I did some research tonight on birthday celebrations. Ok, I
googled “inventor of birthday celebrations.” Hey, I thought the person could
use some kudos! Needless to say, I found the below:
“In History, Birthday celebrations started with Pharaoh and
was only mentioned in connection with Royalty. In pagan cultures, people feared
evil spirits - especially on their birthdays. It was a common belief that evil
spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in
their daily life, such as turning a year older. As a result, birthdays were
merry occasions celebrated with family and friends, who surrounded the person
of honor with laughter and joy in order to protect them from evil. Instead of
gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming
year. However, if well-wishers did bring gifts, it was considered an especially
good influence for the birthday person.”
Cool. Guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes. I’d
like to reflect a moment on what birthdays also allow us to do. Birthdays allow
us to reflect on a previous year. My previous year included change, heartbreak,
laughter, cheer, quitting, starting, loving, loathing, lusting and taking a
swan dive into the unknown to follow bliss. Birthdays allow us to look forward.
What does 26 MEAN. What should I accomplish in the next 365 days? I need to pay
a visit to the ocean, I need to climb another mountain, I need to master a
black diamond, I need to rock it at work, I need to SLOWWWW DOWWWNNN…birthdays
allow us to reflect on the present moment. Ah hah. We’ve come to my point.
The brilliance of the birthday celebration is that we gather
“with laughter and joy” to share “positive thoughts and happy wishes” TODAY.
What if we spent every moment of the next year as if it were our birthday
because every day we have the chance to be new? Every day we have the chance to
celebrate the pure existence of those around us. If last year we cried enough
tears to sail away then build your best damn sailboat and go. Every day is a
new port.
Happy Birthday to me. And Happy Birthday to You.
