Birthdays Are Worth Celebrating | #MyFridayStory №387
I have always loved my birthday. Most people do, but for me, it’s about savouring every ounce of joy the day has to offer. It’s the one day you can soak up all the attention guilt-free — a day when the spotlight rests squarely on you.
I have a good friend and mentor who takes leave every year on his birthday. His argument aligns perfectly with mine: it’s a day for self-care and celebration. Having the freedom to spend it exactly as he pleases, surrounded by those he values most, makes it truly special.
Back when birthday cards arrived via a functional postal service, I admired those who took the time to send them. I loved receiving cards, and I’ve never known anyone who didn’t enjoy the anticipation of opening one and reading heartfelt messages. We’d display them proudly on the mantle, forming a colourful row that grew as the big day approached.
That joy inspired me to celebrate not just my birthday but anyone’s special day. Birthdays mark the beginning of your journey here on Earth, and every moment of your life is measured from that point onward.
In my twenties, I took to writing personal birthday wishes with a calligraphy pen, crafting thoughtful notes for friends and family. Later, as an insurance salesman in my thirties, I extended this tradition to my clients. I’d send personalised birthday cards — carefully chosen and handwritten — that would arrive a few days early. I followed up with a phone call to personally wish them well.
People told me it was corny, that nobody appreciated such gestures anymore. I ignored them then, and I ignore them now.
When the South African Postal Service became unreliable, I adapted. Email was just emerging, and I began crafting customised digital messages instead. Social media has since made tracking birthdays effortless, but it hasn’t diminished the joy of being celebrated.
I’m not active on traditional social media, but LinkedIn has been my platform of choice for years. I think of it as “colleague-media” rather than social media — an office environment in digital form. Like conversations around the water cooler or in the smokers’ corner, LinkedIn hosts discussions about everything: work, family, politics, religion, and weekend plans. It’s a space where people bring their whole selves, discussing both the personal and the professional.
In my career, I believed a well-maintained database was one of the greatest assets. I painstakingly built networks over decades, gathering details about everyone I met, including their birthdays. If I had your details, you could expect a birthday call. For years, I started my mornings singing “Happy Birthday” to clients, colleagues, and friends alike.
Eventually, the list grew too long to manage, but my commitment to celebrating others never wavered. On LinkedIn, I’ve maintained the tradition. If you’ve been connected to me long enough, chances are you’ve received a personalised birthday message. Over the past six or seven years, many of these have been voice notes — a simple yet powerful way to celebrate life.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People cherish the effort and the thoughtfulness of these gestures. It’s proof that genuine love, care, and empathy still exist, despite what the naysayers might claim.
Birthdays are a reminder that life is worth celebrating — yours and everyone else’s. So, if you’ve ever wondered if those small gestures matter, I’m here to tell you: they absolutely do. And I, for one, am not stopping anytime soon.
Have a wonderful weekend, and remember — be generous! 😊
As always, thanks for reading. 🙏
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