Earlier this month, I received one of the kindest gifts I’ve ever been given.
For the past several years, I’ve used my birthday as an excuse to write an annual list of lessons and reflections. But this year, my wife Katie flipped the script on me. She secretly asked a group of people in my life to share something they had learned from me. Then she took those reflections, designed the pages, and hand-stitched them into a little book.
Opening the gift, I was blown away. It was so clear how much care and thought went into it.
As I've been flipping through the pages, what's surprised me most was not just the kindness of Katie and this group of friends, but how timely the lessons have been. So many of the notes were reminders of things I had said, written, taught, or tried to live out and, in many cases, things I needed to hear again myself during this season.
I’ve picked up that little book almost every day since she gave it to me. And each time I put it down, I feel really, really lucky.
I think most people are walking around with very little idea of the impact they’ve had on others. And we often wait too long to tell them. We're all trying to be efficient, strong, focused, etc. But acts like this go much further than a few minutes saved or another task completed. They fuel the soul, foster resilience, calm the mind, and inspire better action.
So if you're one of the folks who contributed, thank you. Truly.
And if you’re trying to celebrate someone, take a page from Katie’s book. Help them feel seen by their community. It'll cost little money and maybe a little bit of extra time. And it will likely mean more than nearly any monetary gift.
