Devils Advocate

Warning: This one is long! (If you actually make it to the shoutouts...guaranteed you're one of them.)

I was the man of the hour...(or day) just a little while ago. Being the person I am, I began to really think about what a Birthday is and what mine was. Yes it is a little interesting to leave the teens to the 20's and beyond and all that cool stuff, but I couldn't help but think: so what? Is it really a big deal?

Here is what I came up with...

I first started thinking about Birthdays, and literally, they are what they are. Birth-days. The day you are born. Considering the calendars that majority of us own, we eventually pass by the day we were born on and deem ourselves a year older. Quite practical, yes. How big a deal? Well that could be subjective, yes it was a year since you were born, or 20 years, or 50, does it not eventually give you less utility? Is the utility diminishing? (Sorry for the eco reference, I've just recently gone back)

Continuing on that stream of thought, I think that age is only a number. Sure their are perks or connotations here and there with age, but age is not too big a deal...I think. Knowing today I turn 20, and tomorrow I am 20 and 1 day old...but that isn't a big deal, that begs the idea that today may be just as (un)important. Because really, the days we call a birthday, really is only another day, right? Right. You can't really argue with that, because it IS just another day. You can officially say you're a year older and that is cool, but we grow older everyday...Birthdays just round off to a nice solid number. I won't lie, rounding up does feel more comfortable.

On Birthdays, people also generally wish each other a 'Happy Birthday' and this is a very nice gesture. And on your birthday, you'll probably hear it a lot, from people you are close with, don't generally speak with, lost contact with, people you don't know, whatever. It's quite nice to hear it, but why not hear something nice everyday? Why not show appreciation for friends and family everyday? Or try to genuinely keep in touch with each other anyways, everyday? But I can understand that it is impossible to know everyone. These were just passing thoughts I had while trying to play devils advocate.

This is pretty much what I did all day, be devils advocate. I was trying to figure out why Birthdays are important, if they actually are a big deal, because to be honest, my day was as regular as my day can get. I woke up, made my bed and wasted time by doing something a little less than productive. I ate dinner, and did not feel all that special; maybe I am cynical or a total party pooper, but it just felt like any other day to me. And so, to avoid a potential grumpy bout, I continued to question whether January 5th (or whenever your Birthday is) is a cool, important or special day, and became inquisitive instead.

The answer I came up with is: it can be. Any day can be in fact. Not just a birthday, but any day because we grow everyday, we learn everyday. Everyday has the potential to be special and important, not just birthdays.

Yeah, I sound like a dink...BUT...

Birthdays definitely are a tiny bit different, because it's a day of recognition. Everyone, no matter who you are, where you are, we all have our days, good or bad. And Birthdays are a day where we can feel a little loved again. Let me explain a little more.

I started looking at the wish of having a 'Happy Birthday', or wishing someone a 'Happy Birthday'. Many just say it because it is what is socially correct and accepted, many probably genuinely mean it too, and even if they do not, they took 20 seconds of their time, to tell you, that they are happy about your existence. They are appreciating the fact that they can speak to you or send you these words to hear or read. The very fact that they can see you physically take up space or in some way find and see you in some way. Happy is (obviously) a positive feeling, coupling it with Birthday, and a wish to someone, basically says, Happy Birth Day. Or Happy day of birth. Or 'I hope you have a happy birthday', and by extension saying, 'I hope you enjoy your day, this day, where years ago you were born and came into existence. You have every reason to be happy, and I really hope you are, because you are awesome/having you around really does have an effect.'

This ultimately donned on me, as my mother came home from work. I stood up to go say hello to her, and she hugged me tight, wished me a Happy Birthday and a healthy life while kissing my forehead. The warmth of a mother always makes you feel good, and this made me start thinking, 'Hey, today is special, my mom thinks so, look, she just gave me something that is awesome, a simple hug.' I then continued thinking and received several texts and of course hundreds of Facebook messages wishing a Happy Birthday. Some had smiley faces, some did more. One was even a paragraph, and I truly, truly loved the messages I received.

Some of my most favourite messages (without dropping any names- consider this an indirect shout out) were:
My mother giving me a huge hug, my aunt who made me lunch and cares for me oh so much, my grandmother patting my head, an attempted noogie, the paragraph I received as a wish, Antarctica, being called Gramps, Leafs win, a message from Padji, hearts, pretending to be an integral part of an office that I do not have access to, HBH's, being wished multiple times by the same person, prunes, positivity, being awesome and many of the heart felt yet simple 'Happy Birthdays'.

I truly have some outstanding people in my life.

This to me is miraculous. Not only is the fact that 20 years ago, January 5th, I came into existence. I was introduced to planet earth as a little baby, growing into an infant, child etc, but the fact that others too care. And not just for me, but you'll see on yours too, there will always be someone that cares, and says those words to you, or wishes them upon you, or would wish them upon you.

So late in the evening I figured this out, and my regular, mundane day, became that much better. It became special. I overlooked a few things and came to understand how I truly feel about birthdays. How appreciated I may be, how I appreciate others and overall, the love and care that family and friends can have for one another. It is truly remarkable, and makes every day, especially Birthdays, that much better. These birthdays, these wishes, are the reasons that every other day is worth living though, because it matters. You matter.

Yes any day can be important; but, they are all connected. It all started on that day, your day, when you were born. The importance started then, that moment, on your birthday. Everyday is potentially special because of your birthday, because you are here. And this day, your birthday, will always be highlighted in someones calendar, because you are making a difference.

I would like to thank everyone for making my 20th, a day to be proud of. You all make the world turn.