Birthday wishes ...

A colleague's birthday celebration today made me realize that I am really very fortunate to be working in an office with such loving colleagues. Honestly, we are all in our offices in a professional capacity, but when you think about how you probably spend more of your waking time in the office with your colleagues than you do at home with your parents/siblings/partners, and then you realize how much a part of your life these “colleagues” are!

I feel blessed to have a bunch around like the one that I do! from super-hyper Loony to crazy Zizou who swears more than she uses normal words. LOL.

And no, I didn’t write this post to get all soppy and emotional :) I do have an ulterior motive.

It was this colleagues birthday today and I relaized that mine is also coming up in just about 20 days (yay!) and it got me thinking about what I want for my birthday (in order for me to forewarn potential gift-giver, lest they end up getting me something I already have!)

I thought and thought about what I could possibly ask for on my birthday and you know what? I realized that anything I need that can be bought in a shop, Alhamdolillah, I already have.

It felt oddly unsettling to realize that, no, there really isn't anything that I want right now. Both a kind of awakening on how fortunate I am, as well as humbling in how we can crib and gripe, yet still not be in need of want for anything.

But what good is a girl if she can't pick out her own birthday gift? And that’s where Oxfam comes in. Visit http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com/.

According to their website, “Oxfam Unwrapped offers a range solutions to every gift buying dilemma, whether it be Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Chanukah, birthday or wedding gifts … all of the gifts available will help Oxfam to overcome poverty and suffering all over the world. There are over 50 great gift ideas and prices start from £5. These can be bought on-line, by phone, post or through your local Oxfam shop.

You buy a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped. You receive a card and a fridge magnet that represents the gift that you have chosen to give to your friend or family member. Someone in the developing world receives this gift. Whether it be an alpaca to earn a living from, the means to plant an allotment or safe water to drink – the result is that their lives are much improved!”

So this is a note to everyone who wants to buy me a gift this year: please buy something from Oxfam Unwrapped.

That poor family in Africa probably needs at least one nutritious meal a day more than I need a new handbag/watch/mobile phone,

THAT would be the perfect gift for me!