Be selfless and make your birthday special for someone else

They’ve become an opportunity for you to impress your closest acquaintances with a lavish party and for them to prove their affection with an exorbitantly expensive gift.

While the party and the gifts are seemingly innocent, they carry with them a hidden agreement. The party invitation suggests a reciprocal invite to any event the invitee may host in the future, and the gift serves as a hint at the price point of the kind of present the gifter expects in return.

This back and forth can be more stressful than relaxing after a while

Your personal wish list grows longer and pricier as your loved ones find it increasingly difficult to shop for you because “What do you give someone who has everything?”. You’ll know this if you’ve ever tried shopping for a friend or family member.

For your next birthday, reject the norms of parties and gifts by giving back to your community

Birthdays are a dime a dozen and begin to blur together after a certain age. By changing things up and flipping it on its head, you can make your next birthday truly meaningful and memorable. Chances are, you’ll enjoy your new birthday routine so much that going back won’t be an option.

If you want your birthday to significantly change someone else’s life for the better without being sanctimonious, here’s how:

Instead of the party …

Hosting a party is easily one of the most expensive ventures an individual can undertake. From catering and supplying drinks, to renting and decorating a venue, the costs can stack up quite quickly. Even if you didn’t intend to throw a party, celebrating at a restaurant or bar with friends and loved ones can also rack up a hefty bill.

Although the thought of not having a public celebration might be dreadful, the reward of changing a life for the better can outweigh the dread.

This year, instead of hosting a party or celebratory gathering, take some of the money you would have spent and donate it to a reputable organisation that specialises in saving or changing lives. Look into organisations like Medécins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and contribute to a stranger’s life being saved or improved.

This way, a day that would have just been one like any of the other birthdays you’ve had, will bring about positive change in the world.

Instead of the gifts …

The feeling of receiving a gift is unlike any other. But what’s better than this feeling, is that of giving a gift to someone. Now imagine this gift being one that can drastically change someone’s life for the better. Well, instead of the fleeting rush of unwrapping a gift, you can give a lifetime to those in need.

You can encourage your friends and family to spend the money they would have used for your gift more wisely. Consider pledging your birthday to an organisation like Medécins Sans Frontières where this process becomes hassle-free.

This way, changing a life is as easy as you signing up and your loved ones making donations to your page. Doesn’t that sound much easier than your people queueing in malls for that perfect gift and you pretending to love it?

Alternatively, you can collect any donations your friends would like to make and swing by your local community centre with the donation. These donations can be either financial or in the form of food, blankets or toys, to name a few other material comforts.

Instead of YOUR day …

The last and probably most selfless thing you can do to make this year’s birthday the most memorable is to contribute your time to a worthy cause. With birthdays falling on random Tuesdays and Thursdays, the chances of you celebrating your birthday on the actual day are slim. In that case, why not spend some time on the day helping out at a local soup kitchen or community centre?

Nothing beats that feeling of giving back to the community

And besides, when you do end up celebrating with friends and family, you’ll do so with a full heart, knowing you have done your part.

The point is, whatever you decide to do this year, your birthday can effect change in someone’s life. Even if it’s only for this year, try implementing one of these things and see the change it makes not only in someone else’s life but in yours too.

With a better understanding of the consequences of our actions, we can hopefully create a better world for all.

Brought to you by All4Women