The Birthday That Wasn’t Mine — But Gave Me the Best Day of the Year

I had probably have imagined it told you some celebrations of my own or some vacation assuming you had asked me earlier before now what the most fun part of day of my year would probably look like. But you know what, life always has another plan for us just in form of unexpected surprise. As I have it, the most fun and best day of the year for me so far came on a rainy Friday evening, during my niece 4 years old birthday party.

Thought I was not the celebrant and it was not my party. It was not just anybody's birthday party. It was one of my favourite niece's. I was just that favourite uncle, showing up tired with my gift. Ready to sing the Happy birthday song, maybe take a few pictures and then...run back home to my life.

But somewhere between playing with her, blowing and tying some few balloons which some ended up getting busted along the way, doing the paper crown with her and arranging some mini cartons of kids juice, I started gaining some few strengths and I became more lively, began to smile for real. And from there, I started laughing and joking. Then I started singing all these kids songs with her. I was not just the observing uncle anymore. I was all in for everything happening.

We played some musical chairs with the other kids, danced to the music been played as our footwears sticking to the tiles on the floor littered with some drops of cake and its icing sugar. I joined them in wearing the kids costume as I wore my superhero masks chasing eachother around the house with form and paper swords. I white T-shirt was stained and wrinkled, my hair became rough but my adult worries were all forgotten completely that moment.

And I that very moment, I said to myself. This is what I needed. This is the exact fun I needed.

Even though the fun was not really meant for me because there was no planning or was it perfect. I was just the lovely moment the kids shouted with a radiant and lively laughter on their faces when some of the balloons popped suddenly. The chaotic happiness and joy of me being available, the way the children sang off key to some birthday songs, and the messy cakes on the faces of some people.

Sometimes, the most lovely and beautiful moment usually happens when we least expected, when we stop trying to invest in joy but we just allow ourselves to be part of it. Even though I was not the celebrant, but the memory the birthday gave me and the lightness was a pure gift I did not expect that day.
And genuinely and honestly, this made it the most fun part I had so far experienced this year.

Thank for reading.

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