How Narcissists Make Everything About Them — Even Your Birthday Party
Picture this: you’re throwing a birthday party, complete with balloons, cake, and enough confetti to give a five-year-old a sugar rush. Your friends are ready to celebrate you, the birthday star! But just as you start blowing out your candles, in walks that person. You know who I mean — the narcissist, armed with a megaphone and a personal story that somehow always finds a way to eclipse your special day.
“Oh, you’re turning 30? That’s cute. Let me tell you about the time I turned 30. It was a whirlwind of international travel and spontaneous adventures. I was in Paris, and — ”
Congratulations! You’ve just entered the Narcissist Olympics, where your life events are merely the warm-up act. Suddenly, your charming birthday gathering is transformed into a theatrical production of The Life and Times of Narcissus, the Great.
It starts innocently enough. The narcissist compliments your cake: “Wow, chocolate! I love chocolate. You know, my cousin makes the best chocolate cake. I mean, hers is practically a work of art.” Never mind that you spent hours on Pinterest perfecting the recipe; it’s all about your cousin now. Forget about your personal triumphs; the narcissist has declared this a sharing zone — of their triumphs, of course.
