Thirty one years old.   I entered the new decade with high hopes. My thirtieth birthday marked a new beginning for me; a period of self-discovery, of self-love. I had no expectations other than hoping for happiness and a reignition of my inner flame which had dimmed throughout the past few years. What I received was much more than that. What I realized was, despite the ebbs and flows of life, I am blessed.   I am blessed with a family who loves me with every breath. A mother who would sacrifice her own health and well-being for my happiness. A mother who answers my phone calls with “kuzum,” a Turkish term of endearment which translates into “little lamb.” A mother who cannot go…