Today is my birthday.

Once a year, you are given a unique day to celebrate you. Use this day to make a difference.

The society constructs birthday as a special day worth celebrating for. The person whose birthday it is gets to have a cake, bunch of gifts, greeting cards, a party, and lots of hugs. In many instances, the birthday celebrator just has to sit, enjoy and take.

Now, we can reverse the role. Instead of taking, we can give back. Since a birthday is a celebration of life, we need to be thanking the world for everything that we have (or have not). What about giving back on your birthday?

We can make our birthday a special day to make a difference. Here are some bright ideas that you may want to do on your birthday:

1.       Plant a tree. A tree is a symbol of life and it will grow as you grow older. It will give shade and beauty and will benefit the Earth.

2.       Write a thank you note for all the people who have done you good. You can also do this via email.

3.       Call a distant loved one and tell him/her that you care.

4.       Let the person behind you go next in line.

5.       Write a check for a charity that you received a solicitation from.

These are just some of the things that you can do. It all depends on your situation and the generosity of your heart.  

Giving comes in many forms: kind words, touch, service, encouragement. What's more, you can extend your giving by forgiving. This has never been heard of, forgiving someone who had wronged you on your birthday. But it’s your birthday – you have the license to do almost anything. Turn it into a day when you made a difference.