This is going to sound like a super weird post and I bet you’re probably all thinking, “wth jenny?” at the title. It’s not clickbait, I 100% mean it, I don’t like my own birthday. I mean obviously when I was younger in Primary School and had swimming parties and McDonalds parties and bouncy castles and the works, birthdays rocked. I wanted it to be my birthday every day! Actually tell a lie, I didn’t, I would always get overwhelmed with all the people and just want a quiet half an hour to myself but you get my gist. Birthday’s were brilliant. Friends, cake, food, presents, balloons, parties. But as I got older, I had a huge change of heart. I distinctly remember spending the first few hours of my 16th birthday in bed crying. So here’s a super sad list of reasons why I don’t really like my own birthday…
1. I don’t like getting older: but I mean, who does?
2. It reminds me that everyone else is getting older too: and that’s not something we want to think about too often.
3. I’m getting further and further away from the carefree years of my childhood and I miss it: seriously, where did it go? It seems like 2 minutes ago my mum was reading to me in bed and washing my hair.
4. It makes me more aware of how much I haven’t achieved yet: okay, shit is getting serious here but it’s so easy to think of what you “should” have done by a certain age that you lose sight of what you actually have done. Sigh.
5. It also makes me wary of all the stuff I still want to achieve: and how I’m gonna need to get off my arse and actually do them. It’s all very well having goals but they remain as goals unless you actually do something to work towards them. And not all your goals are going to remain relevant forever. The time is now.
6. It makes me feel unaccomplished: another year, another 400 Facebook posts of people getting their dream jobs, travelling the world, having babies, getting married, buying houses and another year of me… not. But I know it’s important to remember that everyone goes at their own pace and that life isn’t a race.
7. It just makes me sad: for real, my own birthday makes me sad. Other people’s don’t, just my own. I’ve never known why but I spent the first few hours of my 16th birthday crying in bed. what the hell?
8. And it makes me realise how quickly time is going: and it didn’t take a whole rambly blog post about why I hate my birthday for you to know that. Every year feels like it’s going quicker and quicker and I hate it! How have I been on this planet for almost 25 years already?
9. The attention scares me: I hate being the centre of attention for anything. I’d rather be behind the scenes. I love other people’s birthdays so I get to spoil them, make them feel special and show them they are the centre of attention for that day. But for me? Eeeek!
I’m such a grateful person and I’m always so appreciative of any cards, gifts and messages I receive on my birthday so don’t let this post put you off sending all those books as gifts this year… (I’m kidding, maybe…) but there’s why I get sad on my birthday. Do you experience any of the above? Or are you a birthday loving person?
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Reblogged this on Hitchy-poky me and design!!!.
Number 7 🙁 I cry more now then I did once on my birthday through my teens. I hate it now I am lucky to get birthday wishes off of the social networks.
Even I don’t like socializing with people but after all the celebrations and fun with few friends, will though make you sad at the end of the day out of nowhere 😶
[…] lot when it comes to my birthday and I sorta kinda explained it in this post I wrote ages ago about why I don’t really like my own birthday. I find it odd and weird and difficult for a whole bunch of reasons and I can’t help but fret […]
I enjoyed my birthday far more when I was a child. Getting older as an adult means more responsibilities, poorer health etc. I feel the same when it comes to achievements as well. When you are past 20 or so, you kind of want to have your life in order. When you don’t know what to do, it makes you paranoid and not good enough (well at least that’s how it affects me). Birthdays are bittersweet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Laura / https://laustworld.blogspot.com/
I definitely feel like that. I’m 26 in 2 weeks and I’m dreading because I know I’m nowhere near where I thought I’d be xxx
Ugh I completely get where your coming from, I personally love my birthday but I think about all the things you mention all the time (mostly at three in the morning) and it can get really upsetting especially considering my anxiety makes everything seem 1000X worse than it actually is, thank you for posting this and being so honest I feel like people shy away from talking about things like this ❤️
Wow my anxiety makes all this worse for me too, how similar?
Just constantly thinking of where everyone else is in their lives vs me and all the things I need to do and achieve especially with getting into uni and stuff, that mixed with anxiety is the worst
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Hi Jenny! I love this honest post. I completely agree as well, and I really don’t understand people who are like “it’s going to be my birthday in 2 weeks and I’m super super excited!!!!” I hate having birthday events because I also hate attention, at the same time it feels terrible when I don’t have an event on my birthday haha. Lose lose situation :’)
Haha absolutely! I hate it when people are like “it’s my birthday week!” And expect people to celebrate every day?! NO?!
Hahaha yes I know those types of peeps 🙂
Reblogged this on The Belgian Reviewer and commented:
I’m on the same page with Jenny and maybe some others are as well?
Thank you for reblogging (:
[…] the fact I might not like my birthday very much and that 25 seems to be this big ol’ daunting year for me, I do love a birthday […]
[…] that’s a scary thing to say, isn’t it? Although I wrote a post about why I didn’t particularly like my birthday back in July, here I am on my birthday writing a blog post! Oh yeah… it’s my birthday […]
Today is my birthday and I came across this post 😕
Whoops – but just because I don’t like mine doesn’t mean you have to not like yours
I’m in the same page 😂
😩😩😩
Clickbait is such a neat word. I’m 65 myself so I’m kind of used to birthdays.
