I try not to think of my age too much on my birthday, but the more I say it and write it throughout the year, the more it feels right. Spares me a few existential crisis to cope with it gradually.
I feel awkward asking people to celebrate myself, so I usually just ask friends and/or family to go out to a restaurant I like. It's a lot more casual and doesn't require much planning. I sometimes also don't tell people it's specifically for my birthday 😅 helps take the pressure and expectations off if people can't come.
Happy early birthday! Hope you'll have a great day with whatever you choose to do!
Jan 7, 2025
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it’s such a awkward marker of a new year. a weird mix of wanting people to celebrate you, but feeling tired of the obligation to thank everyone that only reaches out once a year.
i always find birthdays really hard, and fairly disappointing.
my recommendation is to give yourself grace, and do what makes you happy. i know it’s such a generic rec but this past year on the actual day i just took it easy, treated myself to some takeout, and watched a show in bed. a few days after i got together with friends and we went to a restaurant i love but they’d never really wanted to go to. and then we ate homemade cake and watched a movie.
sorry if this isn’t a very upbeat response (: <3
happy birthday!! and know random people on the internet are celebrating you (:
Jul 30, 2024
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my birthday often falls the week of thanksgiving, so i usually just take the day off as a "extending the long weekend" if i don't already get it off. since i moved to the west coast ~3 years ago and most of my friends and family are back in new york, every year on my birthday in the morning i make sure to:
1. respond to every single birthday text i got, and if possible hop on a quick call with as many people as i can. basically just a gratitude practice of "hey as i've gotten older i've not only developed meaningful relationships, i've also held onto a lot of meaningful relationships."
2. eat breakfast out; i think my birthday breakfast for the last two years has been Oddfellows Café + Bar (oddfellowscafe.com), but taking the time to have an extra special solo (or with my partner) breakfast keeps the scaries at bay for at least a couple hours
3. going shopping for a birthday gift for myself in person so i have something to open when i get home.
after that it's pretty much just about having a couple extra things to do during my day like trying a new restaurant / going to a favorite for lunch, running a "fun" errand like dropping off film to get scanned, and then meeting local friends for either dinner out and / or cake and games back at my apartment, etc.
having something where i can look back and feel like i did something is all i'm looking for; i think through my late teens / early twenties i put a lot of emphasis on wanting my my birthday to feel "special" which meant it was doomed to not be "special" enough. since pivoting to having fun my birthday has felt a lot more special since it's just different from the monotony of a normal day, and there wasn't any extra pressure on it
Apr 1, 2024
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I don’t tend to like celebrating my birthday with a group of friends and family (I haven’t since I was 12 and I’m 28 now) - it’s too much pressure. I always try to celebrate by curating a day (or two) filled with all the things I love and bring me joy. For example, this year, I went to my favourite bookshop and stocked up on some books, then went to the Lego shop and created a mini figure, then I went bowling, and to my fave Japanese restaurant in the evening :)
Aug 4, 2024
Top Recs from @daphyduck
Whenever I discover a new place to visit, I immediately add it to a list.
It feels like I'm collecting an inventory of places and it helps reduce stagnation in my life.
Bonus: it's a great tool for making plans with indecisive friends and perfect to share with tourists!
Jan 9, 2025
Everyone was so friendly. Took only 1 film picture and had to wait a month to see if I got it 😅
Jan 7, 2025
It's a comedy about a megachurch in the US and it's so so good (and at times a little bonkers). The casting is also great!
Jan 10, 2025