For as long as I can remember I have loved birthdays. It does not matter whose birthday it is, if I am remotely friendly with the person I will be there to celebrate. My love for this pseudo holiday was born from my family's obsession with them. We begin celebrating first thing in the morning with cake, presents and an elaborately decorated dining room. When I was in high school my aunt and uncle would show up at my house at 6:30am just to be with me. The entire day is about making the birthday girl or boy feel as special and as loved as humanly possible. Some years the celebrations are more elaborate and some are more simple but regardless, it is always a day that everyone in my family enjoys.

Personally, I see birthdays as a fun way to switch things up and make someone feel really special. Most days go by in some sort of monotonous pattern. There are the occasional special events but for the most part our lives follow a routine. Not on birthdays. Birthdays are the one day a year you are allowed to be selfish and deserve to be celebrated. I love taking the time on my friend's and family members birthdays to really remind them of just how incredible they are. Making someone feel special does not require a lot of money or extravagance (although that sometimes can be fun). Celebrating can include acts as simple as baking a cake or writing a card or just doing whatever makes that person happy.

In our busy 21st century world it is so easy to lose sight of each other. We are surrounded by millions of distractions and responsibilities that can make us forget how lucky we are to have our friends and family. Birthdays are a great excuse to look at the people in our lives and really appreciate their presence.

As for celebrating our own birthdays, I understand that it can sometimes be hard to deal with the fact that we are getting older and life is changing. There are some people however who dread their birthday and wish they could slow down their aging. While I recognize that getting older can be undesirable and some feel no need to recognize it, I believe that, in the most basic terms, having a birthday sure beats the alternative.