After feeling so sorry for those who had to spend their birthdays in quarantine during the first peak of Covid-19, now I’m getting added to the list of 21st birthdays featuring the Coronavirus. As someone who usually doesn’t make a big deal about my birthday, you’d think I wouldn’t be phased… wrong! I had plans to make my 21st birthday the one birthday I went all out for. However, I’m not letting Coronavirus take all my joy. Find out how I adjusted my 21st birthday plans in the middle of a pandemic.
Clocking Out
Luckily for me, my birthday fell on a Sunday this year which allowed me to have a full-blown birthday weekend. Since I wanted to make the most out of my birthday, I made sure to call out of work from Thursday through Sunday… it’s my 21st, I deserve it. To prep for the birthday shenanigans, I set aside Thursday as my day to get my beauty rest in. Now if Coronavirus weren’t a factor, Thursday would’ve started my weekend getaway, but that just wasn’t in the cards.
If you’re celebrating your birthday during the pandemic, I highly recommend taking a few days off from work to yourself. You may not be able to go out and party but you surely can gift yourself with a bit of rest.
Unexpected Surprises
Being as though I wanted to have a safe but fun birthday weekend I barely planned anything but to stay in and order food with a few friends. However, my hometown friends had a different agenda. To my surprise, I was given a quarantine celebration basket with all the necessary essentials for a 21st birthday. I may not have been able to go to the celebration but they brought the celebration to me.
Post hometown celebrations, I was welcomed by a fully decorated dorm room by my college friends. From balloons to streamers, to birthday banners and a mini self-care kit. One of my closest friends planned the remainder of my birthday weekend so that I could have a safe but meaningful 21st. Having someone put so much thought into my birthday meant the world to me, especially when I was convinced my birthday weekend was going to be filled with birthday cake and binge-watching One on One on Netflix.
If you have a friend or loved one spending a birthday in the middle of this pandemic, I highly suggest surprising them. Something as small as a gift basket with their favorite candy or drink would brighten their special day. Take it from me, without my friends’ surprises the only person I would’ve spent my birthday with would’ve been my life-sized teddy bear.
Being Thankful I made it to 21
Despite the circumstances, making it all the way to November 1st in the year of 2020 is a blessing within itself. With thousands of people losing their lives daily to the Coronavirus and the civic unrest within the United States, I’m blessed to say I made it to my 21st birthday. I may not have been able to go on my weekend getaway but all that matters is I was able to spend my birthday with those who mean the most to me and save some traveling money in the process.
If you or a loved one has a birthday or another special occasion, focus on the positives and make the most out of the situation. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed so do whatever you can to enjoy the days you have with your loved ones and remain safe while doing so.