A Birthday Wish, and a Call for Kindness

Today is my daughter’s birthday, a day meant for celebration, joy, and love. Like any child, she deserves to be recognized, congratulated, and surrounded by warmth as she marks another year of her life.

Yet there is a painful truth that accompanies this day. Some people choose not to offer birthday wishes simply because she is different. Their silence is not accidental—it is a reminder of how easily compassion can be withheld when someone does not fit society’s narrow expectations.

What those people fail to see is who she truly is. She is not defined by difference, but by her spirit, her resilience, and the light she brings into the lives of those who take the time to know her. She laughs, dreams, and loves just as deeply as anyone else.

A birthday should never be conditional. It should never depend on appearance, ability, or circumstance. It is a celebration of life itself, and every life deserves to be honored with dignity and respect.

This message is not written in anger, but in hope. Hope that kindness can outweigh cruelty. Hope that people will choose empathy over judgment. Hope that one day, no child will be overlooked simply for being different.

Today, we celebrate her—not just her birthday, but her courage, her heart, and her right to be seen. And that, above all else, is worth celebrating.