That was a screenshot from a group I’m in and it wasn’t from me. 
I saw this post yesterday in a dad’s group. I looked through some of the comments and there were a lot of “happy birthday” comments, but there were also a lot of “I thought I was the only one” type of comments.
So, what is going on that many men are not feeling seen, heard, and understood even on their birthdays?
While it would be easy to blame family and friends for not acknowledging his birthday, it seems to me that this is actually coming from this man himself.
What I see is a man that doesn’t value himself. Every year, he downplays his birthday and tells his family and friends not to make a big deal out of it. He trains them, over time, to forget his birthday or just not really acknowledge it. Inside, he really wants to be acknowledged, valued, and validated, but he acts like it doesn’t matter.
Now he’s talking like he should just “shake it off” because that’s what a grown man does. I even saw some comments saying that he should just get over it. Terrible advice.
Listen men, if you don’t value and respect and honor yourself, don’t expect anyone else to. Boys minimize themselves around others to get pity and attention from others. It’s a needy, victimy way to live. It’s also a form of manipulation, and it shows how powerless you are.
Men know what they’re worth, go after what they want, stand up for themselves and those they love, and fight for what they believe in. Others can honor a man like that, but it’s hard to show honor to someone who hates himself.
Want to know why nobody is acknowledging you on your birthday? Start looking internally. The problem AND the solution are always inside of you.