Birthday Ritual

How do you wish someone a happy birthday?

What is important to you?

Is it the perfect gift?
Is it time spent with the birthday boy or girl?
Is it a fancy card or just the right wrapping paper?
Is it the cake?

Is it a huge dinner or an elaborate birthday party?

Is it a private celebration?

I think that we all have public birthday rituals--dinner, cake, "happy birthday" being sung like a dirge--tolling another year older, gatherings.

I think that some birthday rituals are private, sometimes almost spiritual experiences.

My personal ritual includes a top-of-the-line pedicure and then I treat myself to breakfast or lunch. I don't do chores, I don't clean unless I want to, and I usually spend part of the day reflecting on how the previous year was and how fantastic this year will be. I'm fond of "odd" birthday years--the years I'm an "odd" year older. My favorite private celebration is handing the reins over to someone that loves me and having them plan an adventure for the two of us.

How do you help celebrate someone else's birthday?

What's important to them?
Are you a part of their public ritual or their private ritual or both?

It's hard, especially if they are important to you.

You want to make sure that they know how much you appreciate them.

You want to make sure that they know how important the day is to you because they are important to you.

You want them to feel loved and taken care of and maybe a little pampered.
You want them to feel as if their private ritual and celebration just flowed into the celebration with you.

You want to celebrate their life--because you are so grateful that you are a part of it.
You want to celebrate the joy that you see them bringing to the world, just by being.

So, no matter how you celebrate your birthday ritual--public or private--it IS all about you today.

And, remember that you are a blessing, you are cherished, and you are loved more than you know.

Happy Birthday!

PS--CAKE!