Friday, June 6, 2014

Let's learn something: How to celebrate the important stuff

My birthday is this weekend. And I'm going to celebrate. All. Week. Long. (Maybe even longer...I haven't decided yet.)

When I was growing up, I didn't truly enjoy my birthdays. There was a bad incident with a clown on one birthday, and for the others, I was a bit shy and didn't like being the center of attention. My parents tried to have parties for me, but I didn't really enjoy them. (Sorry, Mom!)

But as an adult, I don't expect others to create celebrations for me. It's my birthday, and I'm going to bring the party. So, I do. And I invite friends and family along for the ride. Here are some ways to inject a little more fun into your birthday:
  • Cake. Birthdays are a great excuse to eat cake - however and whenever you want. Eat it for breakfast. Have a slice and some tea in the middle of the afternoon. This year, I am sending some cake to my coworkers on the opposite coast and brought some into my office - spread the love; spread the cake.
  • Say yes. We live in a world of No. And it's no fun. So on your birthday - say yes more often, try new things and make everyone's day a little better.
  • Tell people it's your birthday. You never know what you get. Restaurants might give you meal discounts and most people - even strangers - will wish you well. 
  • Forget about the year. Or if you have to think about it at all, be grateful that you are still around. Life expectancies used to be a lot shorter a hundred years ago. Be happy with what you have accomplished in the time you've been alive so far.
  • Start a tradition. (Preferably something fun.) My Mom did this for me by telling me my birth story every year on my birthday. Some years it differs (number of labor hours, for example), but it is her way of remembering the first day that we met. And I love her for telling it to me.
Birthdays are as big a deal as you make them. Celebrate yours with style.
Show your children that you can still have fun as an adult.

Happy Birthday to all my fellow Junebugs! Tell me how you plan to celebrate your birthday this year in the comments.

2 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! Perfect post. We just had 3 birthdays in our house. I took down the last of the streamers a few minutes ago.

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  2. Thanks, Marcia! I hope you enjoyed the triple dose of sugar from all that cake :)

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