Let’s think about this for a minute. Last year my birthday was on a Tuesday. Like, could it have been ANY more boring?? TUESDAY. What did I do that day? Um….. basically what I do EVERY DAY, took care of my kids, worked, cooked, cleaned. Maybe I did some errands, I don’t even know.

Did ANYONE aside from my family, close friends, and my lovely FB friends who wrote to me, give one crap about my birthday? No. The answer is no and you know why? Because I’m adult. And as adults we aren’t running around town exclaiming it’s our birthday, so really it’s a nonevent.

If you’ve followed me on Facebook, you will have seen I recently posted an obnoxious amount of pictures from my latest jaunt to Beaches in Turks and Caicos. I was there on my birthday with my husband, kids, and our friends with their kids.

Let me tell you what I did in paradise ON my birthday this year. I went running at whatever pace I wanted, wandering around the resort and having nowhere to be. I took pictures for work and tried to memorize what everything looked like. I sat and watched the ocean. I walked on the beach. I thought about nothing; not one thought, just watched the waves.

Then we started off breakfast….with a mimosa, obviously. When I told the waitress it was my birthday she gave me the biggest smile of anyone so far on the vacation. This is when I realized there was an opportunity for random people to actually give a shit about my birthday! So I just started telling everyone. EVERYONE.

Here’s where the real fun started…Jomo at the swim-up bar made us shots, the poolside waitress exclaimed it was her birthday in a few days and posed for a picture, and the hostess at the pizza place danced with cupcakes perched on her head while bringing the entire wait staff over to sing.

Later in the afternoon we sat and watched the sunset while the kids ran on the beach. I soaked in every minute and truly felt very lucky. At dinner our hibachi chef sung, ordered us saki bombs, and the staff came over to sing. Minus the drinks I felt like I was 10 years old. There’s really nothing like feeling extra special on your birthday!

What made this even more special was we went with friends that we love – and who love us! Vacationing with friends can be a tricky path, you have to find people you mesh with!

So grab your pals and head out of town on your next 365th day around the sun. Whether it be a getaway with the girls, a guys’ golf trip, or a family vacay – do it. Make the effort. YOLO!

Most importantly, don’t let a random Tuesday ruin your next birthday.

p.s. I actually just realized Mike gave me an awesome surprise party for my 40th birthday last year so this entire article is now based on lies. Oops. In keeping with my original thought, the party was actually on the Friday AFTER my birthday, so my boring Tuesday birthday still holds true. Let’s just say aside from someone throwing you a party – if you are an adult you should go on vacation on your actual birthday to maximize the fun!

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel