On Birthdays with "Friends"

There is a feeling of joyousness when friends celebrate your birthday. The huge surprise parties thrown in your honour and the presents you’ll receive with money pooled together by friends to buy you something you’ve longed. But what’s the point?

First of all, a “birthday” is nothing special. It’s just another reminder that you’re getting older. But everyone grows older everyday; it’s just the linear progression of life. Your birth date can be special because it was your first day in this world. But, what’s the fascination with the one year mark; we can celebrate a birthday everyday, every week and every month. Is it an excuse for friends to have a good time? Well, if one is really a friend, there’s no need to celebrate any particular day(s). Every day should be of equal worth, and your friends’ care should not increase as a result of your birthday. It need not be an occasion to demonstrate how much one cares if one were really a friend. It is preferable to celebrate with people who have cared for you consistently. And it would not matter if one did not celebrate your birthday because they have remained consistently faithful and that is worth more than any present.

As such, the huge surprise parties and all the presents are meaningless if you celebrate with the same meaningless people on the same meaningless day.