I have not had a birthday party in seven years, and do not plan to change that anytime soon. It is not that I have having a birthday party, it just doesn't do anything for me. I like attending friends' birthday parties (to certain extends, at least), but since I prefere being by myself, having a party would feel more like a service to my friends than to myself. So, in a weird, Aspie way, I am celebrating my birthday by not celebrating it, if that makes any sense. Also, I hate being surprised, and I absolutely HATE getting presents. That is really something I hate. Not that I would not be thankful, in fact, I am most of the time, but I hate surprises, and to me, it just feels wrong to get presents by achieving... well, nothing, other than existing. I also rarely buy birthday presents for friends, but for very different reasons; I do not force my views on other people, and since it is a commonly accepted gesture to give a present, I have nothing against it in general. Most of the time, though, it just feels forced. I don't buy a present just to buy a present, to have a present to give because people expect me to. I also never ever give people money as a present, something that is actually quite common here in Germany. A present, to me, is something to show my appreciation of a friend, our friendships and what defines the person. In this regard, if I come pass something where I think "Whoa, that's it! This is the perfect present for my friend XY, he's gonna go crazy if he gets this!", usually I buy it if it is within my financial possibilities, though I am willing to spend the more money the more I think it is an appropriate present.
24 Jul 2011, 8:32 pm
