Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to yoouuu
Birthdays don’t go away and neither should the celebrations. Yes, it’s Covid-19 time and many of us are deluged with severe Groundhog Day effects, especially when it occurs only in the confines of “home” – limited movement of life itself. Constricted to one building with just ‘footsteps’ of commute to work. Enough to develop a traumatic stress disorder that would make it sensible to go out freely into the Covid-19 community, just to feel lifelike again – contrary to the reason to be confined in a building: to save lives.
My husband’s birthday was near approaching, and as good ideas would have it, I thought of a surprise Zoom birthday party: how would that event pan out!
It is not an ideal situation but the show must go on
– Stephanie Dion
Birthdays are one’s Special annual Holiday – gratitude for life to see another birthday is really no small feat. It happens very often and is of much a measure of great fate.
So, the birthdate was approaching and I made an Agenda for the surprise online birthday party and sent the guests the invitation email. Guests were asked to have drinks and glasses to toast and display balloons or decorations.
The Agenda:
– “SURPRISE!”, said by ALL when he enters screen
– Then ALL commence the Happy Birthday song (will sing again)
– Everyone introduces themselves when called on
— name, relation to the celebrant, if friend, state where you met
– video clip and pics of the celebrant
– TOAST
– ALL sing Happy Birthday, again, at cake
– Virtual DJ session
– CLOSE
It was marvelous!
Some of these were friends we haven’t seen in about 15 – 20 years. Had we had a physical party, most of them won’t be in attendance due to distance and commitments.
What I realize is that these times taught us that there is much we can create and do virtually. Like making ‘work from home’ permanent and planning virtual functions. This outlook is occurring worldwide and I believe, in a lot of cases, is here to stay.
Covid times have given us a ‘’think outside the box” enlightenment, whether it pertains to work or events. In great ways it has changed our paradigm to using technology to ‘have a good time’ and bring people together that we won’t otherwise see physically.
I urge you, Don’t Stop the Party! In fact, who has life prevented you from enjoying – invite them in!
Life happens, and when it does priceless moments get excluded – life goes on without the joy that could be generated, except when we “think outside the box”. Let happiness reign.
Consider what measures of happiness we can have while ‘life happens‘
– June Newton