What was your most memorable birthday?
It was my 7th birthday. The 7th birthday is a big deal in the Filipino culture. I don’t know why, but you get a big party. Filipinos have this party game called the pabitin. Translation: hanging. It’s a wooden grid/lattice with little prize bags hanging from it. It’s hung like a piñata and kids jump up and down to grab the prizes while an adult lowers and raises it.
On my 7th birthday, my mom said I was too old to play the party games, especially the pabitin. I cried and she allowed me to grab one prize before the party started. I didn’t play the games in my own party and that’s my most memorable birthday. Sad, but true.
I wish I had a more fun memory to share, but since this is the first thing that came to mind, I figured it’s the most memorable. It has affected me, though.
When I look at my seven-year-old Sunday school kids, it amazes me at just how young they are. I remember being called a young lady when I turned 7, but seven-year-old kids are still just kids. I’m trying not to hold it against my mom and my culture that I was more of a party hostess on my 7th birthday party than a birthday girl. I had to go around making small talk with all the guests while all the other kids ran around and played.
So now, every year, I celebrate my birthday how I want. I’m pretty low-key, actually. I don’t like big parties. I don’t go crazy. I buy myself flowers and cake. I go to the mall to get my free birthday makeup from Sephora and a free birthday burger from Red Robin. I might catch a movie or buy a bottle of wine. I give myself a gift, usually a book. I dress in pink. I journal my thoughts away. Oh, and I celebrate my birthday the entire month 😉
Because a birthday is great reminder of how blessed we are. It’s a great time to love and appreciate the person God created. To celebrate life. To look at the future with hope.
And because my birthday is in January, where I’m reevaluating the past year and planning some things for the year ahead, I’m just rolling all the introspection and celebration together.
Check out my list of birthday freebies to make yours a little more blessed.
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