A New Birthday Tradition We Should All Try

This birthday tradition cost $0 and took 30 seconds ... but it made my day and brought me closer to all my friends. It's a great way to celebrate your birthday, no matter how old you are! Click through to find out how you can make it part of your birthday celebration! >> yesandyes.org

On Monday, I celebrated my 37th birthday. I commemorated my time here on earth by doing all my favorite things:

  • Sleeping in
  • Reading in the backyard
  • Having hashbrowns at my favorite diner
  • Getting a pedicure while reading Lady Magazines
  • ‘Shopping’ on Grand Avenue (aka ‘smelling candles, picking things up and putting them down, considering buying something at Anthropologie and then deciding that I could probably get a better, more interesting version at a thrift store’)
  • Having cocktails with friends on the best patio in St. Paul
  • Evening adventures planned by my husband

And while all those things were awesome (so awesome!) the highlight was a new birthday tradition that cost $0 and took 30 seconds.

When I woke up, I posted this on my personal Facebook page:

This birthday tradition cost $0 and took 30 seconds ... but it made my day and brought me closer to all my friends. It's a great way to celebrate your birthday, no matter how old you are! Click through to find out how you can make it part of your birthday celebration! >> yesandyes.org
And the responses were wonderful. They were funny and heartfelt and amazing.

I heard from friends I haven’t talked to in almost 20 years. Buddies shared memories I’d forgotten, hilarious shenanigans I considered deleting, and sweet, meaningful things we don’t say enough. It was like a wedding toast, a high school reunion, and a eulogy … on my Facebook wall.

I’ve re-read all those sweet messages multiple times. I laughed out loud and read them to my husband. I got weepy for the person I used to be. Truly, I want to print off these memories and tuck them somewhere for one of those grumpy, overcast days when I’m convinced my work is unimportant and my hair looks terrible.

It was, hands down, the best birthday present – and I gave it to myself.

And you can, too!

We all need reminders to tell people how awesome they are and how much we love them. Why not use your birthday as that reminder?

P.S. 11 super fun ways to celebrate your birthday

photo credit annie spratt // cc

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12 Comments

  1. Jacqueline Fisch

    LOVE this! My birthday is next month and I’m totally going to do this.

    Curious, will you do anything with the comments? Create a book? A word cloud? A mandala?

    • Sarah Von Bargen

      I’m not sure! For now, I’m just going to copy and paste them into a word doc so I don’t lose them or accidentally delete them. I’ll also probably put them in my ‘smile file’ 😉

  2. Danielle @ Wild Coast Tales

    Oh this is a great idea and one of the reasons I love giving people iPhoto books for their birthdays of memories and adventures we have shared together!

    • Sarah Von Bargen

      Oh, that’s a great idea!

  3. Erin

    Hi
    I’m planning on doing a full day of random acts of kindness for my next birthday. It’s part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days List.

    • Sarah Von Bargen

      That’s a lovely idea!

  4. Barbara

    Happy belated birthday, fellow Virgo!

    For my 77th birthday, I’m going to make a list of 77 things that I’m grateful for. They’ll include stepping stones on personal goals, happy memories, family members and friends, helpful resources, etc. I do a list daily of “things I’m grateful for”. My “77 at 77 List” will be a great journal piece , to keep me focused on aging gracefully and happily.

    • Sarah Von Bargen

      That’s such a great idea!

  5. Carly

    THIS! I shout (sometimes out loud) ‘Yes!’ so many times when reading your site Sarah, but this has to be one of my favourite ‘you know exactly what I need to hear right now’ moments.

    What a fantastic, yet super simple idea. I love it a lot and will be stealing it when my birthday rolls around. Thank you! And hope you had an awesome birthday 🙂

    • Sarah Von Bargen

      You’re too sweet! Thanks so much! <3

  6. Samantha Bautista

    I never thought of doing this, mainly because I don’t talk to anybody I’m technically friends with on Facebook, but I think I might try it this year.

  7. Caryn

    Beautiful idea. Love it – thanks for sharing!

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