Rituals: How I spend my birthdays

Older, questionably wiser, and definitely less likely to give a f*ck

How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Last year at The Surf Club, Four Seasons Surfside

I’m one of the few fortunate ones whose birthday falls in December, at the end of the calendar year, in all its Sagittarius glory.

So it’s natural I would also use this time to reflect on the year I’ve had (and what a year it was) and what’s ahead.

But I don’t like to time travel too much; I have to pinch myself to stay present.

You deserve delicious bites and lots of cake on your birthday

I’m saving my juicy year-end wrap-up for my last newsletter of the year.

But in the meantime, I was wondering what you typically like to do on your birthday.

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Do you do a big “do” as the Brits say, with a celebration or party among friends and family?

Soho House, 2022

Or are you a more low-key person who prefers a quiet night indoors, perhaps with a beautifully cooked meal or movie?

(With one or all of the following: lovers, partners, children, family members, and pets)

Or maybe you just celebrate the big or round birthdays ending in “5” or zero.

Grateful for my birthdays spent with loved ones

Over the past 7 years, (because I had easily accessible photos for this period despite that one iPhone iCloud incident but we won’t talk about that) I’m really fortunate and grateful to say I’ve been able to do some of my absolute favorite things.

You deserve a beautiful bouquet on your birthday

So, a reminder to spoil yourself on your birthday. Luxuriate.

Favorite birthday activities

My favorite things to do on my birthday have included:

• Eating at lovely restaurants like Masa with the Chef Masa, or The Polo Bar in New York, or Supperland in Charlotte, or The Surf Club and La Sireneuse (RIP) at the Four Seasons Surfside

• Cooking a beautiful meal at home

• Going to art exhibitions and galleries, like the time I took a day off and went to Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit in Chelsea, or the Frick Collection in the Upper East Side

• Working (because I enjoyed doing so) which also involved packing up client Christmas gifts for my former company, Scribe

• Watching movies at the cinema (like the time I watched Carol by myself, and then Call Me By Your Name with a friend at the legendary Paris Theater or Dune in a home cinema)

• Receiving beautiful flowers

• Working out and starting the day with a morning hike, swim, long run, or bike ride

• Luxuriating in slow moments like sipping coffee and tea and sitting down with a book or other solid reading material

  

  

  Clockwise from top left: Packing client gifts, Dune, tea and the New York Times, Call Me By Your Name at the Paris, and a holiday party

However you spend your special day, please, please, please, if there’s one piece of advice I can give you: Don’t let anyone sabotage it.

I’ve definitely allowed people to push back on things I wanted to do on my day. Why?

Spend it how you want!

Simply because I didn't make it happen for myself, set a boundary, or compromised on how I wanted to spend my birthday.

I don’t like to make a big fuss, but jeez, you get one day of the year all to yourself so you’re entitled to be selfish.

What was one of your most memorable birthdays?

I’d love to know!

Hit reply and share or drop it in the comments below

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Until next time,
Shindy
On Instagram + TikTok

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