Today’s is my birthday, and there are no gifts allowed.
I used to love January, because that’s when many people ask me about gift ideas. But this is changing. Starting this year, thank you so much for the offer but no more gifts. If you insist, let’s go out and celebrate together.
Experience and friendship is much more valuable than stuff.
If I have my way over the next ten years, I hope to cultivate my relationships with everybody around me. Whether it’s family, friends, or my readers (that’s you), I want to get to know you better and help so we can both enrich our lives together.
I have put way too much importance on stuff, and that needs to stop immediately.
Do me a favor, and think of everything you’ve ever gotten. How many can you really remember? Now, think of all the experiences you’ve had, whether it’s a trip somewhere or even a nice dinner with several close friends. Who needs stuff when you can spend time enjoying an experience that will forever in your memories?
Stuff never last, but relationships can (if you work on them).
Tonight, with the help of Emma, we invited many friends to help celebrate with money we’ve saved up. Hopefully, in ten years, my business could grow to a point where I can just have an open invitation to all of you.
Thank you for your daily support, and please help me get to know you better by contacting me whenever I can be of help.
{ read the comments below or add one }
Welcome to “The 30 Club” — I joined last April myself 🙂
Happy belated birthday.
Lakita
Bucksome and Aaron: Thank you for your wishes.
Happy Birthday David.
Hope you are spiritually fulfilled in your life.
Please accept my belated birthday wishes. Hope you have a good one. I’m not as evolved as you; I still love presents.
However, I totally agree that experiences are so much more valuable than things. The last ten years my siblings, parents and our spouses have taken vacations together (mostly cruises) and these are some of my best memories.
Your B’day is 3 days behind mine. After 30, it’s all down hill from here 🙂
Thank you, but I happen to think that this decade for me will be great. 🙂
Whoever said it’s all downhill after 30 must be UNDER 30…. cuz let me tell ya…. EVERY decade has gotten better and better 🙂 Whoohooooo…. You young’uns have NO clue how good it gets. 🙂
55 here… 🙂 and Luving Life.
Happy Birthday. You are so right about experiences over stuff. It’s the memories and relationships that have lasting value that you can’t put a price tag on. Enjoy your youth. Yes…the next 10 will be faster than the previous.
Minority Fortune, Tony, Jane and Ken: Thank you.
I will definitely enjoy it as much as I can.
Happy Birthday David..
Enjoy your party.
Happy Birthday man.. Yes, stuff is nothing when comparing with relationships.
Happy Birthday. We wish you the best. Love the no-stuff policy.
One tangible thing, to me, is worth having tho – pictures 🙂
Take photos of the party – of the friends….
then when you need a pick-me-up day you have the photos to
jog your memories of the good friends you have and the great
times you have had together, and the great support system you have.
And Happy Birthday.
Sounds like your values have grown up too 🙂
Photos are indeed awesome. And best of all, it’s free.
Thanks.
Happy birthday.
CD Phi, Judith, Joseph: Thank you.
Happy birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. On a side note, that is so true…I’d rather make memories with those I love rather than receive gifts that I’ll probably forget about as sad as that sounds..
Happy birthday. Whenever the word experience comes up I always think of traveling more.
Thank you. Then you should go enjoy your life while you can.
Happy Birthday.
I’m an experience person, too. I’d rather go places and do things, with people I like, than have a bunch of stuff I don’t need.
Mandy: Thank you.
Miranda: Exactly. If the money we were going to spend in something we will end up throwing into the trash can, why not help make your friends happy by sharing an experience with them too.
Wow Happy Birthday. Thanks for sharing.
Happy birthday to you. I want an invite when you are 40.
CD Rates Blog, Charles84: I look forward to meeting the both of you too. Anytime you two are in Irvine, CA, just let me know and we can go hang out.
Happy Birthday. Kids especially make the time fly. Treasure every moment.
Looking forward to the 40 and meeting you. :O)
cd :O)
Happy birthday… (it’s my daughter’s too) You’re so right about experiences. I’d much rather have a good time with friends and family then get another “thing” that will sit around for a bit. A true relationship lasts so much longer and is so much more satisfying.
Sandy, luda: Thank you
FFB: Thank you, and now you have no excuse not to remember mine 🙂 Relationships are so much better.
Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday.
Wow, happy birthday. Got a whole new decade ahead of you. How exciting. 🙂
Thank you for being a part of it.
Happy birthday. Didn’t realize you were only 29 up until today. Keep on forging ahead young buck. You’re 30’s will go by 30% faster than your 20’s.
Thank you. I realize how time flies faster as I age too but I will enjoy today.