Seth Godin wrote on his blog, making a comparison between birthday parties thrown for very young kids (who don’t yet care about parties) and many of our interactions in adult life:

It’s pretty clear that it wasn’t for you. It was for your parents and their circle of supporters and friends. A rite of passage and thanks and relief, all in one.

Many of the interactions we have that are ostensibly for us are actually for other people. Once we can see who it’s for, it’s a lot easier to do it well.

With my kid’s birthday last week, I’m taking it very literally, of course. She turned four, the first time birthday meant something, really.

With COVID taking out the fun of social interaction, I have to ask myself, what are the elements of birthday fun that really matter, in the time when you can’t have all the normal that you otherwise would.

Rethinking and reformatting holidays and vacations is a big agenda while the pandemic imposes its limitations. Are vacations still vacations without travel?

Disco for three, with DJ and glow sticks. Trick or treating within your own home (treasure hunt now)… Just remember who you are doing it for, and do it well.