By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Happy Birthday! Two words most people love hearing. It is a celebration of life, which now, due to COVID, the world is grasping on to, as people are finding new and creative ways to celebrate special events since large scale, traditional celebrations have been put on hold for the time being.
Bobbi Alstyne, a bartender who turned fifty this year, which by all accounts should be a milestone celebration, has taken this year in stride as it has presented more pessimism than optimism.
“I look at it as just another day,” says Alstyne. “I pretty much worked on my birthday, which was a bit of a blessing because I haven’t been able to work at least four to five months out of this year due to the virus. So, working was my gift.”
The global pandemic has caused many to cancel their celebrations as people are increasingly being told to stay inside and maintain social distancing. However, if you choose to host a birthday event for yourself or family members this year, you can still make these modified celebrations smart, safe and sentimental. You can do this by adhering to all of the local public safety regulations like limiting the number of attendees, handing out hand sanitizer, wearing masks, social distancing, and/or holding a virtual event.
“I had plans for Las Vegas and of course life changed this year,” says Alstyne. “It is just too dangerous and risky, so I am going to postpone and pray that next year will be different and have like a retro celebration, celebrate getting younger by celebration my 50th next year.”
For Sharon Williams, who was born on Dec. 7, 1941 – the same day that Pearl Harbor was attacked, each successive year of life is a milestone and a testament to one’s survival skills and life expectancy. But this year, due to the pandemic, Williams like many other seniors is focused more on staying out of harms way, then having a big birthday celebration.
“I am 78, and my mother passed at the age 78, so God willing I am going to reach 79,” says Williams, a retired educator with Seattle Public Schools. “79 is going to be a good year. Hopefully this pandemic is coming to close, it slowed me down quite a bit. I’ve been in the house, my husband is taking good care of me, when I do go out I wear a mask. I have a little anxiety every now and then but because of the pandemic everybody is experiencing a little of that, but I’m feeling good.”
While the importance of birthdays should not be understated, Anttimo Bennett, a minister in the U.S. Air Force, who turned 39 earlier this week, believes that COVID-19 has forced people to think about their approach to living on their birthdays. According to Bennett, his birthday this year was a time to celebrate, reflect and give thanks.
“It really has been a time to kind of reflect and not take for granted those close to you,” says Bennett. “Because of the virus, I have been able to appreciate the quality time with my family, all of us sitting on the couch, watching a good movie, I am thankful for these types of moments.”
“I was feeling like I wasn’t missing a whole lot because I wasn’t planning on anything big,” Bennett continued. “My plan this year is to take family photos, coordinate our look and this is kind of big [to me] because it has been awhile since we’ve taken a family photo and with COVID it gives us a way to celebrate.”
Likewise, Williams expresses the importance of being thankful, feeling blessed, and reflecting on the positive.
In a world with over 7 billion people, there is an average of 14 million birthdays each day. How important is a birthday? A birthday is day most fit for divine contemplation of life, living and human values – love, kindness, goodness, wisdom, truth, which marks with spiritual significance the deep meaning of our humanness.
With new COVID restrictions in the state imposed by Gov. Jay Inslee — including the prohibition of indoor gatherings with people outside of your household unless they quarantine for the fourteen days (14) prior to the social gathering or quarantine for the seven (7) days prior to the gathering – birthday celebrations this year will be different for many people, but they are grateful to be able to celebrate, in any capacity, another trip around the sun.
“It been a little tough this year, but I am thankful,” says Williams. “I’m doing great, my hair is getting longer, I have lost a few pounds and that’s a good thing but all in all I feel blessed, I’m exciting about turning 79 and I’m looking forward to having and celebrating life with family.”
