Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 36. WHAT THE? Where the hell did 35 go? Actually, who the hell stole my entire early thirties? If anyone knows their whereabouts, call Crimestoppers now on 1800 GIVE BACK MY THIRTIES YOU POOTANG!
I’m a 25 year old trapped in a 36 year old body, which can be a good and bad thing. Good in the sense that I’m young at heart, bad in the sense that my maturity hasn’t caught up and when I get out of bed in the morning, it takes about 3 steps to become fully upright on accounts of muscles that have seized overnight. Not to mention that touching my toes is a thing of the past. I’ve seen extreme face lifts looser than my hamstrings.
Anyways, 36 it is and it’s nothing that intensive yoga and 29 fish oil tablets a day won’t fix. Oh, and maturity is overrated anyway.
So yesterday I received a bunch of texts, Facebook messages, emails, Skype messages and phone calls (including one from my 8 year old nephew – apparently “I look like a monkey and smell like one too”) from friends and family alike, wishing me a happy birthday. Over the weekend, I was also taken out to dinner twice and lunch once, given a load of most awesome presents and cards and had mini carrot cakes (my favourite) baked for me…
Two insights came out of this year’s birthday for me; 1. It astounds me how many ways there are to communicate these days and 2. How very lucky I am to have so many people who care enough to make contact, give and do all that they did for little old (36 years old to be exact) me.
It reminded me how acknowledging someone else’s birthday is so worth the effort in what it brings the other person. After all, it’s really an important day. It’s a celebration of the day that someone came into this world. Unless you can remember the last time your were reincarnated, it’s not every day you are born. In my opinion, that’s a fairly monumental reason to celebrate don’t you think? A phone call or text may seem insignificant to you but to the person on the receiving end, it can mean a lot.
Now I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the gifts, cards and cakes (allegedly bloodhounds have nothing on my ability to sniff out a present), but all that aside, it was the contact and time spent with friends and family that made my birthday awesome. It also inspired me to come up with these tips on how to make someone’s birthday one to remember;
- Make some sort of contact. Set birthday reminders through Facebook, Birthday Alarms or other online sites, or just use a diary or calendar to keep track. Then phone, text, message, Skype, page, fax, mail, visit or use carrier pigeons to send a birthday message.
- Make a gift instead of buying one. Home made gifts are more meaningful (unless it is a box of cow poo like I once received from my brother) and cost effective (yep, cow poo is pretty cheap).
- Do something for them. Cook them a meal, bake them a cake or take them out for the day (this could even be your gift if you want). Mum made the mini carrot cakes and Chris made me sushi (impressive for his first attempt eh?)…
- Organise a surprise gathering.
- Buy them a gift you know they’ll appreciate and will have meaning for them. Chris bought me a ring that is almost identical to one I’d lost at the beach and was sad to lose. He even managed to source it from Peru, where I’d bought the original ring (isn’t he a sweetheart?). I also received gifts to help me tick things of my Daisy List. These are just a couple of examples of the meaningful presents I received. Here’s the ring…
- Send a card (posted or emailed). I have a friend from school, Woolly (aka Jane) who never fails to send a card each year. Hallmark are great for ecards too.
- Find out what their ideal day looks like and then create it (assuming of course it doesn’t involve whipped cream and Johnny Depp).
A big thank you to everyone, especially Chris, who helped make my 25th 36th birthday a great one! OK, so I’m off to track down my early thirties. I know they’re around here somewhere. 
What awesomeness have you given or received for your birthday? Got any other tips for making someone else’s birthday memorable?
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Hi Sami!
Sorry I’m late to the party, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHICKA!!!
Your calendar age is just a number, how you are, how you take care of yourself, the adventures you give to yourself – now that is the true reflection of age.
And, hey, 36 is the new 26, right???
I loved this post because I LOVE birthdays. I love making a big deal of my friends’ birthdays, I love celebrating birthdays for all the reasons you describe. Thanks for putting this post out in the world today. Now I have some new ideas for birthday surprises! Enjoy your 365 until 37. It only gets better from here!
