If they were me and I was you, would you've liked a present too?

I had a birthday recently.

Really, Alan? Do tell…

Yes, they come around once a year — every year, if you’re lucky. But I found myself musing: what are birthdays for, really? Beyond marking the passing of time, what do you use them for?

Traditionally, I suppose it’s a day to indulge yourself. Be spoiled, for want of a better word. Get presents. Eat cake. Blow out candles — first, of course.

But as the day approached, I started to wonder: should I be doing something more meaningful? A challenge, perhaps? A spiritual workshop? Reading a worthy tome? Marking the day with a degree of (barely deserved) gravitas? I didn’t do any of the aforementioned things, but I went to work and spent time in conversation around the growth of social enterprise — both here in Renfrewshire and more broadly across Scotland — especially in areas tied to mental health and wellbeing. And ate cake after candles…

I don’t know if this reflection is a familiar one — the tension between celebration and significance, indulgence and introspection. But perhaps birthdays should be a moment to pause, to reflect on what’s passed, and to look ahead with intention. No harm in briefly taking stock of what your passions are — not just of the years added. And yes, eat cake while doing it.

Maybe next year I’ll do that spiritual workshop, while getting get stuck into ‘Remembrance Of Things Past’… But there will certainly be, with any luck, more cake — and of course more candles.

If you’re interested in community engagement linked to wellbeing you might want to have a look at the community mental health and wellbeing fund – see here for more details:

https://engagerenfrewshire.org/engage-support/community-mental-health-wellbeing-fund.html

All the best – speak soon

Alan