Now I don't know what to do, and I'm miserable. Going around in Circles Somewhere in Israel Dear in Circles, If something that hasn't bothered you until now is suddenly the source of so much distress, you need to look beyond the proposed party to understand what is going on. That you have always been a part of many different circles of friends is not necessarily a reason to feel sorry for yourself. On the contrary, it could easily be viewed as something positive - as a sign of your ability to make and sustain friendships with a variety of people, rather than being limited to a safe, finite group. That you choose to see it in a negative light at this particular juncture is revealing.
Birthdays are like other holidays, but worse.
The thoughts of, preparation for, and anxiety surrounding certain predetermined calendar dates on which one is supposed to have a good time often lead to precisely the opposite. Birthdays, therefore, are private landmarks. And how painful or joyous they are depends on our emotional and spiritual state at the time they approach. When we are uplifted, our birthday can serve as an excuse for partying or self-pampering. When we are down in the dumps, our birthday is likely to feel like a sad reminder of our not being whom, what, or where we had hoped to be by a certain age.