So I keep getting all these birthday notifications in Facebook and I have mixed feelings. As usual…
On one hand it feels super cheesy of me to wish someone a happy birthday just because Facebook popped up a notification telling me to do so.
In fact, it feels a bit like I’m insulting the person in a way. “Hey, I don’t care about you enough to actually remember your birthday, but I’ll go ahead and throw up a ‘like’ or a comment if my phone taps me on the virtual shoulder.”
On the other hand, it IS nice to feel remembered on your birthday, and so few people keep a real calendar with actual birthdays written on it anymore. And even if they did, is that fundamentally different? If the only reason you wish someone a happy birthday is because you jotted a note on your calendar?
My conclusion then goes like this: I’m not going to feel obligated to wish people a standard “happy birthday” every time I see a notification. BUT I am going to take 60 seconds to think about that person and see if there’s something positive or meaningful I have to say to them or about them.
And if I do, then I’m going to post it along with the typical “happy birthday.” And if I don’t, I’m keeping my virtual mouth shut. That way I feel like even though the reminder was automatic, the sentiment and thought are real. I feel much more authentic about that. And hopefully, the things I say will mean more to people because of the thought that went into them.
How about you? How do you feel about the plethora of birthday notifications?
