As I approach another birthday this week, I wanted to take a look back at some of the traditions from my past birthdays, and some traditions I would like to start for years to come.

Looking Back

As a child, my birthday meant a big party with all of the family and maybe a few friends. Parties were usually in the backyard, at a family member’s pool, or at the beach. There would also usually be a cake for my dad and grandpa as well, since their birthdays were close to mine (my dad and I were a week apart, my grandpa 2 days after my dad). This continued until I was 13, when most of the family decided to go camping instead of come to my birthday. There was only one more family birthday party for me when I turned 16.

As I got older, I started celebrating myself with trips to the zoo (San Diego) or Sea World or Disneyland, or a trip Pike Place Market when I lived in Seattle. Sometimes I would go shopping and take myself to lunch. I would buy myself gifts, one for every year (and yes, even wrap them).

Now

When I moved back in with my family is when I really stopped celebrating my birthday. I don’t remember my 49th at all, my 50th was spent taking mom to doctor appointments. I did celebrate my 51st with a trip and a coworker picked out and wrapped my gifts (though I still paid for them). But then I lost my job and have been unemployed on each subsequent birthday, and since I don’t feel comfortable in restaurants since COVID and dinner out is the only option my family gave me for celebrating, I just haven’t since then. Until this year.

Looking Forward

In years to come, I would like to continue with the birthday week celebrations. There will be some tweaks and modifications, maybe not daily activities, but I like the idea of celebrating for more than just one day. And I would love to bring gifts back into the equation, but that will be dependent on my financial situation, and until I am able to secure employment again, gifts will have to wait.

Letter writing is another tradition I would like to add. Maybe not in the same capacity as I did this year, but writing a letter to myself for the next year is something I definitely want to incorporate.

Basically, I just want to treat myself better. And when is a better time than on my birthday each year.