At the gym yesterday I was chatting with a girl from spin class and let it slip that my birthday is next week. “Ohhhh,” she replied, in a tone of voice that said not That’s great but That’s too bad. I must have looked confused because she added, “It’s gotta be rough to have a December birthday…you know, because people forget about it in the holiday hubbub. Don’t you feel left out?”
I’ve heard that before, especially from other people with birthdays close to Christmas. And I’ve always wondered, why have a negative attitude toward an experience that’s all about positivity? What’s not to love about having a December birthday?
You don’t just get cake, you get cookies too. Yummy homemade cookies. Okay, my coworkers didn’t bring them in specifically for me, but if a plate of gingerbread people or taralles happens to turn up on my special day, that just makes it even more special.
Other sweet surprises abound. Like the first snow of the season. Or a ticket to a hockey game—check out Edward’s blog about NHL announcer Mike Emrick for the whole story. Mike didn’t know my birthday’s coming up. I’m going to thank him for the surprise gift anyway because that’s what it feels like to me.
Everyone’s already in the mood to celebrate. And if you’re blessed with thoughtful friends (I bet you are), they’ll make an extra effort to celebrate with you. My friend Christine will be out of town visiting her in-laws for the holidays on my actual birthday, so she planned a dinner for me tonight at a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try. (Thanks, Christine…you always remember!)
Joy is in the air. What other time of year are you surrounded by happy music, sparkly lights and the spirit of giving?
I don’t feel left out having a birthday close to Christmas. If anything, I feel more included—in the biggest birthday celebration and most joyful season of all.
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