"So how was your birthday?"
"So how was your birthday?" by PQHAÜS
(Acrylic on canvas / 11x14 inches / 2023)
So, how was your birthday?” they asked me. I paused briefly before saying it was good, but in that moment of hesitation, I knew my lie was too obvious. The truth is, I’ve actually started to enjoy spending my birthday alone. There’s no pressure to please anyone but myself. And as each year passes, I realize birthdays don’t feel as significant as they once did. It’s just another day, often used as an excuse to feel special, but I haven’t felt that way in so long that it doesn’t even seem necessary anymore.
I’m not particularly excited about the birthdays still to come, but I’m content knowing I’ve finally come to terms with being comfortable on my own, even on my birthday. I guess this is the part of adulthood they were talking about all along.
“So how was your birthday?” they asked me. I took a brief pause before telling them it was food, and in that moment of hesitation, I realized my lie was way too obvious. But, the truth is, I’ve actually started to enjoy spending my birthday alone. Not having to please anyone but myself, and more importantly, as I get older every year, I realize birthdays aren’t as significant as they used to be. It just feels like a perfect day to use as an excuse to make oneself feel special, but I haven’t felt that way in for too long that it doesn’t even feel necessary anymore.
I’m not enthusiastic about the birthdays that still lie ahead, but I’m content with the fact that I’ve finally come to terms with being comfortable on my own, even on my birthday. I guess this is the part of adulthood they were talking about this whole time.
Your question made me think back to the year I turned thirty‑one, when I decided to celebrate my birthday in a tiny seaside town I’d never visited before. I booked a modest B&B, woke up to gulls screaming over the cliffs, and spent the day wandering the boardwalk, stopping at a little fish‑and‑chips stand that turned out to be the best meal I’ve ever had. The highlight was an impromptu beach bonfire with a few locals who invited me to join their circle; we shared stories, sang off‑key, and watched the tide roll in under a sky full of stars. It was nothing extravagant, but the simplicity and unexpected connections made it feel like the most genuine celebration I’ve ever…
Your question took me back to the birthday I spent three years ago when I decided to skip the usual restaurant dinner and instead invited a handful of close friends over for a low‑key game night. I spent the afternoon baking a chocolate cake from scratch, which turned out surprisingly fluffy, and we ended up playing board games until the early morning. The best part wasn’t the cake or the games; it was the feeling of being completely present with people who actually cared about me, laughing over silly moves and sharing stories I hadn’t heard in years https://www.choice.com.au/ It reminded me that birthdays don’t have to be extravagant to be memorable—sometimes the simplest gatherings create the strongest memories. I’ve…