Natalie Thinks

Having just turned 40 I received a lot more attention than I have in, say, the last nine years.   This led me to muse on what makes birthdays so special.   Of course it starts around the age of three – I recently observed this with my youngest. He went through the birthday somewhat taken aback at all the attention but has spent the next six months reliving it and anticipating the next one! It’s the attention we receive that makes us feel so good.   Our friends tell us how special we are.   Acquaintances and distant family members suddenly phone us and want to know how we are and what we’re doing.   We get given gifts, treated with cups of coffee or freedom from some of our usual chores.   We get shielded (mostly) from unpleasant news, arguments or tiresome tasks.   We feel good.   We feel special.   We feel recognized.   We feel loved and appreciated. And so, I wondered, what would the world be like if we treated each other more like b...