How do you feel about your next birthday? Depressed? Old? Over the hill?
If your birthday has become just a reminder of how the years are flying by, then it's time shake off the birthday blues.
Birthdays can be a wonderful time for celebration and rejoicing. They don't have to be commercialized or overdone. But they do deserve special attention.
Just ask a child, a terminally ill person, or someone who has lost a loved one too young.... each birthday is a gift.
So pick yourself up, dust off a fresh perspective, and ask yourself what you can do to make your day special.
Just in case you're short on ideas, and you're looking for something a bit different to get you in the birthday mood again - here are my Top 5 alternative ways to celebrate your birthday...
1. Do something symbolic: Pass on the gift of life by giving blood. Send flowers or a card saying thanks to the person who raised you. Donate money to your favourite charity. Have a tree planted in your name.
2. Accomplish a dream: Stop postponing what you want to do, get out and do it! White water rafting, going back to school, hot air ballooning, a trip to see the Pyramids. If there's something you've always wanted to do, just go for it (or at least set the wheels in motion!).
3. Give yourself a gift: Doing exactly what YOU want can make your birthday unforgettable. Take the day off work, have a massage, go shopping... spend some time indulging yourself.
4. Spend time reflecting on your life: Birthdays are a great time to look at where you've been and where you'd like to go. Make a list of 10 things you're grateful for, 10 things you're proud of, 10 people (or more) you're glad you've known, 10 things you‘d like to change.
Get sentimental.... pore over old photo albums, shed some tears, relive happy memories, forgive someone. Then put away the past and think about all the wonderful things your future has in store for you.
5. Ask for what you need: It's your birthday, so if you know what you want, ask for it. If you want a surprise party, a nice dinner out, some fancy lingerie, a framed movie poster, or a weekend away instead of a new toaster, ask!
Your birthday is the only day of the year dedicated to the celebration of YOU. It’s your day - a time to cherish your life and all that it has, and can bring you.
Remember, each birthday is a gift in itself. Celebrating your birthday is a way to recognise how lucky you truly are to receive that gift for another year.
What special things have you done (or have you planned to do) on your birthday?
Linda. xox
******
More - Some more 'Gimme 5' posts to ponder:
5 Ways To Re-use Old Things And Make Them 'New'!
5 Questions To Ask Yourself Today...
******
Hi Linda! from one textaholic to another, thanks for stopping in to see me! I'm glad you like my endtable makeover!
ReplyDeleteand guess what? I'll be 36 this Saturday! and yes, I sort of do feel old and yucky about it!
hehee...
ciao bella
creative carmelina
Wish I had read this on my birthday... I did do one part of this and reflect on things on my actual birthday so YEAH! Me. Then I also cut my hair, so something for me! So I guess I did good!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I will leave my universal wish here loud enough to show faith for silly miracles that just might be for Real,... wanting me to just ask for them!
ReplyDeleteThis October, I will be 30 years old.. I never really worried about being older or the numbers, because I look a lot younger.
Anyway, I do feel that I would love to ask more for what I need and I love that you mentioned this. I also want to learn to celebrate more, be more spontaneous and overflowing with possibilities..
so here goes! ;)
I want to spend my birthday in Paris with my hubby.
It would take a miracle.. but anything is possible, and lately everything Paris keeps on coming onto my path. The silliest of all is I never ever thought of or dreamed of Paris before.. it keeps coming into my path.. so maybe it is a symbol or maybe it is to be..
either way! tada! ;) here's to a hoping! :)
luv Jenn
Hey Carmelina, Happy 36th Birthday!! 36 is a great age I think.... a while ago for me now - lol!
ReplyDeleteA new haircut always makes you feel great doesn't it Ruby! Sounds like you had a lovely birthday that made you feel good.
And Jenn, I'm wishing for you as well! What a wonderful birthday it will be for you and your hubby.... stranger things have happened..... and it sounds like the universe is gently bringing your attention around to something that may very well occur. I so hope it does. :)
Linda. xox
my next birthday will be 39. I don't care about the numbers, in part because people tell me all the time I look ten years younger, in part because I feel I have a good life. I don't have many fears, I don't have many regrets, and I've learned to love myself, soft belly included.
ReplyDeleteOn my birthday i always give money to a dog and cat shelter and then i buy myself a gift: something expensive and crazy if I can. I allow myself to eat all the chocolate or icecream I want and stuff like that. I treat myself like a spoiled baby and it feels fine.
...great post!!!
bobbi
Wow Bobbi, your birthdays sound magnificent!!! I think it's great when we can treat ourselves as really important.... and I love how you give money to the animal shelters, which is also really important to you (anyone who has 8 adored cats obviously cares deeply for them!)
ReplyDeleteIs it your birthday? Has it been your birthday recently? Or is it due very soon??
ReplyDeletejust curious...xo
Lol Nerine, I wondered if posting it would make people think that! Nope, not my birthday.... it's in December.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was swapping over my computer hard drive last week I was sifting through some of the files I have saved, and this was one of them. It was an article I wrote when I was doing copywriting, and it's still on my copywriting site www.foxcopy.com.au in the free articles section!!
When I came across it again I thought it would do nicely as a post on my blog. :)
I don't do copywriting for others much anymore (just a few old clients here and there), I prefer writing for myself as I can choose to write about the things I adore (like design etc). I still love to write, but can now do it on my own timetable instead of conforming to deadlines and writing about products I don't necessarily know much about.
My main income is my teaching (been doing that for nearly 24 years), and I do that almost full time as well as some interior design work on the side, as well as my blog and soon to be shop of course!!
My abiding, longlasting, and underlying passion has always been colour and holistic design, and I'm so glad I have this blog as a way to nurture that part of my life as I choose!!
Wow..... long winded answer to your pretty short question!!!
Linda. xox :)