It really is! As I get older, people don’t celebrate themselves as much or place importance on the day. Especially past 25, 30. YOU MADE IT! You get one day a year to celebrate yourself, why be ashamed? Let’s go wild for 47! There’s so many people I would’ve loved to see make it to that age. Don’t take it for granted. Get the balloons, a badass cake, go to the spa, indulge responsibly as you wish.
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I wholeheartedly agree with this post. Though I know plenty of people who wouldn’t! I celebrate the entire month of November for my bday, and April for my partner. Why shouldn’t we celebrate we’ve made it another year?!
Maybe for you. I just dont want to go all out for a birthday or anything. At most Ill have some friends over to the apartment to smoke some weed and order some takeout. But thats what we do on most weekends anyway.
It was as a child, now it’s just so what. But I am thankful I’m still alive I just don’t think it needs some big fancy celebration anymore.
It’s typically not about being ashamed of your age.
It’s about being desensitised to the fact that you’ve been on the planet a little bit longer than before.
Birthdays just aren’t as big of a priority once you’ve had enough of them, aside from perhaps during childhood and other notable milestones.
It’s absolutely not a big deal.
I’m all for other people’s birthdays, just not mine. It always felt a bit uncomfortable to celebrate it. Also it doesn’t mean much past 18 anyways (or 21 for american folks)
Lead a life you love every day. You have free will. Right now! A birthday is a year of aging, acknowledged and amplified
I haven’t reached the point in life where being alive another year is something to celebrate again. However, I still hold on to a tiny bit of hope that I’ll get back there someday.
Why not just celebrate your life in general instead of saving up for a single day?
It’s so big that I want the day to myself
I’m not ashamed of my age and enjoy having a drink with friends or dinner with family on my birthday, but grown ass adults who make a huge deal about this own birthday are cringe.
It honestly depends on the person. For my last birthday (it was on a weekday), some co-workers of mine caught happy hour with me and bought a bunch of rounds. Everyone chipped in a bought me a nice polo shirt.
My mates organised an escape room sesh and then we went out for dinner together, had drinks then hit the casino.
My girlfriend really went all out. She planned a trip into a winery the following weekend, and we went on a fruit tour, had lunch there, and did wine tasting, etc. She also bought me a bunch of gifts.
Personally, I don’t place much value in it. I’d be happy just chilling at home, maybe cooking dinner together with my girl and watching a great movie. My friends and partner take it upon themselves to celebrate it with me, which feels great, but its never something I expect.
People have damn good reasons for not celebrating their birthday.
I celebrate internally! I don’t really enjoy parties or being the center of attention just for surviving the last 365 days. But I love thinking over the past year, any accomplishments, goals, differences from one year to the next, new friends or hobbies or experiences I’ve had, and then planning out or anticipating the next year.
I don’t go wild but I also don’t take it for granted. It is a big deal for me and not for other people.
My family doesn’t care about my birthday. So what’s the point of celebrating if I can’t celebrate it with someone.
It’s not a big deal. More than 20 million other human beings share your birthday, and people typically have more than 70 of them.
Two years in a row, not one phone call…
I have no money. No friends. No family who does anything for me. My birthday, really doesn’t fucking matter lmao. Fuck it all.
Strongly disagree to me it’s just another day
So years and years ago, there was this girl I liked. Told her I was having a little get-together. She declined and said she “had plans”. Year two, my birthday rolls around again, and I tell her I’m inviting a few friends over, and once again she declines. “Busy that night.” Birthday year 3 rolls around and I’m turning 30 and give it another shot. Nope- having supper with her parents. I said, “ok, you know I’m not the most social guy, and I’m just a little confused as to why you would keep blowing me off on my birthday.”
There was a pause.
“Uhhh.. because it’s my birthday, too. Weird.”
We’ve been together 20 years now. Still get looks when we renew our driver’s license, as she’s exactly 1 year younger.
I love birthdays!
I think my only issue with adults who make a big deal of their birthday is the requirement that everyone else does to. I would have zero problem celebrating their birthday if it didn’t run more than the one day, but the adults I know who like to celebrate their birthdays always make it into multiple day event events and….
