Embracing a Milestone Birthday

Whether you’re over the hill and sliding into old age or 29 and holding, milestone birthdays have a way of making you take a long, hard look at your life. But don’t let this reminder of time passing get you down, make the most of this special time in your life.

Instead of hiding from your age, embrace it and share the wisdom and knowledge that comes with the passing of time. With the right attitude, your milestone birthday becomes a time of celebration of everything you have to offer to the world.

Turn Inward

A milestone birthday can be intimidating when you measure your life by what other people have accomplished. Instead of looking outward for the measure of where you are in life, look inward. Make a list of what you’ve accomplished, lessons you’ve learned and experiences that you’ll never forget. Look to your own full list instead of comparing yourself to others.

Act Outward

Do you feel shy in the spotlight and the thought of a big birthday bash makes you cringe? Use the attention to spotlight a cause that is near and dear to your heart. Ask your friends and family to come together to support the cause in your name. From raising money for a local animal shelter to collecting items for a food pantry or cleaning up a park, you can use your birthday as a way to inspire others to participate in the causes you love.

Escape the Everyday

While you can’t escape the march of time, you can escape your everyday life with a birthday trip. Plan a special getaway to celebrate the milestone and give your self extra points if the trip crosses an item off your personal bucket list. The trip can be as elaborate and expensive or laidback as it suits your personality—just make sure it is to a destination that makes you happy.

Learn a Lesson

You’re never too old to learn something new, so sign up for a class on your birthday. Don’t be afraid to finally take to the waves on a surfboard or buy yourself a new set of brushes for that art class you’ve always wanted to take. You can even take French lessons to prepare for your once-in-a-lifetime birthday trip to France! Whatever it is that you’ve always wanted to learn now is the time—celebrate with knowledge!

Act Like a Kid

Use this opportunity to return to the activities you loved as a child. Go roller-skating at the rink or fishing. You only think you’ve outgrown the things that brought you joy as a child, but you might surprise yourself at how much fun you can still have when you act like the child you used to be.

The key to embracing a milestone birthday is to focus on making the most of the time you have with the friends and family you love. Your milestone birthday is a fantastic time to remember the past with fondness, but keep looking to the future!