24 April 2026
Question
I hate my birthday. Every time it rolls around, I just feel down... and older. On the outside, it’s all balloons and cake, but inside, I’m miserable. It’s coming up again next week, and I am genuinely dreading it. Is there something wrong with me?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. In fact, you are suffering from a very healthy case of spiritual indigestion.
The reason you feel empty on your birthday is because you’re being fed the wrong thing. We’ve been told that birthdays are for receiving - gifts, attention, the first slice of cake. But the soul doesn’t crave getting. It craves meaning.
If your birthday is just a celebration of you existing for another 365 days, it’s depressing. It’s just a countdown. But that’s not what it is.
If you have a birthday, it probably means you were born. And that is huge. Birth is G-d’s way of saying the world can no longer move forward without you.
Think about it: Billions of people lived before you arrived. Clearly, they weren’t enough. There was a specific gap in the universe that only your soul could plug. Your birthday isn't just an anniversary of your arrival. It’s a renewal of your mission.
The reason you feel down is that your soul is sitting there amidst the wrapping paper thinking, "Is this it? Is this why I was sent here? To eat sponge cake and be the centre of attention?" Your misery is a sign of your greatness. Your soul wants to get to work.
If birth means you are needed, a birthday means you aren’t done yet.
So this year, don't just have a birthday. Use it. Make it all about gifts, cake and a party. But with a twist.
The Gifts: Stop wondering what people will get you. Ask: What gift can I give the world that only I possess? Your specific temperament, your unique struggles, your sense of humour, those are your tools. Use them to make a better world.
The Party: A party is a gathering of people. Look at the people in your life and ask: Who am I uniquely positioned to uplift? What do I bring to the party?
The Cake: Cake is sweet, but short-lived. Find one sweet act of kindness, a phone call to someone lonely, an anonymous favour, that creates a lasting impact.
It’s not a piece of cake to be unique. That’s why the world needs you. You’re not finished yet, and that is the best news you’ll hear all year.
