Happy birthday, Maya
with love from Linabest friends since 2014
Your superpowers
- Adventurous
- Funny
- Generous
- Curious
- Fearless
- Finds the best noodles anywhere
What I love about you
You say yes before you know the plan, and the plan always turns out better because you’re in it.
You remember everyone’s coffee order, their sister’s name, and the thing they were nervous about last month.
When I’m spiralling, you don’t try to fix it. You sit on the floor with me until it passes.
Moments I’ll never forget
Sunrise above the clouds
You got us up at 3 a.m. and up a mountain in borrowed boots. When the sun cleared the valley you threw your arms up like you’d arranged it yourself. I think about that morning a lot.
Night market, Taipei
Eleven stalls, one umbrella, zero regrets. You ordered in terrible Mandarin and the auntie gave us extra skewers anyway, because of course she did.
Your 29th, on the beach
Everyone was cold and the guitar was out of tune, and you danced barefoot until the fire went out. Then you made us each name one brave thing we’d done that year. Best party I’ve ever been to.
A birthday letter
Dear Maya,
Thirty. I keep picturing the girl I met in that hostel kitchen in Hanoi, burning the rice and laughing about it, and I still can’t quite believe she turned into you.
This was a big year. You left the job that was slowly making you smaller. You moved across town with a borrowed van, two friends and one very patient cat. You started saying no to things that didn’t feel right and yes to things that scared you, and I watched both of those take real courage.
Thank you for being the person I call first. For the eleven-minute voice notes. For never once making me feel like too much.
I hope thirty feels like opening a window. You deserve all the air and light in the world.
This year, I’m proud of you for
Walking away from a good salary to do work that actually lights you up.
Finishing the 10K three weeks after announcing, out loud, that you were “not a runner”.
Asking for help when you needed it. I know that one was the hardest.
My birthday gift to you
A birthday gift for Maya
One sunrise hike of your choosing. I’ll carry the snacks, the coffee and all of the complaining.
from Lina
- Valid until you turn 31
- Redeemable once
My wishes for your year ahead
Make a wish, Maya
Tap the candle to blow it out.
- More slow morningsCoffee on the balcony, nowhere to be
- A trip somewhere newPatagonia has waited long enough
- Your strongest year yetLegs, lungs and heart
- People who show up for youThe way you show up for everyone
- Time to make somethingThat pottery wheel is still waiting
- Love that feels easyNothing to prove, nothing to chase
