I can relate.. It was a mixed bag when I was a kid. I celebrated my b-day on my dad's side & my mom was in the same cult, nothing celebrated at all. I got away from the religious crap in my teens and I celebrate my b-day and anyone who's close to me. Its a day of birth and being born on many levels. One should recognize that and be happy and treated like a kind or queen as they should be

I have a hard time with celebrating any holiday or my birthday. Getting gifts or expecting gifts... what a hassle. I get what I need when I need it and if I know someone, friend or family, needs something I'll get it for them. I don't wait for a holiday or birthday to do it. It's stupid. Waiting to give someone a gift because of a day on a calendar. Fuck that. And the only reason for me to show up at a gathering for a holiday or birthday is so I can get to see people I miss. Mind you, most of my family isn't really religious, most believe in something, but it's not a big deal when I don't hang my head in prayer before dinner or whatever. All that shit is irrelevant. I don't care what the holiday is when I get to see everyone. I care about seeing everyone. Just so happens to be on a holiday. Which is really, really stupid. I see where you're coming from splittingzero.

I was raised Catholic, but find nothing interesting about birthdays. Just living for another year doesn't seem important, what you do in that year is what counts.

Maybe if they were every 5 or 10 years, but I know some people who have to have a party every year. That just doesn't do it for me.

I was also raised JW, no birthdays every other year. Catholic on alternate. I celebrate it now. I acknowledge what I have accomplished in the past year..and CAKE!

Fascinating … and so difficult to imagine.. I suspect the capability to contort our minds is in large part how we evolved, we’re apparently quite socially malleable… Always leads me to the question I’ll ask, occasionally the ‘JW’s’ -- if god were real, would not everyone feel ‘his/ it’s’ presence within them? If you can’t even feel a birthday approaching, what are we hardwired to be aware of? …other than our propensity to procreate

Me, I’ll volunteer for holidays ...all peaceful and alone.. While half the world's going nuts And birthdays, just wish they’d slow up...

So that means you are totally free to create your own reasons to celebrate when you feel like it !

Actually, when I stop to think about it - we all are !

Yeah, it's all in how we're brought up.