..... What you described is a perfect example of our existence trapped in a vicious cycle. Maybe next year for your birthday, you can call in a group of "dharma brothers and sisters" to have a Amitabha practice to dedicate all the merits to all the sentient beings who have been our Mother ever since from "beginningless time." Another way to handle this can be that you are still going to eat, talk, gamble, chat.....with your friends as you have been doing always, but maintain a high level of self awareness - YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. When the friends find out that you are "happier", "younger in your heart", "having less worries", "being more relaxed", "more inspiring", that's the invisible power of "dharma" energy you are transmitting out. I think that's wonderful too - a blessing like a shower from the sky so that everyone will be "cool!!" This will serve all the purposes of having a party. Once in a while, we do need partying!! .....