Happy Birthday.

Let me just start by saying I know I’m not great at expressing emotions. I don’t say a lot of things out loud, and I get how that can sometimes make you feel like I’m not feeling anything at all. But that’s not true. Not even close.

The way I am might make it seem like I’m disconnected or not that affectionate. But the truth is, I just don’t show love the way people usually expect. For me, it’s in showing up, being reliable, being real. That’s how I express things even if it doesn’t come with a lot of sweet words or outward emotion. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel things deeply. I do.

I care about you a lot. Probably more than I’ve said or shown. You’ve been incredibly patient with me, and I don’t take that for granted. You understand me better than most people do and honestly, that’s rare. You’ve made space for me to be myself without constantly trying to change me. That alone says a lot about the kind of person you are.

You bring balance to me. You’ve made my life better just by being in it. And even if I don’t say this kind of stuff often—or at all it’s there. You matter to me. That’s the bottom line.

So yeah, happy birthday. You deserve a good one. I might not do big dramatic celebrations, but I’m here, and I’m solid and I’m with you. That’s my version of showing love. And it’s real.