(Painting by Akiane Kramarik)

I had to write this post because posts like these don’t get written enough.

Today when I saw all these people lining up to congratulate you to another year of ‘you’, I wasn’t half as surprised as you were. Truth is, you work too hard at being a good person to realise how many people you impact. Today they paid tribute.

That means something. You hate tooting your own horn but so what? It’s your birthday, it’s a celebration of you being born, and the years you’ve lived so far. And overall you’ve done a fine job.

You’re gorgeous. Not every morning, especially after you’ve spent night processing thoughts and feelings into journals, not every evening when you’re red eyes are too tired to take in more and you’re make up isn’t where you painted it on earlier because you’re too impulsive to keep your hands off your face. But no matter what time of day you’re always beautiful, because you’re beautiful inside.

You’re talented. There is no denying it. Many things other people have to work hard for, come to you easily. They never seem that way of course, because lets face it, you’re a perfectionist. Remember how you used to complain about how the only thing you seem to be good at is ‘being kind’? Remember how you used to say that one can’t build careers, can’t make a life out of that?

You have more than your career. You have a career, you have a family that loves you, you have a beautiful home, you have friends that never let you down, you have so many things that fill your heart with joy, little things and big things, and best of all, you now understand that ‘being kind’ is much more than what you thought it was back then.

You got cards, phone calls, e-mails and hugs today, but you know there’s one present that beats them all. It’s being able to see beyond them and notice the light shine, from the ones who honoured you with their gifts, but also around them and far beyond that, to the people who forgot, who didn’t know or don’t know you until it merges with everything this Earth holds.

It’s the same light that shines from within you.

Happy Birthday Girl!