My theory is that it’s been demonized to the point that a lot of people internalize that they aren’t interested. Even though they would actually be a little happy if a small party or something was thrown for them.
For me it’s just another year wasted. People around me also don’t care about my birthday, because I didn’t wished them on their birthday via putting their photos in my story. I don’t post anything on my socials. Only my parents are happy, and that’s all matters to me.
It’s always been a big deal to me! It means a lot when people celebrate with me and wish me happy birthdays. I always try to do the same because i want people to feel special
Agree i celebrate every year above ground
Agreed! If someone truly doesn’t want to celebrate it, that’s fine. But there’s also no shame in making a big deal of it. I always make it a reason to do something extra special. Since my 30th, I’ve made vacation part of it.
Birthday phone calls always were, and still are, one of the greatest feelings. I’m 33, and a bit ashamed that I largely tune these out now. Does it make sense to say that I generally avoid them as to not make anyone else feel obligated to reach out or do anything for me? Starts to seem more paradoxically narcissistic the more I think about it. Somehow turned other peoples birthdays/celebrations into a something I navigate for my own.
Fuck, might as well just round everyone up and say “Hey just know, I act like I don’t care about you so that you don’t care about me.”
Definitely need to do better.
People who hate their birthdays are so weird lol
I think it’s really great if people want to celebrate their birthdays with lots of crazy plans. Go off, enjoy. I personally have finally gotten a few people to sit quietly and read with me on my birthday, and that’s all I want for the rest of my birthdays.
I think the thing about celebrating as an adult is you also don’t need a birthday to do any of those things. Like, I’m a grownup. I can get a cake or go to the spa any day I want…why wait till my birthday?
some people don’t like the reminder of how old they’re getting
Every year on my birthday and pretty much the entire month I remind myself over and over that pretty much 90% of the people my age are barely making it and barely have savings and don’t own homes and basically make their lives look fabulous online but behind closed doors are struggling like everyone else. On its face I look at celebrating myself as pointless. Celebrate what? I haven’t achieved shit. I guess I can celebrate not having credit card debt… That’s pretty big as an accomplishment. I only owe what I owe on my Jeep.. My wife has to talk me into celebrating my birthday. Deep down though I just look in the mirror and see failure on my birthday.
Birthdays are for selfish people to celebrate themselves and brings the bad out of people.
For me it’s just a reminder that the time is running out and I’m still a failure. That’s why I ignore birthdays.
Thank you for the reminder.
Nope it’s not, it’s just another day, you should save celebrations for when you actually accomplish something, being born is not an accomplishment
It’s not though.. 12 year Olds care about their birthday.
I make it to another birthday and I get more miserable. Like how am I this age and still the same useless teenager at mind
Birthdays are for women and children, not for men
I really wish I could be that positive but their not much in my life to celebrate.
I really hate being the center of attention. I just want a quiet day to myself. My wife can spoil me however she likes, but please leave me alone otherwise.
I mean, once you get past 21 (legal gun rights and alcohol), age really means nothing besides decrease car insurance rates and increased back pain.
Birthday passed recently, none of my friends knew. No one acknowledged it from my family, the way it should be after 21. Got drunk alone in my basement! Usually don’t drink during the week, so I guess I celebrated.
I agree. I tend to take holidays for what they are, including bdays. I have a co-worker who doesn’t do anything for his wife on Valentine’s Day, because “it’s a made up commercial holiday”. No duh. Of course it is. It’s also an easy excuse to do something above and beyond for your partner. You can’t do something special every day. Maybe you even do things for them semi-regularly. It’s a good opportunity to go a little bigger than normal and make them feel special.
Same with bdays. It’s a good excuse to celebrate you. I don’t see that as being self centered. You don’t have to demand that all eyes be on you. But it’s a time to get together your friends and family with no blow off excuses. Or doing something just for you. Whatever that may be. Maybe it’s going to a high end restaurant by yourself or maybe it’s going fishing and ignoring everyone. Whatever it is, it’s an excellent time to set aside your other worries and have a small recharge period. Something that’s just about you.
