Happy 25th birthday, my love. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to see you reach this moment — this beautiful, rich stage of life.
Figure 1: Always stylish, Coit Tower, San Francisco
I remember holding you in my arms, this tiny bundle of wonder, and even then, I knew there was something extraordinary about you. And now, here you are, independent, strong, thoughtful, radiant, and entirely yourself.
Figure 2: Butterfly effect, but make it fashion, NOPA San Francisco
Twenty-five is a powerful age. You’re building your life on your own terms, but you’re also learning, shifting, becoming. There’s no one way to live a meaningful life. But there are a few things I hope for you to carry with you always:
Figure 3: A Fairy in her element, Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Explore the world. Travel, change your surroundings, meet people very different from you. Try things you’ve never imagined. Wisdom doesn’t only come from books. It comes from experience, from being lost, and from being found again.
Figure 4: Catching moments, AT&T Park, San Francisco
- Enjoy the moment. Life will shift. Some friends will marry, some will drift, jobs will change, responsibilities will grow. But joy lives in the present. don’t wait for the perfect time to be happy.
Figure 5: Regal in splendor, Delhi India
- Know your worth. The world will sometimes try to measure you with the wrong scale. Don’t let it. You are more than any job title, relationship, or mistake. You are enough, always.
Figure 6: When the lawn becomes the runway, Livermore CA
- Organize your life. Have a vision, plan ahead. Even if the plan evolves. Being intentional gives you power. You don’t have to control everything. But without direction, it’s easy to feel lost.
Figure 7: Bubbles today, possibilities tomorrow. Delhi, India
- Own your time. Most of the world is caught in the loop of chasing short-term rewards and instant gratification. Be patient. Embrace simplicity. It’s easy to get distracted by shiny things like flashy clothes, expensive jewelry, mindless spending on luxuries you can’t maintain. But living well within your means, saving, and investing wisely, that’s how you build the freedom to do what you want to do, not what you have to do.
Figure 8: Flying in the wind, Shoreline Lake Mountain View
- Stay playful. You’ve always had this beautiful lightness in you don’t let the weight of the world take that away. Laughter, silliness, curiosity. They’re not childish. They’re your soul staying alive.
I may not always have the right words or answers. But know this: I will always be here loving you, believing in you, proud beyond measure.
Happy birthday, sweetheart. Keep becoming.
With all my love, Your forever cheerleader, Dad