Getting deep about dumb stuff
Why You Should Make Peace with People Who Forgot Your Birthday
Here’s what science says about a topic we’d rather leave to 12-year-olds
A friend’s birthday is January 1. At least, according to the Facebook notification I get every new year. And every new year, without fail, she laughs at those who don’t know that her birthday is actually February 17. She doesn’t care too much about her birthday.
Many, though, take their own birthday more seriously than they’d like to admit, so when you forget to wish your friends and lovers a happy birthday or anniversary, you’ll know about it one way or another. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a text saying, “Didn’t you forget anything today?”, a not-so-subtle subtweet, or a full-blown scene.
Disappointment, scorn, resentment, or some other negative feeling often coats how we show someone that they forgot an important day. Those who forget also beat themselves up for not remembering, because more often than not, they do care about the person celebrating. To stop this constant feedback loop of negative energy over an event meant for celebration, let’s take a look at the science behind forgetting.