Disagree on a very high basis. I haven’t celebrated my birthday in earnest in 34 years. You and me aren’t special…we were born…so fucking what. Just another year of pain and anger. The world is shit full of shit people and celebrating another year on this mudball isn’t something I think people should do. But I’ll never tell someone they can’t celebrate…just leave me out of that farce.
Sometimes I secretly wish someone were making a big deal of my birthday. But it seems selfish to ask.
I agree i just dont feel like anyone else cares enough.
I don’t want a fuss though, I take the day off work and go hiking or something. My wife bakes me a cake, it’s generally a good day.
I don’t think so. I think it’s kinda corny to make a big deal of it past 21.
My family has always celebrated the parents on a birthday. It was next level “culture shock” when I learned people celebrated the person who was born.
I still don’t get it fully honestly
When I turned 44 last year everyone forgot it, even my mum.
It was glorious.
Because the pragmatic amongst us realise that a year having passed is arbitrary, and they day you were born has no inherently valuable meaning. Also, birthdays aren’t special as an adult because you can literally do whatever you want whenever. If you’ve got something you want, or want to do, then just do it whenever. And that’s more fun that having to plan a birthday on a specific day (or close to it) every year.
We also put too much emphasis on others celebrating our birthdays.
It might not be important to you, but it might be important to a loved one!
My birthday is in a few weeks and it’s not a big deal.
Not mine!
Celebrating my birth? The worst day of my life? I’ll pass.
I was born on new years eve, so I’ve never really celebrated my birthday. It was and still is a footnote in general new years celebration. And I like that, like, I’m already drunk with my friends having a laugh, who cares about specifics
Meh. It’s a big deal until you’re like 12 then the only ones that matter are 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 59, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, and then strangely they all matter again after that
I grew up not rich, going to red lobster for a fancy dinner on your birthday was special.
Now our kid is grown and we’re well off DINKS; I had red lobster for lunch.
Tomorrow were going to a comedy show, next weekend we got a room at the casino.
I don’t have to wait for my birthday to enjoy myself, its Tuesday is a good enough reason.
I just celebrate myself every week or whatever when I feel like it.
Being an adult is awesome. I get to party anytime I want to.
I’ve only had two birthday parties since I’ve been old enough to tell my mom I don’t want them. 16 and 30. Both were a surprise. I find birthdays pointless
Meh I don’t really care about my birthday at all lol
Why would I celebrate the day all my problems started?
Not unpopular and very wrong
100% agree. I take my birthday off work every year. I always add days before and after, to give myself a little birthday vacation. I will plan a fun dinner and maybe some activities and watch all my favorite movies. Who says that only children can celebrate their birthdays? I’m turning 41 next month. My birthday is on a Sunday. I took Friday and Monday off. 4-day weekend just for me. I also try to redeem as many of my free birthday coupons as I can.
False
The reason why I don’t really celebrate my birthday is because of trauma.
I would much much prefer having big celebrations for a Ccomplishments like graduating, big promotion, winning an award… Completing a goal like a marathon or even losing a bunch of weight or something.
Just existing every year feels so… Participation ribbon that I dislike it. And I dislike that if I threw a party cause I just got a great new role at the company or climbed everest or something, that it would seem self congradulatory
“Meh it’s just another day..” NO, IT IS NOT.
Bro we must hang out with different ppl because how the fk is this unpopular. I know ppl who have a birthday month.
I feel the opposite of this would be unpopular
My grandparents have all died around my birthday in different years, all of them
Last one was 7 years ago this year but I still have issues with it.
Birthdays are a total human construct that have no inherent meaning. So it’s a big deal only if you want it to be. It’s not an objective fact.
im 24 and i used to think my birthday was a massive deal when i was a kid and i always wanted a party, cake a new dress and all that jazz. now that im older i just go out to eat and thats it lol
It’s literally the one thing we all have in common. Everyone has a birthday and shares it with a million people. Not going to budge on this one, it’s not special. People who expect a special are divas.
I love throwing partues so my birthday is always a good excuse. Most years something small with just 10-15 people. Every 5 years I go all out.
I don’t think this is wildly unpopular, but I do think many people take themselves for granted, every year for my birthday I do something special for myself, maybe not balloons and cake, but takeout and gaming with my friends into the early morning hours, it’s always a blast!