A Toast To My 31st.

Posted on | April 15, 2009 | 1 Comment

me_bdaywish

Last night at my birthday dinner, I performed a simple exercise to show appreciation for a cast of characters that I call friends. Most birthday parties are usually about making the birthday person the center of attention. I wanted to do the opposite and for a few minutes, make each person the center of attention instead. But more importantly, I wanted to get a point across.

I had thank you cards being distributed to each friend. Before the dinner, I had written several qualities or a compliment on each card that I had of each friend in attendance. I then shuffled the cards and made sure that each person would be handed a card that wasn’t addressed to that person. I would then have them go around the table and read the card they were handed out loud. Everyone had to guess who the content of the card was addressing. It was fun seeing everyone trying to figure out who I was saying nice things about on each card. Of course, I realized how bad some of my friends’ power of deduction is as well. But I won’t name names.

People were genuinely impressed that I would take the time to do this on a day that was reserved for me. You may, as they did, wonder why would I do this? Because I’m a nice guy? Because I was trying to be creative? Well, not really.

You see, I had given a lot of thought as to what I had accomplished for my 30th year. As I previously said, my 30th year was my best year. I accomplished many a things that were important to me personally and professionally. And there is much more that I have not accomplished yet.

But it is also with sadness, that I look back at my 30th and realized that I lost several friends who are no longer around. I accept some of the responsibility for that. But as I always say, any relationship is a two-way street and personal responsibility must always be shared.

I realized that I should no longer focus on those that are no longer around. Instead, I should focus on some of the newer and stronger friendships that I had built and had shown up last night.

I suppose that’s one of my greatest strengths that I had come to realize of myself. It’s not so much that I have strong relationship management and networking skills but it is that I am never satisfied. I am always interested in meeting new people and developing new relationships of all kinds. I am always in search of the new cast of characters.

Which leads me to the point that I wanted to get across last night in my speech. Most people don’t know what it is about me that makes me tick. I can’t say I blame them. But if you understand the following point, then you’ll understand me to the core. You’ll understand my values. You’ll understand where I put my priorities. You’ll understand why I do everything that I do.

So while I did receive gifts last night, I also wanted to give the best gift that I know how to give- the gift of public acknowledgement and validation. That I cannot be where I am today without the friends I have made along the way. And I choose to acknowledge them publicly so that others may see the value they bring to my life.

How I value a friend is no different than I how I would value my girlfriend. I never believed in hiding my affection for someone or to keep it “just between us.” An amazing woman who embodies so many wonderful traits such as intelligence, ambition, humor, kindheartedness and more, should never be kept a secret. Why wouldn’t I want to let the world know about her?

But it doesn’t matter if it is a personal friendship, a professional relationship, or a romantic one. I would still want the world to know about you because of the value that I see in you. And that is how I choose to let others know; by spreading the word about you. I am your evangelist. That evangelism comes in the modern day role of “the connector.” It shows when I speak praise of you. It shows when I want to introduce you to another person. It shows when I invite you to something. It shows when I try to connect you to something or someone else.

Two years ago, I made a decision that my life would be lived as one big story. Because like any story, there is always a new chapter to be written, new sets of travels, and new cast of characters to meet along the way.

So on my 31st, I raise my glass and I make a toast; I look forward to the year ahead. This will likely be my most challenging year. Due to the goals and dreams that I want to achieve, I have no doubts that there will be some heartache, heartbreak, and setbacks along the way. No doubt. But this is the life that I have chosen for myself. This is the road that I decided to travel two years ago. So I hope some of you will join me for the travels ahead. I hope that I can be there for you as you would be there for me.

Let’s do this. Cheers.

Category: Me, Professional

Comments

One Response to “A Toast To My 31st.”

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