The Birthday
I just don't understand the concept of celebrating a birthday. Celebrations should be reserved for something we're proud of. If at all someone should celebrate your date of birth, it should be your mother. She is the one who nurtures you in the womb for nine months, cares for your future wellbeing, and brings you into this world. So a birthday should ideally be celebrated by the Mother, not by the child, and definitely not by the child's friends or colleagues. It's absurd!
If at all one needs to celebrate a birthday, it should be the day you are really born in this world. The day you have achieved something significant in your life. The moment we achieve great things, we're born that day, once again.
The birthday party tradition is sheer societal conditioning and economic opportunity. In fact a birthday can be the most depressing day as you're growing older, losing your limited time, and it's a frigging reminder on your face, that you're getting closer to the end. How can one celebrate such a day, with such existential angst?
Unless you're a 5 years old child who can't think for yourself, go ahead and celebrate your birthday. Have a blast! Else, focus on doing your life's work and take the birthday as an yearly opportunity to examine your life, health, work, relationships, and goals. Who doesn't love a good party? Nothing wrong in having fun, throwing a grand party to the whole town, as long as you look within, be the man you want to be, and grow every year.
I might sound harsh l here, however time is limited, no matter our views. Maybe that's also one good reason we need to celebrate our existence on the birth day.
You're entitled to your own views on life.
In case today is your birthday, I wish a happy birthday!
