I just opened all the gifts my friends gave me—and while each item made me smile (and some made me laugh out loud), it’s the cards that left a lingering warmth I can’t quite explain.

Is it just me, or are letters and birthday cards becoming a rare kind of magic?

In a world obsessed with speed, voice notes, and 5-second replies, there’s something so tender about seeing your name handwritten, your quirks remembered, your heart seen. One card said, “You’ve always had this rare magic,” and that alone was enough to make me pause. Not because I believe it, but because someone else does.

From the hilarious hot pink card that blamed autocorrect for a cheeky typo, to the more emotional printed letter with cat stickers and photos of us together—each one felt like a hug I didn’t know I needed. They weren’t just cards. They were reminders. That I am loved in different ways by different people. That even when I forget my worth, they haven’t. That despite the chaos of adulthood, someone took the time to write me a piece of their heart.

Of course, I adored the gifts too. There’s a keychain from The Fault in Our Stars (Yes, “Okay? Okay.”), a dreamy eyeshadow palette, a silky scarf, facial sheet masks, pastel stationery, and a pouch that’s already holding all my essentials. But what stayed with me the most are the words I read in silence, the ones written just for me.

To my dear friends who made me laugh, cry, and feel known—you gave me more than presents. You gave me pieces of yourselves.

And to anyone reading this—if you’re ever wondering what to give someone on their birthday, give them a letter. Your words. Your story. Your memory of them. I promise it’ll outlive even the prettiest package.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful thing you can unwrap is a message that says:

You matter. Just as you are.

—

With all my love,

Anj ❤