Hey, if you happen to find that 35 again…let me know too!
Happy Birthday Sami! And what a wonderful way to celebrate (the mini carrot cake muffins look YUM!). And how about the guy in your life – Chris – he done good, didn’t he!
When I think of awesomeness given – I think back about four years – when I got a skydiving lesson for my wife (and I did it too!). It’s probably the gift she remembers the most – that experience! And it’s something that we have that we share together that really holds special meaning for us. Plus – I’ll remember it because taking that step out of the airplane was about the hardest thing I ever did!
Do a little song and dance to celebrate!! (I know you can!)
My best birthday EVER was my 57th (there, now don’t you just feel like a whiny-baby over a mere 36 years!). My three grownup-or-almost-grownup kids did a huge surprise party for me, invited my three brothers and sister and their families over, and we had a whale of a shindig! The birthday gifts were, appropriately, checks made out for $57.00 each.
Not only did they manage to completely surprise me, but they even totally cleaned up my house for the event (an activity I normally do about twice a year).
You’re right: the act of giving is the memorable part. For me, not only the cleanup, the surprise, the gifts, but the effort made by all to be there for me. Good reminder in your post, and a great memory-jogger as well! Happy belated birthday!
Happy birthday Sami. You’re the only person I know who is unhinged in almost exactly the same way I am.
Take care friend.
@Lori
Hey Lori, thank you! 36 is the new 26 – you know all the right things to say, and of course I agree wholeheartedly! I love birthdays too. Surprise ones are the best.
@Lance
Hi Lovely Lance, no luck with finding 35. It must be where all my odd socks end up. I can safely say the mini carrot cakes were most tasty. And yes, Chris did great – he’s a keeper!
Giving your wife a sky diving lesson is such a cool present. Sky diving is on my Daisy List. I’m pretty sure stepping out of the plane will be a major challenge for me too!
I’ll be sure to do a Flashdance routine just for you Lance!
@Jeanne
Surprise parties rock! I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of surprises and got a kick out of both. What a lovely thing your kids did for you. A surprise party, clean house and cheques – doesn’t get much better than that! Thanks Jeanne.
Hi Jeanne, OK, you got me, I’ll quit my whining!
@Josh
All the great ones are unhinged! Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Josh, lol, thanks very much…I think.
Wow, you are one lucky girl! Chris’ sushi looked extremely good for his first attempt, are you sure he wasn’t secretly practicing??? And as for the ring, what a guy – seriously!
I make a point of remembering and acknowledging any and every birthday I can. I get some lovely emails (or texts or whatever) back telling me how much they appreciate me remembering and thinking of them (these are normally people I don’t necessarily communicate with often, but have touched my life in one way or another). I use birthday alarms and reminders in my email calendar to remember (my memory really is crap). I love birthdays and know how much I love hearing from people and how special it makes me feel – so why not do what you would love to receive?
I also feel the same as you, but where they hell did my 20s go (well late 20s anyway) – the big 3-0 is looming this year (I don’t feel older than 25 either) and what better way to celebrate than in Italy with an old friend I haven’t seen for 12 years! Yay to celebrations!!
Happy belated birthday, chica! Hey — we’re the same age, although I have a few months on you. ; )
I can’t believe Chris made that sushi — it looks professional. I LOVE (and covet) your ring. It’s beautiful!
@Valeska
Hey Vee, yep, I am very lucky. Chris can cook. He’s a natural so I wasn’t surprised at how well the sushi turned out. And yeah, the ring was awesome. He’s such a sweetie.
Couldn’t agree more with “so why not do what you would love to receive?”. Do unto others I say!
30 eh? I remember it well. Only seems like yesterday. I was a little traumatised with turning 30 and moving out of my “youthful” 20′s. I can safely say though that my 30′s have been the best years of my life so far. I’m sure turning 30 in Italy will lessen the trauma anyway!
@Kirwin
Hey K, thanks very much. I know, the sushi is amazing, especially as his first attempt. And the ring really is gorgeous. Won’t be losing this one that’s for sure!