Viewing the world through narrow lenses, one would believe the populace of this world is vastly different. Various circumstances, cultures and tongues separate us and these "different" ways of life lead us to feel unconnected. However, zoomed out, one realizes the many activities we partake in that unites us all. One of these is celebration. Whether Spaniards are toasting to Semana Santa, a week of feasting and Roman Catholic processions leading up to Easter, or Australians are honoring the Darwin Festival, an event honoring Australia's multicultural community, youthful energy, and tropical climate, people in every corner of the globe partake in celebration for a multitude of reasons.
Most, if not all, celebrations share a common feature, and that is the fact that they are performed to honor someone (living or deceased) or something. We sing, dance, drink, eat, laugh and talk with loved ones to commemorate an event, a person, a situation. What is particularly interesting is that all celebration is to pay tribute to something else, except one occasion. This occurs every year, and it's the one celebration where its only function is to honor oneself. Of course, this is your birthday. Yes, this celebration can be placed in the same category as the others, because birthdays are usually celebrated by other people honoring their loved one, however, the main purpose of this day is for the birthday person to honor the anniversary of the day on which they were born.
Having a birthday is awesome. You receive gifts, spend meaningful time with family and friends and soak up a lot of attention. Yet there is something worth discussing about this occasion. Every other celebration has such deep purpose, such as honoring those who gave their lives in war or paying tribute to prominent religious figures. But our birthdays, one day cut out of every single year, is a day for celebrating our own birth, for recognizing our presence. On the surface, it seems quite selfish. One may think that if anything, this day should be celebrated to honor our parents for bringing us into the world.
However, once one looks past the ostentatious parties and self-indulgence, birthdays are surprisingly a celebration that is quite meaningful. Birth is a beginning; a start of a lifetime, a unique and rare opportunity to fulfill a purpose. Birthdays are such important occasions because they enable us to reflect on our lives and help us evaluate if we are pursuing our calling. It's an occasion to rethink life and the many choices we've made, and wish to make in the future. Additionally, a birthday can also remind us of the concept of rebirth. To honor our birth is to recall a new beginning. Whatever has happened in the past, yesterday or last year, we always have the option to start again. Although one year older, our birthday should enliven us, and remind us of the chance for growth and transformation.
