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18 February 2009

My Birthday is my Deathday

"The best birthdays of all are those that haven’t arrived yet."
---- Robert Orben ----

Yesterday was the 17th of Feb, my birthday. Indeed, I'm getting old. I can't believe the candles worth more than the cake. Then again, no wise man ever wished to be younger.

Sometimes I wonder why do people celebrate birthdays? What purpose does it serve? Other than the presents and the 'make a wish' moment, birthday is in fact a depressing event. Allow me to explain why:
Birthday is a celebration of life. And why do we celebrate life? This is simply because there is death. Life is never permanent, but death is. Therefore, birthday is a celebration of death.

As humans, it is our nature to compare. As I look at my most recent birthday cake, I can't help it but to compare it with the previous birthday cake I had. Its the same everytime, I get one additional candle every year, which also means that I am that much closer to death. Perhaps birthdays are a polite way of saying: 'Enjoy your year. This might be your last'

Which comes to my next point. Presents - material things that expire faster than your life. Presents are a good way of saying: 'Awww..Don't feel so bad. Here, I have a present for you, a brand new Ipod. Look on the bright side, you get to live longer than this Ipod.'

Other than the presents, there is this other thing to look forward to. The 'Make a wish' moment, a ritual where the birthday kid gets to make a wish just before they blow out the candles. Legend has it that if you blow out all the candles in one breath, your wish will come true someday in the future. Assuming the legend is true, there is no way you can get your wish as you grow older. When you are at my age, its near impossible to blow out all 20+ candles with one breath. Bad news is, it gets harder next year. If you can't blow out all the candles this year, you can safely assume it'll be the same for the rest of your life. In short, no birthday wish will come true after a certain age.

Another point about the 'Make a Wish' moment. You may perceive this as a good thing, but not me. This reminds me of the 'Make a Wish' foundation, a foundation for children with life-threatening medical condition. [Birthday kid = kid with life-threatening medical condition. How depressing]

All in all, It was a depressing day for me. Good news is, you can help alleviate this depressing moment of mine with gifts and presents. Its always good to receive things that expire faster than me (especially things that are expensive).

In conclusion, Birthdays are yearly death reminders.
Have I changed the way you perceive birthdays?

A shoutout to the following Bloggers who wished me on my birthday. Thanks!
1) Kellaw - He wrote a birthday post for me. Check it out.
2) Curryegg
3) SimonSeow
4) Gina Yap
5) Cathy Chew
6) Pinksterz
7) Venessa Seraphina Abigail
8) Lin MeiYi
9) Evelyn Ng
10) Melissa Wong
11) David Cheong
12) Ruth Tan
13) Alison Cheong
14) Nathalia Luter
15) Kee Man
16) LayPoh
17) Caffery
18) FoonLing
19) Lisa
20) Janaki Gopikrishna
21) kruel74
22) Ahmike
23) Irvine

17 comments:

Jian Akiraceo (Miao) said...

Meow?

Omg.. didn't know it was your birthday ...

Happy birthday ya ^^

Lisa said...

happy birthday bro :D

Janaki Gopikrishna said...

hey, birthdays are to be celebrated every time to know that you are immortal. Dont worry about the candles, they are just for decoration and invite the angels. Angels are everywhere when you light the lamp.

Legal Cat said...

Had the same perception as yours dude especially when I know of a few of my friend/relatives who died on their bday. Anyway, happy birthday...

Michael said...

Hey sorry for being late. Mine is one day before yours xD .. Happy belated birthday for you and I yea!

Cathy C said...

hey..i guess i can blow the candles in one breath this year...weee~~ oh btw, when we are getting older doesnt mean we cant blow all in one breath..make it 29 years old and 30 years old, probably you can blow 3 candles compared to the 11 candles(29) ...right??lol..

Anyway, I'm sure you had a great one (getting older)? LOL

Simon Seow said...

You're welcome.

Unknown said...

happy belated birthday!

Charlie said...

My dad's name is Luter, not Luther :p

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for you. Of all the wonderful things in the world, u chose to be oblivious of it and what u have here are all cynical and hardly sarcastic posts.

No wits or watsoever, coz wat i see is tat ur struggling for a special topic and try to spice it up a little to make it look like something special. The way u've done it so far? Being cynical and running into dead-ends every single time, as if tunnel vision is wat u got.

Not tat i'm a hater or anything, but seriously dude, u gotta keep ur mind open and view things differently.

3POINT8 said...

[Jian Akiraceo (Miao)]
Thanks.

[Lisalicious]
=D

[Janaki Gopikrishna]
That is a very good way of viewing bdays. Immortals. I like that idea. I also like the idea of candles as angels attractors. Thanks

[kruel74]
My condolence.

3POINT8 said...

[AhMike]Oooo.. Happy belated bday Mike!

[Cathy]
Haha. Blowing candles are a challenge. The more candles, the more challenging it is. And because we need our lung to be performing our best while blowing candles, it discourage ppl from smoking. =D

[SimonSeow]
:)

[- i.r.v.i.n.e -]
Thanks

3POINT8 said...

[Blue]
Sorry nath. It has been corrected now. My deepest apologies

[Anonymous]
From the way you wrote, it does seem to me that you are a firm person who how certain things should be. (Some say its rigid thinking, but i'd say its the mindset of defending what you believe in)

Oh? gotta keep my mind open? Well, I think relating birthdays to death is a pretty fresh idea. (Relating bday to depression may not be something new, but relating it to death is a fresh one coz I've never seen anyone who has done this before.) (I'm considering to relate bdays to the 'meaning of life' next year)

Perhaps it is my way of writing that gave you the feeling the feeling that its cynical. Such feedback is valued because it does a few thing:
1) It lets me know that my article emits a bad vibe (bad stuff. Boo!!)
2) It lets me know that my article has the power to provoke feelings within readers. After all, it is every writer's dream to do that, to share the emotion in an article (Good stuff. Yay!!)

Well then, assuming that I have a tunnel vision, then I should start to life lessons from you. I think you have a couple of things I can learn from. Is there anyway on how I can contact you and have a chat?

curryegg said...

Good post kif and I can see your 'equation'. You got your points. It is good to remind others that we are getting nearer to our deathbed during each year birthday. It will remind us to appreciate life, people around us and enjoy the remaining days with something beneficial.

As like what you have mentioned, we shall see birthday in another perspective which at the end will give another positive thought. That's what I believe as well.. :)

So, shall I wish you... a Happy Death Day, kif?
:P

curryegg said...

Good post kif and I can see your 'equation'. You got your points. It is good to remind others that we are getting nearer to our deathbed during each year birthday. It will remind us to appreciate life, people around us and enjoy the remaining days with something beneficial.

As like what you have mentioned, we shall see birthday in another perspective which at the end will give another positive thought. That's what I believe as well.. :)

So, shall I wish you... a Happy Death Day, kif?
:P

3POINT8 said...

[Curryegg]
Thanks Kelly! You have a very positive outlook there.
=D

Annoymous said...

Happy birthday :) Merry endeavors to come!