Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the times when we were celebrating birthdays.
My family gathered around the dining table, faces illuminated by candles, belting out an enthusiastic Happy Birthday song. Mum searched for a knife, while my brothers pinched each other under the table and my Nanna, spoon in hand, impatiently awaited that first piece of cake.
As I grew older, and life became ‘busier’, the home made cake became an item on the dessert menu and the numbers, dwindled as we struggled to find the time to be together.
Then one year I decided to spend my birthday at a fancy restaurant with my husband, for a ‘nice’ dinner on our own.
No cake. No candles and No hip hip hooray.
Don’t get me wrong, we had a wonderful evening. The food was divine, the company the best and yet I still remember feeling like it was not my birthday.
I had not truly celebrated.
I had missed something.
I had missed the majestic celebration of ME.
That glorious time each year devoted to the celebration of OUR life.
A time when we are grateful for the people who have loved and supported us thus far.
A time when we humbly offer each other the gift of our presence.
I wanted my birthday to change.
I wanted to feel celebrated, special and grateful each year and I could think of no better way than to, quite simply, make time to spend time with all those I love.
The following year I organised several breakfasts, lunches and dinners. My plan to eat a meal with as many of my friends and family as possible.
And so my Birthday became Birthday-Week.
A week when the calendar is cleared and spending time with those I love is the most important thing.
Feeling good and feeling celebrated is a choice we can make.
Organising our time and our lives to make it happen, is up to us.
You can text, email and call friends to organise lunches, brunches and dinners.
You can make room to accept every glorious invitation.
You can make a plan to share love and feel joy.
What better reason than to celebrate the day you arrived into this world.
And what better way to do it than in the company of those you love.
Got a birthday coming up? Ask yourself how you can feel celebrated.
Then make a plan and make it happen.
This is YOUR one great life and it is up to you to lead it fabulously.
I wholeheartedly co-sign your petition to clear the calendar, and “celebrate the day you arrived into this world.”
My friends and family have affectionately nicknamed me, “The Birthday Bandit”, due to my love of birthday celebrations. I ALWAYS plan something special for my big day, and I am notorious for throwing creatively planned surprise parties for my loved ones.
Your “birthday week” idea has inspired me to step up my game.
Lee (AKA The Birthday Bandit) I applaud you and cheer on your efforts to step up your game.
Go for it and enjoy to the max.