I don’t know what the norm for celebrating birthdays is for you. But I’ve decided that I will have no birthday party probably until I’m 50 years old!
Depending on the culture you’re used to, you might not relate with this what I’m about to talk about. Nevertheless, imagine with me for a moment…
The Old Way
It’s your birthday and you’re having a party. There’s food and drinks everywhere, and there are people everywhere; your friends, friends of friends, friends of siblings and a couple of people you never even saw before.
While all this is going on, you and your best friends are running around the chaos trying to make sure everything goes on fine. People need food at the balcony, drinks at the back yard is finished, and there’s no ice for the guys watching TV in the living room.
Dance, dance, dance!!! Some guys come get you from the kitchen to dinning for some dancing. Then there’s the cake (I love cakes) and people cheering the “happy birthday to you” song, with lights off and candle lights on the cake.
You blow the candles off, wishing the day would just end because you are exhausted from the fun and running around.
The party starts to wind down, and people slowly disappear one after the other.
There are a few gifts from some friends, but your siblings have to apologize to some people who got offended that they got little or no food and/or drinks.
Now fast forward to the end of the party… you and your true friends remain after everyone else is gone. You’re all cleaning the big pile of mess up, chatting and laughing at all the silly things that happened during the day.
After hours of cleaning and chatting, you all relax in a few good moments and laughs with your friends, before you call it a day.
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Even remotely? Perhaps one or more of your birthdays in the past were like this or some variation of this story. Most birthdays that I’ve been at, usually go like this, and I started to think recently…
We spend so much money, time and effort to organize a party for people who care more about the food and drinks at your party, than actually celebrating you. And all for what?
Certainly, birthdays are not about gifts. Nevertheless, you get nothing from these people even after spending so much. And some will get offended if they don’t get enough food. They mess the place up, and sometimes you do not even know half of the people who were at your party lol.
At the end of it all, those people who truly matter to you are the ones who help you clean up. Your real friends, who would never get offended whether there was food or not, are the ones that make the day worth it in the end.
So my question is this: was all that spending really necessary? If you just wanted to show off, then maybe it’s worth it.
But what if you put all that time, money and effort towards those people who truly mattered? Like your family, and close friends. Imagine what it would be like…
The New Way
You and 3 or 4 close friends of yours all gather at a restaurant. You talk and laugh and reminisce, while your orders are being prepared. Food comes. Drinks too. It is a lovely evening of quality time with the people that matter most to you, who actually do care about you.
To crown the evening up, your buddies all hand you gifts individually. They decided that it’s your birthday and the day should be all about you. So they insist on taking care of all expenses for the night.
Or imagine hanging out at your pals place like a typical evening, watching movies online and cooking at home. Everyone is involved in the cooking, which makes the evening even more fun. You’re all talking about different funny experiences from each other’s past, and laughing together.
You’re all having way too much fun, and everyone is too lazy to go out to celebrate, so your friends decide to get you ice cream as cake! Yea, ice cream setup as cake, with a birthday candle as well… actually the photo at the top of this page.
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These stories are some of my actual birthdays and they still remain one of my most memorable birthdays till date. In the last 4 years, this is how I have been spending my birthdays… with the people who matter in my life.
Last year, I was at the cinema with my sister. Thereafter, we went for cake and ice cream. At night we popped a bottle of red wine with the whole family and that was it. Simple, quality, memorable time with those who matter. Everything else was on Facebook for people far away.
I have tried both ways. I’ve had parties for people who care for nothing more than food or drinks and stuff. I have had quality time with important people in my life.
With confidence I can say that spending time with those who matter, always makes a memorable birthday all the time!
Until I am probably 50 years old, I do not intend to do any more birthday parties. If anyone wants to attend a party on my birthday, they would have to organize one and then invite me lol
What do you think? Would you give this a try? Let me know what you think in the comments section below. Thanks!