LegendaryLife.com Blog

Maybe a few thousand years ago the fact that somebody got to a certain age meant something but these days, the odds are, you can sit on your ass, doing little with your life to achieve these milestones. As such, what value do birthdays really have?

My own views about my birthday

I celebrated my 31st birthday a few months ago, to be frank, my own birthday had no real value to me. To me, a birthday marks a milestone of achieving one more year on Earth 6ft above ground. I use my birth date every year to review what I did during the previous year and make modifications based on a few days of reflection. This year, I was camping on a remote beach, maybe next year at the top of a mountain, who knows.

What happened to our Species?

I see the rampant over-glorification of birthdays all over the place, from million dollar mega parties for sweet sixteens (????) to people hitting the bar to get as piss drunk as possible in celebration. I just do not get it, I know somebodies birthday is today and I am questioning myself as to how to not take away from their perceived excitement yet still be true to myself. I don’t force my views on anybody else but I don’t hide my views neither.

In my case, if I was living out in the jungle (or Savannah) for 31 years, I would be a grandfather by now with more then my fair share of bruises and broken bones from daily hunting excursions. I would have vivid stories to tell of when I spent an entire day with elephant crap all over my body after being told by my brother Click-Clack that it was mud. I would be able to point to my legs with gashes a few inches long and say how a bear almost ripped off my leg but I stabbed him in the heart right on time or how a horny bat wouldn’t leave me alone while out hunting one day. THERE WOULD BE STORIES TO TELL! I would have beaten the odds that would be stacked against me from the very day of my birth. I would be lucky to see the age of 40 years old! I would be considered an upcoming elder who has managed to help the tribe achieve some important milestones such as an infant mortality rate of only 20% in the first 5 years of life, providing meat for my 20+ kids and be so sun baked that I would physically look like I was 60 years old. Wow… 31 is HUGE, too bad I missed out due to me living in this modernized mono-culture we call civilized life. Of course, I could have also been one of those unlucky 20% of kids and never seen the age of five, life goes both ways.

Life is too easy

I was reading an article on CNN in which antidepressants, medication used by people to treat depression, are the most prescribed drug category in the United States. What is even more depression (pun intended) is these rates are skyrocketing. Why? I believe our modern life has gotten far too easy and predictable to the point that people are unable to cope with change or worse, unable to cope with the life they have lead to this point. They need their medication simply to get through another day!

Going back to birthdays, imagine being showered with gifts for doing something that unless you where very unlucky in life or just plane dumb, was a given. Am I the only one who thinks this is a rather empty celebration?

Alternatives: Celebrate Achievements, Not Birthdays

Yes, that’s right, if you graduate university, that is an achievement, by all means, have a small celebration. Your great uncle reached the age of 90 years old and is hoping around town chasing girls half his age… yes, that deserves a pint of beer at the local bar. One of your nephews businesses have achieved a million dollars in sales… again, party time. Do you see what I am coming at? We should get rid of this whole birthday celebration stuff and instead celebrate real achievements in our modern society. Birthdays are meaningless while achievements, big and small, are something really worth celebrating. These will be remembered and a highlight of a life when we are all on our death beds taking in our last breath.

To me, the things I look back upon so far in my short life are about both the great successes and tremendous failures I have achieved so far, each with their lessons. I can honestly look back and say, so far, I have a very good track record of LIVING MY LIFE. Birthdays, well, I cannot remember any gifts I received but I do remember the people.

Exceptions

Of course, people who have had very difficult lives deserve great birthdays, especially those who are unfortunate to suffer from medical or mental conditions. It can help lighten the mood and put their lives back in focus.

The Bottom Line

This is worth repeating, celebrate achievements, not birthdays.

Reference
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/09/antidepressants/index.html