its async. must await.

cogs/message_listener/__init__.py

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class SubmissionListener(commands.Cog, name="Message Listener"):
         if message.author.id == self.bot.user.id:
             return
 
-        birthday_action(message)
+        await birthday_action(message)
 
         guild_id = message.guild.id
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def setup(bot: commands.Bot):
     bot.add_cog(SubmissionListener(bot))
 
 
-def birthday_action(message: nextcord.Message) -> None:
+async def birthday_action(message: nextcord.Message) -> None:
     """
     Does the birthday thing, currently for chris only.
 
@@ -119,4 +119,4 @@ def birthday_action(message: nextcord.Message) -> None:
     chris = 642330132958281750
     if today.date() == birthday.date():
         if message.author.id == chris or chris in message.raw_mentions:
-            message.add_reaction("🎂")
+            await message.add_reaction("🎂")