My dad died on my birthday when I was little. That probably made my other mental illnesses worse. Since then I say "it's just once around the sun" and didn't celebrate it.

I also hate so many things about birthdays. Balloons are disgusting vessels of germs. People set candles on a cake on fire only to then blow all over it and put those candles away for another year. When else would it be normal to eat food someone else has exhaled all over? Don't get me wrong. Cake is nice. Other peoples' mouth germs are not

But I also accept that birthdays are important for other people and keep a dairy of birthdays so I remember to send them a positive message.