| Perhaps you don't really celebrate your birthday - | | | | for your own rest and relaxation (or the time to |
| some people I know don't - or perhaps your | | | | do another item on this list!).o Send yourself a |
| birthday is your favorite day of the year. Either | | | | card. A few days or weeks before your birthday |
| way you will want to read this article. | | | | find a card you love, sign it and write yourself a |
| If you are a birthday lover - this will give you | | | | note. Then address and stamp the envelope and |
| more reasons to love your day. If you aren't a | | | | ask someone to mail it to you a couple of days |
| birthday fan (it just reminds you that "I'm a year | | | | before your birthday. This is a great way to |
| older today"), this article will give you a completely | | | | guarantee a card, and I promise it will make you |
| different focus for this day. | | | | smile.o Spend time with someone you love. This |
| Notice the title isn't 12 ways to celebrate a | | | | might overlap with a couple of other ideas on the |
| birthday; it's 12 ways to celebrate your birthday! | | | | list - but that's OK. What could make for a better |
| What follows are 12 specific ideas to make your | | | | day than spending time with those you care |
| special day even more special.o Eat your favorite | | | | about the most?o Make a memory. Challenge |
| food. It's your day - you deserve it. Even if your | | | | yourself to create memories today that will last a |
| favorite foods don't "go together," they do today. | | | | lifetime.o Reflect on the last year. Your birthday is |
| Enjoy!o Do a favorite childhood activity. Maybe it | | | | a milestone, so it can be a great day to review |
| was a board game, or playing tag, or doodling. | | | | your results and actions of the past year to see |
| Whatever it was, do it today! Do it as a way to | | | | how you have done and determine what is |
| reignite your inner child and your creativity. Do it | | | | working - and what isn't!o Set some new goals. |
| for the pure enjoyment. You will be amazed at | | | | Today is a perfect day to look forward, to |
| how it will make you feel.o Remember your | | | | project into the future, to set goals for the next |
| favorite birthday. If you have a particular birthday | | | | twelve months. If you don't have goals written |
| that sticks out to you, spend time thinking about | | | | down, today is a perfect day to create them! |
| it and reveling in those memories.o Laugh out loud. | | | | You'll notice this isn't like some lists you read that |
| Do something that makes you laugh with delight! | | | | make you think you should try all of the ideas. It |
| Laughter feels good and is good for you. Perhaps | | | | wouldn't be possible to do all of these things in |
| one of the other ideas on this list will make you | | | | one day. The ideas fall into a focus on your past, |
| laugh out loud - if so, great!o Give a gift to | | | | present or future - and all of them are about you. |
| someone else. We all know it feels better to give | | | | The key is to pick one that feels right to you and |
| than receive, so why not give gifts to others on | | | | add it to your celebration. It is your day after all! |
| our birthday? Consider starting with your mother | | | | Final Note: While these ideas are written from the |
| - after all she had a more memorable day when | | | | perspective of celebrating a birthday, all could be |
| you were born than you did!o Give your day | | | | used - though perhaps tweaked slightly - for a |
| away! You don't have to give a physical gift, you | | | | team anniversary, company anniversary or other |
| can give your time - to someone you love, to a | | | | organizational milestone date. |
| charity or whatever you wish! Make your day a | | | | Oh, and one last thing. You don't have to wait for |
| gift to someone else.o Give yourself the gift of | | | | your birthday to do any of these things. You are |
| time. Sometimes our days are so packed with | | | | alive and you can celebrate for that reason using |
| events and tasks that we don't have time for | | | | any of these ideas you'd like. You have my |
| ourselves. Consider giving yourself the gift of time | | | | permission. |