Birthday Parties

It is true what they say, you don’t remember the presents you receive, but the experiences you have. I have no clue what anybody ever gave me for my birthdays. I do however remember sharing parties with my brother.

My birthday is at the end of August and my brothers is at the beginning of September. As a kid I just wanted my own party, but as an adult I get the expense that comes behind throwing two parties so close together.

I remember one party I was so upset that my brother and I had to share a birthday cake. I threw a fit. My grandmother took me upstairs and smacked me in the face and told me to stop being a brat. (It wasn’t a hard smack and I wasn’t abused). It was a wake up call. Something inside of me changed and it is exactly what I needed. Did I still complain about things, yes, but was I grateful, yes.

Another birthday party memory I have is that I invited my friends to a sleepover. Nobody showed up to it. I remember crying and being devestated. My mother called my friends parents and asked what was going on. I can’t remember the excuse. I know it broke a piece of me and made me realize nobody really cares. I craved friendship and craved for people to want to be around me.

One thing I have learned is that people will disappoint, people will leave and life goes on. I could be bitter and upset and hate the world, but I choose to just be here and be me. I am the type of friend that I wish I had.

It is amazing that those two birthday parties changed me. I have had so many birthdays that I can’t recall, but the two most important are right in front of my eyes. Can you think back on birthday occasions and remember significant things? Are you ok from them?