Why I Don’t Celebrate My Birthday—And What I Choose to Honor Instead
- Marcus D. Taylor, MBA
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Well, today June 27th is the day I was born. Some find it unusual when I say I don’t celebrate my birthday. Some might say, ‘Well, aren’t you still celebrating your birthday by writing a blog about it—for clicks and attention?’ My answer to that is no. I’m not writing this to be celebrated—I’m writing it to be understood. This post isn’t a performance. It’s a personal boundary statement. It’s my way of offering honest insight into how I view most forms of celebration, including those directed at me. Whether someone knows me well or not at all, I want them to understand that my approach isn’t about rejection—it’s about redirection toward something more intentional, more reflective, and more grounded in purpose. It’s not out of bitterness or lack of gratitude. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. For me, it’s a decision grounded in reflection, humility, and conviction. Over the years, I’ve come to see how easily traditions—especially birthdays—can shift from meaningful acknowledgments to commercialized rituals of self-idolization.
Let me be clear: this isn’t a criticism of those who do celebrate birthdays. We all have our ways of marking time and honoring life. I also want to be very clear about this: I deeply respect anyone who chooses to celebrate me. That is their expression, not my expectation. I do not reject their love. I simply don’t look for it to come wrapped in a particular date.
I’ve chosen a different path—not because I reject life, but because I revere it too deeply to confine its celebration to a single day.
The Weight of a Day
In our culture, we assign heavy significance to dates. But the truth is, some of the hardest, most trying, or most beautiful days in my life didn’t fall on the day I was born. Some of my deepest needs for encouragement and connection came on days that were forgotten by the calendar.
So why wait for one designated date to give or receive love, gratitude, or acknowledgment?
I would rather someone check on me unexpectedly in April than wish me well once a year in June because the calendar told them to. True care—like true celebration—shouldn’t need a reminder.
The Temptation of Self-Idolatry
Birthdays, for many, become a stage for self-centeredness. Social media has made it easier to turn what was once a moment of reflection into a campaign of recognition. Likes, comments, gifts, posts—each adding weight to an already ego-tilting day.
But Scripture warns us against the subtle snare of idolatry, not only in golden calves or carved images but in elevating self beyond the Giver of life. Exodus 20:3–5 reminds us, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” In the New Testament, Colossians 3:5 links idolatry with excessive desire and misplaced value: “Put to death… greed, which is idolatry.”
To me, idolizing a day that centers around me feels misaligned with the humility God calls me to walk in. Celebration can become exaltation, and self-exaltation becomes its own form of idol worship.
My Birthday Month Is for Health—Not Hype
Instead of using my birthday as a reason to party, I use my birthday month as a checkpoint for my health—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I schedule my annual physical exam, bloodwork, dental checkup, mental health review, and reflect on where I stand in each area of my life.
It’s a reset, not a ritual.
By doing this, I honor the gift of life not with noise or decorations, but with stewardship. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to honor God with them. I believe that includes preventative care, self-awareness, and responsible living.
I see it as a time to assess:
How is my heart—physically and emotionally?
How is my walk with God?
Am I managing my stress, diet, and rest well?
Have I kept up with my commitments to my health and purpose?
For me, this is a better kind of celebration—one that leads to longevity, clarity, and gratitude.
Rededication Over Resolution
In addition to health checkups, I also use my birthday month for personal rededication—a practice I’ve come to value more than making New Year’s resolutions. While many people wait until January 1st to make promises they often forget by February, I take this quieter, more personal season to look deeply at my year.
I call it my New Year’s Evaluation, in a way.
This isn't just about setting new goals—I already do monthly goal reviews. What I do during this time is more spiritual. I rededicate myself to better practices, I ask God for clarity, protection, wisdom, and I reflect on how I’ve honored His Word over the past year. I also ask for grace and forgiveness for the times I’ve fallen short—and I do fall short.
This is my opportunity to refocus not just my actions, but my intentions, and realign with the deeper purpose I believe I was placed here to fulfill.
And for those who don’t share my faith? I completely understand and respect that. This process of rededication can still serve as a powerful moment of self-reflection—a way to forgive yourself, acknowledge the gaps, and recommit to doing better. Whether it’s spiritual, emotional, or practical, this intentional time makes space for transformation.
A Brief History of Birthdays
Birthday celebrations haven’t always been as common as they are now. In ancient Egypt, only pharaohs had “birthdays”—not the day they were physically born, but the day they were crowned, symbolically becoming gods (Rebounderz, 2023).
In ancient Greece, birthdays weren’t celebrated personally, but gods and goddesses were honored with cakes and candles. The Romans began honoring the births of powerful men—still excluding most common people, especially women.
It wasn’t until 18th-century Germany that we saw Kinderfest, a child’s birthday celebration with cake and candles—a prototype of today’s parties. By the 19th and 20th centuries, birthday celebrations spread to the general public, driven more by marketing and mass consumerism than meaning.
What was once rare and sacred has become common and commodified.
Cultural Norms vs. Personal Convictions
I’ve seen firsthand how tradition, when unexamined, becomes performance. And when performance becomes expectation, it loses its power.
I’m not anti-tradition. But I am cautious of rituals that center around performance instead of purpose. I'd rather a friend say, “I appreciate what you’ve poured into my life,” than “Happy Birthday” out of obligation.
Some may see this as rejection of joy. I see it as choosing ongoing gratitude over occasional fanfare.
What I Choose to Celebrate Instead
Rather than spotlighting myself once a year, I focus on the gifts God has placed in me that others have benefited from. When people grow, heal, or gain clarity because of something I said, taught, or lived—that's worth celebrating. Not me, but the fruit of obedience, discipline, and grace.
And if someone chooses to express gratitude toward me, I want it to be authentic, not algorithmic. I want it to come from thought, not from tradition.
I do not expect celebration. But I will always respect it when it’s freely given. And I’ll continue to live in a way where, hopefully, what God does through me is worth recognizing—on any day of the year.
References
The Holy Bible, Exodus 20:3–5; Colossians 3:5; Leviticus 26:1; 1 John 5:21.
Pinsker, Joe. “The Strange Origins of American Birthday Celebrations.” The Atlantic, November 15, 2021. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/history-birthday-celebrations/620585/.
Rebounderz. “The History of Birthdays.” Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Arena, 2023. https://www.rebounderz.com/the-history-of-birthdays/.
OpenBible.info. “Bible Verses About Idol Worship.” https://www.openbible.info/topics/idol_worship.
Well said and much to think about. I appreciate your perspective.