COLOMBO : All of us have celebrated at least one birthday which was dampened in some way or the other by the pandemic that is wrecking the world at the moment.
Birthdays can be a touchy affair; the birthday girl or boy loves the attention and yearns for it. Those around want to be a part of the birthday and show how much they care by showering hugs and kisses – but then, there is this wretched pandemic.
Here are a few ways to make them feel special without getting between them and their good health.
01. Clasp Your Palms
If it is an acquaintance or a colleague, the best would be to clasp your palms the same way you do to say ‘Ayubowan’ or ‘Vanakkam’ and say ‘Happy Birthday’ with as much enthusiasm and warmth as you can muster. The birthday girl or boy would thank you for maintaining social distance, but it is up to you to convey your heartiest wishes in words to make up for the lost hug.
02. Give Air Hugs
As hilarious as it may sound, this is one of the most sensible things to do in this day and age to those who are near and dear. Stand the prescribed distance away from your loved one and mimic the action of giving a hug. The thought should warm you and make you instantly closer to that person – safely! Of course, the true feeling of a birthday hug is not present, but then, this is the new normal right?
03. Pat Them on the Back
A slight tap on the back with the back of your palm is another relatively harmless option that you can consider. Catch the birthday girl or boy’s attention, wish them well and give a light pat to show them you care and are fond of them.
04. Send E-Cards
Since visiting or gathering is not always possible now, in addition to sending a message or giving a call, take the effort to send an e-greeting. This shows the birthday girl or boy that he or she matters to you and that you would go the extra mile to do something for them. There are plenty of good sites that allow you to prepare customized cards and email them at no cost.
Till I return with ‘Full of Etiquette’ next week, stay safe!
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Praveeni Jayasekera is the Founder and Editor of fullofetiquette.com; she is a regular advocate on the subject. She is an ACMA, CGMA; holds a BSc. Economics and Management; PG in IT and Diploma in Social Sciences. She is employed full time in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer at CL Synergy (Private) Limited; a Sri Lankan freight forwarding company. She is an ardent fan of the written word and has compiled content for numerous websites for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, corporate profiles and blogs. She has experience in training corporate professionals on customer service and business etiquette. She conducts coaching sessions on etiquette for school children every now and then.
