Dear Chris,
Random fact you do not know – you share a birthday with my Dad (more on that later).
So, you’re 28. You’re a freaking spring chicken, you realise? Stop whining about your aging and celebrate your most excellent of pinnacles. Yes, 28 is a pinnacle year. Deal with it 🙂
Truth is, 28 is bound to be a year of growth, more learning, adventure and yeah, have to say it, hard work.
But that, that is not ever something you’ve feared.
Happy birthday, my friend.
Thank you for being a voice of reason that I often need, in life and work alike.
Thank you for being a sounding-board, a friend, a confidante. Someone who will listen to me whine at 1am over Skype, and pull my head together.
Thank you for pushing me in the right direction, paved with honesty.
Thank you for “skooling” me. You know I secretly blame my happiness on your ability to see past my fears, and urging me to get real about aspects of my life I was too scared to get real about.
Thank you for believing in me, beyond what I believed.
You are a good friend, a kick-ass colleague and absolutely brilliant at being you.
p.s. Thank you for sharing a birthday with someone who was all these things for me, and so much more.