Last year, I had written about how my birthday – 15^th October is the BEST DAY OF THE YEAR for me! It has been a year and I am year maturer and with added experiences!

Birthday is the day when you tend to get gifts in various forms – good wishes, hugs, blessings, calls from people whom I haven’t spoken for almost a year, messages from the most unexpected people, social media wishes, and few materialistic gifts too. Overall, it is always an exciting day!

I usually look at my year from last birthday to this birthday, and not from 1^st Jan to 31^st December. When I look at the year that went by, I feel – I have worked sincerely through the year at business; given time to the kids and family; inculcated good values in our kids; contributed in the family; invested time with relatives and friends; have been a good human being; and set right examples in whatever I have done. It has indeed been a fruitful year!

Hence, this birthday I thought – why should I wait for someone to gift me anything. Why not gift myself? This thought stuck a cord – and I engaged in this act of SELF-GIFTING! Being a music lover, I gifted myself a JBL Partybox 110.

SELF-GIFTING is all about doing what you love to do, without thinking about others! It is just YOU, YOU and YOU!

I feel that there are various occasions, we can SELF-GIFT –

• Birthday
• Anniversary
• Kids birthday – you have become a year old as a parent too
• Cracking a deal – I know a friend who was going to book a Hyundai Creta after a deal, but realized he deserves more. So he booked a Volvo Sedan
• Students achievement – As a teacher you have played a part too
• Resolving a situation – You mediated and solved a difficult problem
• New skill – If you’ve mastered a new skill, it is indeed an achievement
• Learning to drive
• Finding your life partner
• Launching a social cause, which has been close to your heart

The issue is that we have forgotten to celebrate. We become so busy and engaged in our routine that we feel – what is so big that I need to celebrate? Invariably we think – when I achieve something big, I will celebrate. BUT WHY?

Celebration can be done every day. It doesn’t have to be mammoth. It can be as simple as having coffee with your best friend, having your favourite food, taking extra time to listen to music, reading in nature’s lap, going for a drive by yourself, and so on!

In today’s world we are missing ourselves the most. We seem to be doing almost everything for others or to please others. In doing so, we have lost touch with ourselves.

 I have decided this year to be a year of SELF-GIFTING! I hope to see atleast a few of you embark on this journey alongwith me!