regain even a little bit of independence.

Then one day, I had a realization:

“Instead of counting what I lost, I should focus on what I can still do.”

That shift in mindset changed my life.

Proud of the Effort I Have Made
Over the past decade, I have continued to build on the things I can do.

I found a new path as a counselor.
I started blogging to share my experiences and support others who were struggling.
I reconnected with society and rediscovered my sense of self-worth.

It’s not about “I can’t do this because I have a disability.”
It’s about “Even with a disability, I can find new ways to do things.”

This way of thinking saved me.

There were hard days. There were days I cried.
But every single struggle has shaped the person I am today.

So on this 42nd birthday, I want to tell myself:

“You have lived well.”
“You have truly fought hard.”

Life Goes On
Having a disability made me rethink the meaning of life.
I may never be able to work like I used to.
But I can still live in a way that is true to myself.

From now on, I will continue walking at my own pace, without pushing myself too hard.
And I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me.

Simply being alive has value.

I am grateful to be here today.
And to you, the person reading this—

“You will be okay too.”

A Small Request
If this article resonated with you, please share it.
I want more people to know that life doesn’t end just because you have a disability.
In fact, a new path can always be found.

And if you have someone important in your life, tell them this:
“Living itself is truly remarkable.”

On my 42nd birthday, I share these thoughts with you.