devvyn

I hate meaningless, unquestioned traditions.

My idea for an ideal alternative gift-giving holiday would be my birthday instead of Christmas. I think it's ridiculous to do a gift-giving celebration while all your friends and family do the same thing. Since birthdays occur throughout the year, it's less insane and less exploitable.

On a fervent give-a-thon like Christmas, one might end up in situations that involve people shopping for relatives they barely know, or giving gifts of cash to people who give gifts of cash back to them and other laughable, illogical outcomes like that. If we all celebrated our bonds with family and friends on our own birthday, we could give gifts to those who have a connection to us, as a thank you for being there.

I don't think I should get gifts on my birthday because it makes no sense to celebrate my own birth. My parents put all the effort into that, not I as an infant, so I should reward them with gifts and sentiment on my birthday, not the other way around. Just as with Christmas, Father's Day and Mother's Day are commercially exploited, so it makes more sense to choose a personal time to celebrate such connections rather than to line one up with a calendar the businesses are watching.

I realise there's a religious root to many holidays, and there are obviously those who couldn't bear to break such cherished traditions. Well, I'm neither religious nor concerned about preserving traditions that don't withstand a logical examination. Feel free to challenge this idea but I think it has merit and I'm going to try it out like a true eccentric.

Well, the 24th was my 24th birthday. Since it was the first birthday I've ever had doing a job I appreciate, I bought packs of individually-wrapped Skittle and M&Ms for my team at work. My friend who happens to be on the same team drew my a birthday card on the spot, featuring a cake-gorged panda (awesome!), which was signed by whoever was still at work when he finished it. I got lots of happy birthday wishes, and someone even bought me a little plate of dessert treats from the cafeteria. My mom called and actually sang happy birthday to my voicemail. My brother and my dad also called me after work. My mom is arranging a birthday barbecue and cake for me tomorrow.

I have to say, it's weird having a fuss made over my birthday at 24. If I were to look back at my life so far, I'd have to say this is the first birthday I've had in a long time where I can actually say I'm comfortable getting older. My job is reasonably on track with what I want and the kind of pay I need. My debts are steadily diminishing. I may not have any post-secondary certification, but right now I don't regret not being in school. I'm not currently dating anyone, but I don't even care to be in a rush for that. It will come in time. I pretty much have what I need and most of what I want. I'm satisfied with where I am in life right now, and I know that it won't be long before the rest of my goals are met. Being 24 is okay because I feel like I'm actually going somewhere, slowly but surely.