Birthday Celebration: In A Group, Solo, or No At All? (WE 165)

August 6, 2023

- M. M. Schneerson

A new week is about to end, so it's time for another Weekend Engagement. Greetings to the initiator of this community Hive account@galenkp. The given topics are interesting as usual and there are some I wanted to take. However, among all the topics, I prefer to choose, Birthdays for some reason.

My birthday serves as a constant reminder that I am aging and not growing any younger. I feel a little under pressure knowing that I'll be reaching 40 in a few years. I'm curious about what it's like to enter the early senior stage. Will I experience the same thing when I turn twenty? Given that I am older and have a different life situation, it would probably be different. But more importantly, would my friends and family still remember me on my birthdays? Most likely if they checked Facebook, which never fails to remind us of our friends' birthdays.

I grew up in a family being loved and favored. My siblings would envy me for the special treatment my parents would give me on my special day. I couldn't blame them, as there is always a celebration on my birthday compared to theirs. They can't blame our parents either, since my birthday falls on the second day after the New Year's celebration. Thus, the leftovers from the year-end party will be saved for my birthday, lol. Therefore, my mother only needs to prepare a couple more dishes.

Oftentimes I would ask myself, "Should I be glad that I have food on my birthdays, or be sad that they are leftovers?" In the end, I'll just be grateful for another year of obstacles that have been surpassed, and another year of new opportunities.

Back in the day, my birthdays would always be celebrated with my family, and relatives were also present. We would either celebrate it at home, or on a beach nearby. But most of the time, as part of our family's new year's tradition, we would go to a beach to welcome the new year happily and positively with a complete family. We believe that being complete in the new year strengthens our family bond.

So I never really had a solo birthday celebration. I am either with my family or jamming with my real friends. But if you ask which celebration I prefer the most, with a group or solo, I would say that I love celebrating my special day with my family and real friends. That's how I feel completely happy. It's a genuine feeling. I don't like parties with lots of people invited. I am an introvert who doesn't like socializing with a large group of people. I prefer family and real friends gatherings. A simple one could do as long as we are complete and happy.

One of my memorable birthday celebrations was in Cebu with the people I enjoyed the most. I must also add and should be proud to say that, I cooked the food by myself, and the celebration was held at our staff house. I sponsored the food, and they sponsored the laughter. I mean, they are jolly people that could always make you laugh and happy. There was no day when I'm with them that I feel sad. So my entire stay in Cebu was truly memorable with these beautiful people. I just missed them so much.

However, when I work abroad, things started to change, particularly if my birthday occurs on a working day with folks who don't generally mind about it. Therefore, on my special day, I would go here and there, do things in front of the screen that I shouldn't be doing, and do this and that, eventually exhausting myself. There came a point when I didn't want to remember my birthday or celebrate it. It's pointless since I am always on duty.

Among my past birthdays since 2018, six to be exact, my boss only bought a birthday cake for me once when we thought it was the end of my contract already. But things happened that required me to extend it, which has lasted until now. Celebrations of birthdays here aren't the same as ours in the Philippines, with no karaoke, no games, and no jokes, so there's no fun. Something I missed the most.

_{2021 Birthday cake sponsored by my boss. I was about to sleep that night when they surprised me with this cake. At least, my birthday wasn't forgotten at all.}

Some people, though, don't fail to greet me on my birthday — my family and friends. And even if I am away from home, my family will celebrate my birthday regardless of the situation. They would show it to me virtually, which makes my day complete and exhaustion fade.

In the last two years, though, I had the opportunity to enjoy my birthdays as the 2nd of January fell on public holidays for two consecutive years. I was at Ocean Park Hong Kong where celebrants are free to explore all spots and try all rides the whole day.

On my special day in 2022, I explored the underwater and encountered mystique sharks, manta rays, and different kinds of sea creatures. I played with the spectacular jellyfish and met dolphins and sea lions for the first time. I explored the rainforest and saw wild animals and giant pandas. And lastly, I had fun at the Summit.

From skirt to pants. I found it uncomfortable going to one place after another, so I decided to change. I'm a girl scout, you know?

It was undoubtedly a fantastic first visit to Ocean Park. On my birthday, I finally had fun and was off-duty. My friend was scheduled to work that day, so I was meant to spend it alone. However, the woman I replaced at my job, who is seen above, invited me to Ocean Park because we share the same birthday. We hadn't seen each other in years, so at first, I was hesitant. But I thought that having a friend meant I'd also have a photographer. I, therefore agreed to her invitation.

Last January 2nd was another birthday celebration at Ocean Park. Some probably don't like going to the same place again and again. However, I missed doing what I truly wanted last year, which was to ride on extreme rides. And was materialized on my second visit. Besides, Ocean Park is a place that anyone would visit again and again since there are a lot of things to do and scenic spots to see.

That day, I enjoyed my special day and thought as if it was my last. Without hesitation, I bravely tried extreme rides that I never tried before. I just let things happen, let go of my loudest screams, laughed out loud, forgot my problems, lived the day carefree, and enjoyed what life has given me. And although I felt dizzy in the end, it was so worth it and fun.

It ended with my first encounter with animals from the Polar Region at the Polar Adventure. There is truly something new to discover and experience on every visit to Ocean Park.

I went to Ocean Park alone, but I got in with a buddy as I met an Indonesian who was also celebrating her birthday alone. As mentioned above, I don't like socializing with others, but I do like talking to someone I feel comfortable with.

So again, it wasn't a solo celebration, as someone unexpectedly came into my life who has been part of my special day. "People truly come and go in our lives, but the memories of them remain." She's just one of those I met on my solo journeys.

Birthdays only come once a year, so I believe we should make them worthwhile. We don't really need to spend a lot of money on it; even a simple dinner with family or friends with ordinary food could make my day complete.

But as I grew older, I realized that, with or without celebration, there was no difference, except for the fact that I added a year. I am more practical as well. I chose to spend my special day where I could save money. Thanks to Ocean Park for the free entrance for birthday celebrants. A perfect place to spend birthdays without spending a lot.

And now that I am more attached to nature, the next celebration would probably just be somewhere in the woods, by the beach, or on top of the mountain. I've been yearning for it. We don't need to be extravagant, we just need to do something worthy to make our birthdays memorable. And I wish someday, I could spend it with a charity. That's my dream.

Happy weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

(All photos are mine)

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