🎈 The Birthday Mirror: How I Finally Understood “Time”

By Lisangelee Velazquez | Founder, GiftedBecoming™

On my 30th birthday, something small—but incredibly meaningful—happened.

I found myself rushing, cutting corners on getting ready—just doing the bare minimum. Not because I was tired or lazy, but because I felt off. Anxious. Irritable. Disconnected from the moment I had wanted so badly to enjoy.

At first, I didn’t know why.

But then it clicked.

My son and my partner were already dressed and ready. I wasn’t.

And somewhere deep in my nervous system, that time pressure activated a very old script:

“You’re behind. You’re wasting time. Hurry up.”

Instead of brushing it off or pushing through, I paused. I turned toward the discomfort and gave it a name: temporal dysregulation—that moment when internalized pressure makes the clock feel like an enemy.

And for the first time, I could actually use what I teach.

I told my partner how I was feeling, right then and there. Not to blame him. Just to be seen.

He didn’t rush me. He stayed near me. Quiet, grounded, supportive.

And just like that—I calmed down.

⏳ Understanding “Time” in BNLM

The Behavioral Neurodivergent Learning Model (BNLM) that I designed is rooted in lived experience, not just theory.

It recognizes that for gifted, sensitive, or neurodivergent learners, time is not just a schedule. It’s a sensorial and emotional experience. It’s intertwined with memory, pressure, performance, shame, urgency, and unmet expectations.

On my birthday, I didn’t just celebrate another year.

I witnessed my own framework working in real life.

• I noticed a signal.

• I paused before reacting.

• I named the discomfort.

• I asked for co-regulation.

• I moved forward with peace.

That’s the goal.

That’s the real win.

And that’s what GiftedBecoming™ is all about.

🌱 Final Thought

We don’t need big breakthroughs to validate our work.

Sometimes, a single calm moment in a formerly chaotic place is the best proof of growth.

So if you’re in a season of pressure, deadlines, or expectations…

Remember this:

You are not behind. You’re just arriving.

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💬 Want to learn more about BNLM?

Download the White Paper or explore the full workbook The Overthinker’s Study Toolkit — available on November 4th, 2025 via GiftedBecoming.com.