Do you hate birthdays?

[exelero]

I certainly do. Every time someone has it and invites the whole family to sit in a restaurant for a meal just because it’s his/her birthday. Doesn’t matter if you just pumped in 15 hours at work or you have work at 4 am the day after and it’s a Tuesday. Gotta be there show the support and whatnot.
My birthday is coming up and my GF booked a table somewhere for us to celebrate it. Told her to cancel, cuz I’m sure people got better things to do, especially on a Tuesday.
Am I just one sad or is this normal? I don’t like going out anymore and I’m only 28.
What’s you experience or opinion on this matter ?

[PositronicRay]

Hate is a rather strong emotion.

Very little hate from me, but if you don't enjoy something it's not a treat.

[parabolica]

I don't care much for my own - I never plan to do anything special on it - what I do hate is other people making a lot of faff/importance around the fact it's my birthday and I should be doing something to recognise it. I get it's a nice gesture etc but much like OP (I suspect) I really don't care; it's just another day. Same goes for new years eve tbh.

One of my friends from uni would celebrate her half-birthday (the day exactly 6 months from her actual birthday) as well as having a whole birthday month where they were out or doing things every other day for the whole 31 days leading up to the big day. It was exhausting just listening to her speak about it never mind actually being involved in it.

Horses for courses and all that.

[Waynester]

Generally no.. but I spent all of 2021 dreading my birthday in December. Why? Because I was turning 50 and was having/am having major issues with the concept of getting old. I still feel (& act according to my wife) 18, so turning 50 feels unreal. I didn’t really have any kind of mid life crisis at 40, but 50 has messed me up! But it did give me the excuse to buy 5 sport bikes

Edit. I did tell my wife and daughter..and mum, that I didn’t want any kind of party, surprise or otherwise.. but, my family couldn’t let it pass, so there was a big get together at a restaurant. It was nice, but I would have much preferred to do nothing.. just let the day pass. Sigh..

Edited by Waynester on Tuesday 11th January 16:23

[Brummiebeau]

I don't mind birthdays as such.. I just hate the fakeness of couples acting pally pally for the evening. Id rather just see the lads one night.. go out with the mrs the next and be done with it.

I have my pals birthday in a few weeks and there is 10 couples going and I'm getting anxiety just thinking about it.

[GetCarter]

One day nearer to death. What's not to like.

[liner33]

Yep told the wife back in 2020 I no longer wanted to celebrate my birthdays , it's pointless as far as I'm concerned but I'm in my fifties and grumpy

[coppernorks]

Waynester said:

Generally no.. but I spent all of 2021 dreading my birthday in December.

Edit. I did tell my wife and daughter..and mum, that I didn’t want any kind of party, surprise or otherwise.. but, my family couldn’t let it pass, so there was a big get together at a restaurant. It was nice, but I would have much preferred to do nothing.. just let the day pass. Sigh..

Edited by Waynester on Tuesday 11th January 16:23

Are your wishes generally disregarded by the wimmin in your life ?

Paraphrasing the great, late Bill Hicks,we know she keeps them in her handbag
since you met her, but does your wife sometimes occasionally allow you to wear your own balls ?

[bobbo89]

I wouldn't say I hate them, but certainly don't like to celebrate my own and I tend to find it pretty tragic seeing grown adults making a fuss over their own birthdays.

I'm of the opinion that they're for kids, big into making a fuss over my nieces and nephews on their birthdays with all the presents, cake and singing etc but when a grown ass adult expects that... bit sad really.

[McGee_22]

Yep, don't like them and haven't worked one in nearly 25 years.

It's an arbitrary number of days, much better to celebrate every 500 or 1000 days...

https://imrodmartin.com/my-days

[sherman]

Dont hate birthdays but the thought of a large family party for me fills me with dread. Im not even a big fan of going to others parties. Sitting in a cold function room being forced to be happy is not my idea of fun. I would much rather a small meal with my nearest and dearest only. If I dont speak to you for the rest of the year Im not oaying for your dinner.

[hammo19]

60 this year and off to Iceland to find the Northern Lights so no...............

[Cotty]

My freinds don't celebrate them so I don't. I just gave up on the whole birthday thing years ago, no one really cared.

[Origin Unknown]

Not hate but milestone birthdays, 20, 30, and more recently 40, result in an exceptional low for a short period. Haven't really got to the bottom of that one.

[Hoofy]

Well, I can't wait until it's over if that is what you mean.

The dreaded words... "What would you like for your birthday?" I always reply to my sister in a childish voice, "Daddy to live again." Our family has a dark sense of humour so she usually laughs.

[PH User]

exelero said:

I certainly do. Every time someone has it and invites the whole family to sit in a restaurant for a meal just because it’s his/her birthday. Doesn’t matter if you just pumped in 15 hours at work or you have work at 4 am the day after and it’s a Tuesday. Gotta be there show the support and whatnot.
My birthday is coming up and my GF booked a table somewhere for us to celebrate it. Told her to cancel, cuz I’m sure people got better things to do, especially on a Tuesday.
Am I just one sad or is this normal? I don’t like going out anymore and I’m only 28.
What’s you experience or opinion on this matter ?

Yeah, I would hate going to your birthday.

[exelero]

PositronicRay said:

Hate is a rather strong emotion.

Very little hate from me, but if you don't enjoy something it's not a treat.

Ok you’re right. Not hate as such, but it doesn’t mean anything for me.
I feel like it’s forced on me. It’s your birthday, we have to go out.

[exelero]

sherman said:

Dont hate birthdays but the thought of a large family party for me fills me with dread. Im not even a big fan of going to others parties. Sitting in a cold function room being forced to be happy is not my idea of fun. I would much rather a small meal with my nearest and dearest only. If I dont speak to you for the rest of the year Im not oaying for your dinner.

Thank you! That’s what I said and I was called boring :/

[exelero]

PH User said:

Yeah, I would hate going to your birthday.

Idk if you were paying attention, but I don’t have a party so you don’t have to come

[Zarco]

liner33 said:

Yep told the wife back in 2020 I no longer wanted to celebrate my birthdays , it's pointless as far as I'm concerned but I'm in my fifties and grumpy

I haven't really done it since mid-20s