Celebrating Birthdays: A Path to a Better World
The world would be a better place if everyone celebrated their birthday.
For starters, there is a major crisis of confidence, with way too many people seeing their birth as a chance or an accident. Celebrating one’s birthday is a reminder that we are here for a reason, with a mission and a purpose.
Ultimately, one’s birthday is the day they get to wear a crown and sit at the head of the table, and all their family and friends can tell them, “you matter.” What can be more powerful than that?
Secondly, a birthday is a personal opportunity to reflect on one’s mission and personal values. It is a personal marker that prompts questions like, where am I, where do I belong, and where do I want to go?
There is nothing as powerful as living intentionally, and a birthday is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Thirdly, it is important to celebrate life and share its joy and value. The Jewish toast is not “Cheers” but “L’Chaim!” To life! Live fully, every day! Celebrating each year we are given is an expression and message of the love we have for life.
Earlier this week, on the morning I celebrated my birthday, I received a call letting me know that a childhood acquaintance of mine had been caught in a crossfire. The previous night, he had been driving for Uber and picked up a young man who, unbeknownst to him, was involved in gang activity. Upon arriving at their destination, the car was completely shot up, killing the 42-year-old driver and wounding the passenger.
The story is tragic on so many levels, but when I heard that the passenger was only 17 years old, I kept asking myself, what could have helped that boy embrace a culture of life instead of one which toys so casually with death?
Was he told that his birth mattered? Was his birthday celebrated by caring friends? Did he have a chance to think about living purposefully and meaningfully?
One more thing. In Hebrew, there is an expression “siba l’mesiba,” a reason to get together. Loneliness and disconnection have reached such dangerous levels that they are now recognized as public health risks. If there is an opportunity to gather friends and family, grab it!
***
Joshuah Kelvin used to join his mother Wendy OBM in baking rugelach in my home ahead of family and community celebrations. It is to his memory that I dedicate this essay.
Learn more about the Jewish approach to birthdays here
