Why do people celebrate birthdays?

[Elidor]

It was a pretty traumatic event, after all. You had it made until that day. Food and water piped in. Ambient music (your mother's heartbeat). It was the ultimate crib. All of a sudden something is pushing you out. You don't know what's going on, but you fight it like hell. Ain't goin' out there! Then they grab you with the forceps, haul you out, and just in case your day wasn't bad enough already, they slap you for good measure! You lay there gasping for breath like a fish out of water. Everything is too loud, too bright, too much. And these giant monsters keep hovering over you, making scary sounds. "Gitchy-gitchy-goo!"

Yeah, it was a helluva day. No cause for celebration. Condolences would be more in order. It's like celebrating the day you got in that terrible accident on the Interstate and had to go to the hospital.

I think Seinfeld did a bit along these lines, but I've been telling people this all my life. Your birthday was probably not a happy day.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. In Catholic grade school, the nuns always said she should celebrate our saint's day instead.

i.e., the saint we were named after. My saint's day is November 22. Nothing to celebrate that day after my 14th birthday.

[Elidor]

4. Is there a saint named Jefferson?

If not, I'm outta luck. And frankly, the guy I was named after, though capable of brilliance and great humanity, was no freaking saint.

[greatauntoftriplets]

Not that I know of...

I was born in the Dark Ages when Catholic parents were supposed to give their kids saints' names. Mine is a variation of one; never heard of a saint with my name.

:)

[Shine]

2. Birthdays are for celebrating the gift of who YOU are in the world

for acknowledging where you've been and marking the passage of time, on the journey of life.

We always make a big deal about birthdays in our family. :hi:

[Elidor]

3. Oh, don't go confusing me with logic

Hehe. You are the most relentlessly positive person I've ever seen on teh internets, Shine. You live up to your username.

:hi:

[Shine]

5. Thank you for your kind words, Hardhead.

:hug: :pals: It's true, I like to focus on the positive.

Speaking of which, have you seen this little gem lately? A gift, from me, to you: :loveya:
http://theshiftmovie.com/index2.html
It's only about 4 min, but it made me feel uplifted and bit better about the world and our future. :)

[Elidor]

6. Thank you

Who is that young black guy speaking? I like his summary at the end, his pure, focussed belief. Not just belief but thought. Thought is energy. Thought is the initial manifestation of what we bring forth into being around us. And Dennis and Desmond Tutu as well. :) In the midst of all that goes on, its refreshing to see people like them giving voice to things that most political figures would never dare say aloud.

:hug:

[Shine]

7. "Thought is energy".....I couldn't agree with you more

I'm not sure who that young black man was, but like you, I was impressed and touched by his clarity of spirit. His words resonated for me.

Kucinich is the only politician I've come across who speaks to the spiritual connection we all share. I really hope his concept of the Dept of Peace takes off. It's a brilliant contribution...

:hug: