Dear Young One,
Happy birthday, Asanda. ❤️
I honestly don't know where to begin, because somehow, in less than a year, you've become someone who means more to me than I expected.
When we first met, I obviously didn't know how much I would come to appreciate you. I didn't know that the person I was meeting would become someone whose presence I'd genuinely look forward to, whose stories I'd listen to, whose laughter I'd remember, and whose life I'd find myself caring about.
And that's what I appreciate about you.
You're a yapper and you know you are. 😂 You can take the smallest thing and somehow turn it into a whole story. But somewhere in all that talking, there's a person who is funny, expressive, warm and full of life.
You're a believer. You're caring. You're ambitious. You're playful and bubbly, and you have this way of making people feel like there's always something happening when you're around.
But beyond all those things I could list, I think what I appreciate most is simply the person you are.
You're a genuinely good person, and I have a lot of love and respect for that.
I'm also grateful for the timing of our meeting. Life happened to put us in the same place at the same time, and somewhere along the way, you became part of my life. Not because of where we met, or what we were doing, but because of who you are.
And I hope you know that.
I hope you know that you are appreciated.
I hope you know that the person you are today is already worth celebrating, even while you're still becoming everything you're meant to be.
On your birthday, I don't just wish you a good day. I wish you a year that gives you reasons to be proud of yourself.
I hope you achieve the things you've been working toward. I hope you discover new things about yourself. I hope you laugh until your stomach hurts, have conversations that last far too long, meet people who genuinely value you, and create memories you'll look back on with a smile.
And when life gets difficult, I hope you remember the person you are the believer, the caring one, the ambitious one, the funny one, the playful one, and yes, the yapper. 😂
Don't lose those parts of yourself.
Thank you for being you.
Thank you for becoming part of my life.
And thank you for being one of the unexpectedly beautiful people I've had the privilege of meeting.
Happy birthday, Young One.
I hope this next chapter of your life is everything you deserve and more. ❤️