I still feel all the stuff you feel though Jenny. Your post is lovely and honest.
Yes … and bittersweet.
Thanks so much Chris! You have my permission to use the word clickbait as you so wish 😉
No.4! I feel you so much. I’m 28 and feel like I have so much more to see, do, and accomplish! I haven’t done half of the things I want to do!
Claudia xo
Same girl, same!
What a lovely, bittersweet post. Personally I like my birthdays (except for the getting older part) but I loved your reasons, they did strike a few chords.
Haha it was quite bittersweet wasn’t it?
I hear you on so much of this – I almost feel like it’s this marker where I gauge how much I did or didn’t get done at this stage of my life lol
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca/
Yes! Exactly! You’ve hit the nail perfectly on the head of what I meant. Every year it’s like a tick list of “things I should have done by now”
Awwww ❤️❤️ I can totally relate to a lot of these, especially the point about realizing everyone else is getting older. It doesn’t often bother me on my birthday itself, but I do dwell on that quite a bit throughout the rest of the year. As for comparing yourself to everyone else — I can also relate! It felt like everyone was moving forward when I was in grad school, and I hated it. But I was doing something just as important to me, and so are you.
xx
Emily
emilyhallock.blogspot.com
Ohhh I hope you’re right! I hate to think about my parents getting older the most.
Great post Jenny, I can totally relate to this! I try to keep my birthday under wraps but for anyone else I am so excited for them and spoil them silly! xx
Yes exactly! I love spoiling other people so much!
I don’t really care to be honest. I appreciate when people think about it but I want do anything if they don’t. I do feel like I am getting older and feeling like I need to accomplish things earlier! xx corinne
Yeah it is nice to receive the comments and messages, even online
I know so many people who feel exactly the same as you! But, I can’t lie, I adore my birthday. I think my birthdays are so much better now because I hardly put any pressure kn them to be spectacular so I’m always pleasantly surprised x
Claire
Oh for sure, usually the things we don’t plan or put pressure on to be amazing turn out the best!
I stopped having birthdays as some as I reached 25, I find them far too depressing. Even if I arrange to do something it always feels like a letdown.
Hannah @ The Northern Writes | http://www.thenorthernwrites.co.uk
Awww no! If I arrange to do something on or for my birthday I always try and not think of it as a part of my birthday. It’s just a regular day out (: I see how you mean though, I’ve often had the same thoughts and it sucks
I love my birthday! I don’t always like the fact that I’m getting older – especially as for me, the next big birthday is 30 but I can’t help but get excited! Although I am not a fan of public singings of happy birthday to me – always got so embarrassed!
Oh gosh no! If I go to a restaurant for my birthday I’d never tell them it was my birthday!
I have mixed feelings about my birthday. Younger I had some bad experience where I was disappointed by friends or it was a let down after getting too excited. Therefore now I don’t bother making many plans and avoid telling new friends sometimes.
Yeah there was always some let downs when you’re younger, isn’t there? They sucked but think they probably happened to everyone!
I agree with all of these points!
Time is going crazy fast these days.
Do you know what I also hate about birthdays? PEOPLE WATCHING YOU OPEN PRESENTS?!! I hate it!!
hayley // hayleyxmartin.com
Hahaha yep I feel that! Although I love watching other people open presents because I take SO MUCH care over buying presents!
I can relate on the getting older part and also being centre of attention. I hate that stuff. But other than that I actually love my birthday I usually keep it very low key now though.
Yeah low key is good for me too! I often go out for the day somewhere but it’s always just with my boyfriend. My parents might go out for something to eat with us but that’s about it!
I remember crying all through my tenth birthday cos I was no longer in single digits. And then around 16 or 17 cos I was leaving teen years and didn’t want to be old. These days I just feel they’re a bit less magical really. It’s fun to put on amazing birthdays for my niece though- she’s 4 this month and we’re doing a proper party. She still has great fun on birthdays and Christmas!
Absolutely – much less magical. Aww I bet that’s fun! I love making other people’s birthdays special
I’m such a fan of birthdays! So it was great to get to understand why someone else doesn’t like them, thanks for sharing x
Kayleigh Zara 🍁 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
Awh I’m glad your actually on the other side of the coin here so you can see what it’s like from the other POV!
I used to get really sad on my birthday and I still do, stupid depression. But you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people. You’ve achieved so much & you should be so so proud of yourself.
http://www.abeautifulchaos.co.uk/2017/07/why-quietness-speaks-thousand-words.html
I know I know but it’s SO difficult not to! The rest of the year, it’s easy to put it at the back of your mind but on your birthday it hits you that little bit more doesn’t it?
I totally understand why would you not like your birthday but I think that there are also some amazing things that come with aging. xx
Antonia || Sweet Passions
Maybe, I wouldn’t know yet! All my experiences so far are telling me that being younger was better haha!
