I’m not one for parties.

I didn’t have a big birthday party at 8, 16, 21 or 30 and I’d rather not have one for my 40th—which is quickly approaching on the 29th of November. However, I would like to celebrate it in my own way via social media, so here’s the deal…

I want to experience my 40th birthday through your eyes.

This year, my birthday falls on Black Friday. You read that right. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. So in celebration, I would like you to take a picture of what you see. Maybe it’s the sunrise, November rain on your window, or the snow laden trees, a selfie of you drinking a frosty beverage after scoring great Black Friday Deals or your neighbors’ cropped mailbox that just shows the 40 of their address. Whatever sparks your fancy. Then, after my birthday, I will collect these photos and create one poster that I will frame and hang in my home to commemorate this day.

These pictures will become a social media snapshot of my birthday shown through the perspective of my friends and family all around the country. It will also let me know that you, on my 40th birthday, thought of me, and—sorry Black Friday— that’s better than any store-bought present out there.

So, on my birthday, Friday, November 29th, I’m asking that you take a picture and upload it to either Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or send me an email.

Tag me on Facebook: facebook.com/josephmayernik
Tag the photo on twitter: @guysm1ley
Tag me on instagram: @guysm1ley
Use the official hashtag: #Mayernik40 to ensure I get the picture so it makes the poster.

I’m quite surprised at how much interest there has been up to this point. I created a Facebook event at the top of the month and hoped for enough interest to get at least 40 photos. As of right now about 175 people, from 3 separate countries, have expressed interest in taking part in this somewhat odd social media experiment. Some I don’t even know—which is awesome. The more the merrier. The idea of collecting hundreds of photos from all over the world showcasing what people saw on my birthday encapsulated in one poster is pretty exhilarating. Since I am now anticipating way more photos than 40, I have decided to make the 40th photo I receive larger than the rest on the poster I will eventually create. This one photo will stand out from the rest and become the focal point for all the others to revolve. Since I have some very twisted friendships, that 40th photo may just be of an animals genitals, and won’t that be quite the conversation piece.

Help me celebrate. Take a picture. Send me the picture.
And make my Black Friday 40th a very special day.

#Mayernik40