Birthdays are a huge time of the year for everyone and if you like to celebrate it or not, it is definitely something that people plan for (maybe not as intense as Brooklyn Nine-Nine Halloween Heists).
It is considered a rite of passage for new friends to find that perfect footing for the friendship to blossom further and for friends that have been there for a long time, it's just another one of those days to celebrate how important your relationship and presence is to them.
Nevertheless, birthdays are one of the happiest times of the year for most people and here are some ways that you as a friend can make your friend's birthday better!
1. Give them an experience
Personally, the most fun time is any time with my friends; doing anything is fun with them. Take your birthday friend out for an adventure. It could be to a new food place they have been harping about, a bonding experience that will challenge and better your friendship, or even another country (I wish).
2. Make it personal
It is a day to literally celebrate their birth so if you give them something generalized, it doesn't seem like your friendship is that tight huh?
Bring them to that place they have been talking about, incorporate your inside jokes in your gifts to them, just spend time with them and tell them that you love them: this step isn't that hard.
3. Don't make it exhausting
Listen, I'm tired. I know I say this a lot but it is always true. I am in college and I have 48 things that I have yet to do every moment of the day so please don't try to hype up my birthday in a way that makes it time consuming. I repeat, I am tired and I will be ungrateful (because as I mentioned, I am tired) and I don't want to be ungrateful to the people that love me, so please, make the birthday special sweet and short.
Simply put, we don't have the time.
I got that essay due that I haven't started, you know.
4. Some time alone too
The birthday person is turning another year older, it is a big day of reflection and planning for the future (or at least, that's how I see birthdays) and not having a single moment alone on the day is weird, mostly cause all the other days to give me alone time, why is this day that different? It's just a day.
5. Let the birthday person reciprocate the love too
It might just be me but it's pretty overwhelming being wished and pampered the whole day when I am not doing anything to reciprocate.
Have a nice conversation about appreciation and let the birthday individual speak too! It's all about that mutual love.
I won't say that this is a perfect list and this is definitely not a reflection of anyone who has celebrated my birthday before. It's just a way I would celebrate my birthday if I was in that group chat planning my own celebration.
This list isn't set in stone. Birthdays are all about being personal and each celebration is unique.
The key things to take away is just support and personalization for the birthday person and they will be grateful that you are in their lives.
