The Greatest Birthday Gift

Tomorrow is my birthday; I turn 33.

I know, I know. I don’t look a day over 23. Aww shucks. Stop it.

And in this article, I’m going to tell you what the best birthday present I could receive is and how I encourage you to do the same.

As I go into my 33rd lap around the sun, I have many lessons I’ve learned along this wonderful journey that I’ve been able to experience. And I am so grateful for the journey that I am still on.

Yet gratitude is a funny thing, isn’t it. It can be so hard to see at times. Our little negative voice can seem so loud, so often hiding our gratitude.

In search of creating more and more gratitude, I’ve worked on writing lists, reminding myself throughout the day in little moments, and being mindful of my experiences.

Yet Andrew Huberman uncovered something extremely profound, which he shared in a podcast of his that:

It is more potent for us to receive gratitude from others, to internalise it through story than to recognise it ourselves.

And often, I think, we exist in this world where we see ourselves differently than others do.

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Back in 2014, while I was playing at Sussex CCC, we did an exercise where we had large sheets of paper around the room with our names on them.

Each player was given a pen, and we went around the room, writing something positive on each piece of paper. The great thing was that the paper was rolled up from the last person’s answer, so no one could see what the last person wrote.

The answers I got, still to this day – 8 years on. Give me goosebumps even now.

The Best Gift

Similar to Christmas, on your birthday people always ask, “What are you getting?”, “What did you get?” to find out what gifts others got for you.

However, I really struggle with gifts. Receiving them. It’s not my love language.

If you have ever studied your love languages, I encourage you to do so.

They have altered my world for sure!

Out of the 5 love languages: gifts, quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, and physical touch.

Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, and Quality Time are the three big contenders in my life.

Therefore, for my birthday this year I’m asking for one gift.

I’m asking my friends, family, followers, and you guys for:

A story or moment when I’ve positively impacted your life.

Either reply to this email or enter it in the form at the end.

It could be one sentence or way more.

I don’t do this because I want to inflate my ego. Not at all.

Life is challenging.

And like you, I face negative voices in my head too, daily.

I know that these messages will provide an armoury of positive affirmations for those tough days, and build towards telling yourself your best-self story in times of need.

To feel gratitude and pride in yourself because you’ve heard it, had it recognised and valued from others.

I know that if the exercise with my old team can still inspire me after all this time, then this exercise could have as big an impact in my life.

Hence why I encourage you to do this exercise for yourself!

Whether it’s now or waiting until your own birthday.

I hope you get some great messages that stay with you for years to come and build a positive self story for yourself.

My Birthday Ask:

Send me a story or moment where I’ve positively impacted your life. 

Whenever you're ready, consider:

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