I run a small unisex salon—not fancy, just a cozy spot where we share laughs, hustle hard, and sometimes argue over whose turn it is to refill the water kettle. It’s a place full of energy, chaos, and a surprising amount of warmth.
Yesterday, my colleagues surprised me with a birthday party. Balloons floated around, a cake with way too many candles sat on the table, and a handmade card was passed around, signed by everyone. They said I’d been “so good to them” and wanted to “give back the way I give to them.” I smiled, laughed, and tried to play it cool.
What they didn’t know was this: it was the first birthday celebration I’d had since I was seven. I’ve never been big on birthdays—never made a fuss. Over time, birthdays just became another day on the calendar. Until yesterday.
Suddenly, in that small room filled with laughter and light, their kindness felt so personal, so real. It wasn’t about the cake or the decorations—it was about the thought behind it all. The quiet gratitude wrapped around me like a warm hug.
I’m not sure how to say thank you in a way that matches what I feel. But here’s to unexpected kindness, to work families that feel like home, and to moments that remind us we’re not alone.