NOOO! how can you not enjoy your birthday?! I understand though, every birthday is a year older! Every single birthday, it hits me how fast things are going too!!
Sophia xo // sophiaaaxo.com
Birthdays more so than anything make me realise how fast time is going! Cos when a birthday comes around, it only feels like last week it was your last one!
I completely understand!! xx
Completely understand what you mean. I just don’t really feel anything towards my birthday anymore. Not excited or sad. Just meh but totally get you!!
Jessica & James | foodandbaker.co.uk / foodandbakertravels.co.uk
It’s definitely not as fun or magical when you get older is it?
I understand completely! I don’t like my birthday, mostly because everyone always wants to go out and all I want to do is stay home alone- no one can understand that that’s what I love most! I also don’t like turning older, for obvious reasons! But yeah, I feel you on the attention part!
Arielle- littledismaid.com
Sometimes just staying home and chilling out is the best thing to do!
My husband hates his birthday and my daughter gets very overwhelmed if we have parties for hers. For her birthday we usually just take one friend to the cinema and her birthday this year we went to my ‘adoptive mum’s’ house for dinner (she lives about 2 hrs away). Every year my birthday has a big fuss made and I believe it is because my parents are dead but I have always had a dislike because my birthday is in the summer and my friends would all be away for holidays but when I turned 13 I remember waking up and crying because I was a teenager and I wasn’t ready to grow up, from then on anxiety hit me when it came to my birthday but I don’t tell my husband because he wants to make me feel loved when there is no one else to do it.
The only birthday I have been glad to see was my 30th because so much had happened in my teens and 20s that I just couldn’t wait to see the back of it all. I do still shed a tear on my birthday (and Christmas) because my parents aren’t here to share it with me and again on my daughter’s because they aren’t getting to see how she grows and, I suppose, having no family of my own makes that one harder. I know I mentioned my ‘adoptive mum’, she was my mum’s best friend and has always been like a grandmother to my daughter and it is wonderful to have her because she always cares for my girl like she’s her own grandchild.
Here endeth the life story…so yes I don’t like my birthday either you, are not alone!
Haha awh Lisa! I’m only laughing because of your last sentence. There can be so many different reasons why people don’t like birthdays that all add up. I think your daughters way of doing birthdays is perfect; that’s exactly what I would do and bless your husband for wanting to spoil you for those reasons. You’ve gotta appreciate that just because it’s so lovely even though it’s probably difficult at the same time.
Yea the last bit I suddenly realised I had gone off on a bit of a tangent, I was laughing too! I could never tell them I don’t like the attention because they try so hard and that is what means the most and I love them for it. I generally just want to go away for the day to the seaside with them and the dogs like any other summer’s day. I think there are more than enough people who dislike their birthdays for so many reasons,
Me too! Almost nobody understands this… I even take a day (or days) off work when it’s my birthday. I just don’t want to hear that question how old I am that day. It only started when I turned 30 that I’d started to feel this way though.. I’m 28 forever, for me that’s the best age :-).
I’ve been 27 for years!
Im the same! I’m such an introvert that the sudden attention always manages to freak me out! Great Post it’s nice to see something different written about!!
Awh thank you very much (: I don’t really do anything in real life for my birthday and if I do, I always treat it like a normal day out. Attention online isn’t too bad cos us introverts can hide behind the screen 😂 xxx
Haha exactly replying to Facebook Birthday messages is cool it’s when they are all face to face is the issue !!😂😂
I totally get your point! I think birthdays are the most annoying way to be confronted with everything you want to achieve, but haven’t yet and realize that time is still moving forward at an annoying speed.
Apart from that I’ve always hated being at the center of attention. I just don’t like it. When I first started working at my current job, I didn’t say anything about my birthday. That was until one of the few colleagues I added on Facebook just yelled “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” for the whole team. I was horrified.
Thank the skies that I’ll be on my holiday when my birthday comes around this year, haha.
Oh goodness me that sounds like my worst nightmare. Like if you were out for a meal and someone secretly told the restaurant it was your birthday and they brought out a huge cake and started singing, can you IMAGINE! Ugh that’s lucky! I’d love to go away for my birthday (: xxx
Oh, please no. If anyone would do that to me, they’d be proving they don’t know me at all. I’d probably flee and go to McDonald’s to eat, haha. Same with surprise parties, noooo thank you!
If you want to do that, you just should!
You are not alone! I usually get really sad on my birthday as well and try to get through the day without anyone at work knowing. You are super brave for putting this out there 🙂 Happy birthday! x
Awh thank you so much, it’s not something people talk about really, is it? Cos I guess we’re in the minority as most people adore their birthdays and the attention – which is obviously absolutely fine (: xxx
I feel you on all of this, i have really never looked forward to my birthday and i have always tried to let the day just pass by without making a fuss about it.
Awh 🙁 it’s difficult sometimes, I don’t mind a little bit of fuss like some presents or whatever but anything extravagant is a huge no-no. Mines more internal really, I make MYSELF sad on my birthday haha! xxx