Happy Birthday

June 1, 2026

Greetings from the celebrant,

It seems like Hallmark has addressed every need in the market.  Browse through any card store and you will see a card for even the most niche circumstance.  Every milestone birthday, marriage of a gay uncle, the passing of a pet, the first day of school, celebrating Earth Day With Your Half Brother.

Every possible message.  Except for the card I am looking for.

I have bought a lot of cards over the years, and many times I am happy with the exchange, but often it feels like I am wearing someone else’s shoes; maybe it’s not ideal, but I can make it work. I realize the medium is a little limited, but too often the sentiment in the card does not adequately address what I want to say. So, like we all do sometimes, I settle for the best I can find.

But today, compromising doesn’t feel right, because what I am looking for is a birthday card I would give to myself.  Before you reach for the dictionary to look up ‘narcissist’, give me a little room to explain.

If we are going to celebrate our lives thoroughly, which is my intent, and my hope for you, we should explore every space in every day to discover the best that waits for us.  In that process we can make the most mundane experiences into something meaningful.  Maybe that includes birthday cards.

I know better than to expect too much from something as simple as a card.  All the good intentions are in the hands of those who give them, but still, I will look for a card to give myself.

On the front cover would be a picture of everyone I care about. Inside there would be a message that will take the rest of my life to write, but I will keep trying:

David, I’m proud of you.  Keep doing the things that bring you joy.  Be grateful, be hopeful, be happy.  Fill every day with the breathless moments you never want to end. Fill the pages with the words that came to you, flawed and imperfect and precious. Tell your story.

Seek light.  Sunlight, starlight, firelight, candlelight. Find laughter, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the first sip of the coldest beer, sitting on the edge of a mountain.  Find your friends, find your groove, find your purpose, find the hum that reverberates in you when you are tramping through nature. The sound of wind in the trees, the sound of water, the birds call.  Put yourself in the middle of life. Don’t settle for artificial anything.

Run. Climb. Explore. Make the interesting choices. Feel the ache of living, the challenge of trying, the chance to begin again. Be foolish, be afraid and brave, be willing, be naïve, be vulnerable. Be the best you are, for yourself and for everyone you meet.

Never underestimate the day.

Happy birthday from Your Best Friend

On all of my birthdays I’ve been lucky to have people around me to share good wishes.  I love the celebrations, the calls, and the hugs and even the cards.  The cards are symbols of what they want to share, a place to start. 

There is no simple, trite, three-rule cliché, or sing-song poem, or clever pun, that will be complete enough to wish someone a happy birthday. Especially someone as special as you,.. as me. If we want to give the perfect birthday card to ourselves, we must make it ourselves, and I realize now that even then there will never be a perfect birthday card.  Because as soon as you begin you realize it will never end, you will always want to say more. 

So that’s what I’ll do.  I am going to fill up my birthday card for the rest of my life. 

Hope this finds you celebrating,

David

This essay was written by the author and does not include Ai content.

Copyright © 2026 David Smith