As per request, here's the thing about birthdays: Birthdays are the one day a year that it actually does get to be about you. It's not selfish, it's not thoughtless, it's just allowed to be about you.
Now, this does not necessarily mean this always happens on the actual date of your birth. For instance; one year my birthday fell on a Wednesday and I had 3 classes (2 with tests) and had to go to work after. Last year I was on call on my birthday. Obviously, when this happens it's hard to celebrate, however it does mean that you can pick an alternative day to celebrate. That year when my birthday was on a Wednesday I chose that next Saturday. This is acceptable within the "celebrating yourself" rules.
We spend most of our lives feeling like we are not that important. People don't always treat you the way you ought to be treated, they aren't always nice or thoughtful, and most of the time people don't care what you would prefer. Most of the time it's proper social etiquette to compromise or take turns making decisions like: movies, who’s super bowl party are we going to, where are we eating, etc. However, on your birthday you do get to decide instead of hearing other people's suggestions.
It must be noted also however that all of this does not mean that you get to be a jerk. Here are some rules for not being a jerk:
1) If you share your birthday with someone else, be sure to celebrate them also. If you don't want to share pick a different day to celebrate instead of ruining their day.
2) When picking a different day to celebrate because of work or whatever, don't pick someone else's birthday who is in your sphere (family, friends, co-workers).
3) Just because it gets to be about you doesn't mean you get to be an ass: You still have to tip your waitress, you still have to be kind to others, you must forgive people who don't know it's your birthday (like the guy behind the counter at the gas station), don't stick your nose up to people who want to celebrate with you, etc.
Now, this does not necessarily mean this always happens on the actual date of your birth. For instance; one year my birthday fell on a Wednesday and I had 3 classes (2 with tests) and had to go to work after. Last year I was on call on my birthday. Obviously, when this happens it's hard to celebrate, however it does mean that you can pick an alternative day to celebrate. That year when my birthday was on a Wednesday I chose that next Saturday. This is acceptable within the "celebrating yourself" rules.
We spend most of our lives feeling like we are not that important. People don't always treat you the way you ought to be treated, they aren't always nice or thoughtful, and most of the time people don't care what you would prefer. Most of the time it's proper social etiquette to compromise or take turns making decisions like: movies, who’s super bowl party are we going to, where are we eating, etc. However, on your birthday you do get to decide instead of hearing other people's suggestions.
It must be noted also however that all of this does not mean that you get to be a jerk. Here are some rules for not being a jerk:
1) If you share your birthday with someone else, be sure to celebrate them also. If you don't want to share pick a different day to celebrate instead of ruining their day.
2) When picking a different day to celebrate because of work or whatever, don't pick someone else's birthday who is in your sphere (family, friends, co-workers).
3) Just because it gets to be about you doesn't mean you get to be an ass: You still have to tip your waitress, you still have to be kind to others, you must forgive people who don't know it's your birthday (like the guy behind the counter at the gas station), don't stick your nose up to people who want to celebrate with you, etc.
Birthdays are important because it's important to make people feel special. You want to feel special don't you? You want to feel loved and appreciated, right? And even if you can't get that the rest of the year, you should get it on your birthday...and you should honor other people the same way. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
If you want more info check out Wikipedia’s information about birthday's here. Note their discussion of the Golden Birthday (the day you turn the age of your birth-day, i.e. 12 on the 12th), which is very obviously cause for greater celebration.
Obviously because I feel this way I try to make sure other people feel special on their birthdays as well, I'm always willing to celebrate other people. So here's the thing about birthdays, go ahead and celebrate you. Go where you want to eat, see the movie you want to see and don't worry when people complain, they'll have their chance sometime in the next calendar year for themselves.
