Birthdays are the one time of year when we ought to be able to celebrate in ways that are meaningful to us as individuals. Just because everyone else has a birthday cake doesn't mean you must have one, too. Give some thought to what would really make you happy instead and pass along your idea to a supportive friend or family member.
1. Ask for a birthday pie instead of a cake. There's no law that says you have to eat cake on the day you were born. If you prefer coconut cream pie, have it. Or perhaps a plate of German chocolate brownies would suit you better. Whatever your favorite confection, arrange to have it for your birthday, even if you end up buying it for yourself. After all, when will you feel any more special than you do on your birthday?
2. Dress up as your favorite celebrity. Plan an evening on the time wearing an exciting new look. If you've always admired Jean Harlow or Cher, buy a wig or get your hair done to go with a new outfit that lets you feel like your favorite star. Or try something wild and daring for your own new look. Take photographs to remember the occasion with fondness in the future.
3. Choose an age and for that day, act it. For example, if you are really turning 41 but decide to choose "26" as your birthday age, behave as a 26-year-old would, with appropriate clothes, attitude, and activities. Or you might prefer to try on "63" or "32" for the day. Then have fun exploring your new identity, taking a friend along as your social buffer.
4. Have a birthday breakfast rather than a birthday dinner. Meet a few friends or relatives at a nearby restaurant for a fun start to your birthday. Bring candles to put on a stack of pancakes in lieu of a cake. Perhaps the serving staff will sing "Happy Birthday" when they find out it's your special day!
5. Keep a year-round list of quirky or hard-to-find gifts that you can ask for when someone wants to know what you want for your birthday. Why get stuck with a gift card when you might be able to receive a 500-year-old collector's coin from a friend who shops Ebay? A list will prevent your forgetting some of the fun ideas that come to mind during the year.
6. Host an unusual celebratory event. Instead of the usual birthday party with traditional games, try something different, like a sleepover (for same-sex guests, of course), a pizza party, or a chocolate dessert party. Plan a get-together with an unusual twist that will have everyone prancing with impatience while they wait for the date to get there and buzzing about it afterwards.
Birthdays should be fun and meaningful times. Make new memories with people you care about and take a camera along to record them. Collect birthday reflections in a journal or a photo album to enjoy upon reflection later.
