When I logged on to my computer today and saw today's date, I realized it was a special day for one of my long-time acquaintances. So, I immediately stopped and tried to reach her before she set out on her weekend activities to wish her...a Happy Birthday!
To my chagrin, her birthday was actually two days ago. We chatted about how she'd celebrated. I expected to hear her say that she'd pampered herself in some way...that she'd had a lazy day, getting up at 10 a.m...having a catered lunch etc. But she disappointed me: she'd actually gone to work on her birthday and only celebrated with a special dinner last night and by going to an annual dance tonight in her city.
I couldn't help but tell her my truth: "Your birthday SHOULD BE YOUR HOLY DAY! Why did you go to work?" She hadn't thought of taking the day off to celebrate herself, but, she said, "I will next year!"
In a way, I felt sad that this beautiful and vivacious person, who always was so bubbling with life, seems to have gotten to a place in life where she forgot herself...where she did not seem to think she was "worth a day!" This was the person who, with absolutely NO conceit, over the years always seemed to appreciate everything about herself and her life. She just knew how to be happy and to express joy everywhere she went.
I know going to work for some people may be the happiest thing to do... for some people...on that day. But for me there should be a balance between your work and who you are when you're not at work. You can love your career, as I do, but the bottom line is that despite the job, despite the husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, partners and kids, you need to appreciate yourself for YOURSELF. So how is it...that on the ONE DAY that is uniquely yours, you treat yourself like you're "nothing special!"
Well, you ARE SPECIAL! Your Birthday SHOULD BE YOUR HOLY DAY!
Most companies have flexible holidays. That's what those should be used for: taking off on a day that YOU consider important to yourself! And there is NO REASON that I can think of that ANYBODY WOULD TELL ME that his or her birthday is not an important enough reason.
Who else is going to celebrate you, if not YOU? Which company or organization when you're worn out and old would remember that you worked every day of the year, including your birthday, bringing in fine results every year...every time. You'd be lucky if they sent a representative to your funeral, which is a practice a few decent companies still do!
Don't get me wrong. It's good to be dedicated to your company and your work. And if your birthday happens to fall at a critical time in your company's cycle, then bust your a.. a little harder to get the work completed...before your birthday, so you can take off with leisure on that day.
Like I said, if you don't celebrate you ...and appreciate you...then who will?
You are somebody special; don't ever forget that! And if you don't look on any other day as Holy, look upon your birthday as that day.
Namaste',
Che'
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