I believe in the importance of birthdays. Not birth (space) days, although those are wondrous and terrible and astonishing all in their own right.  No, I believe in the importance of celebrating each subsequent birthday, especially after the age of about 26.

I hope you are spoilt with brilliant books, exceptional friends, fantastic food and the inescapable evidence of how awesome you are, told by everyone around you (and people on other sides of the planet). I hope your year is counted in kisses, and laughter, and an abundance of cake/joy/satisfaction/everything. I hope this year tackles you with enthusiasm, sincerity and random acts of spectacular. I hope this year is as wonderful as you are!

Why 26? Because usually by that age you have more than enough going on to realise that you may have to celebrate it on the following weekend, or maybe after tax season, or who really cares, you have kids to clean, a job to get to, a deadline to meet, dog hair in the hallway, a loved one who will never see you older than you are right now…, and cake is the LAST thing you need right now thanks anyway.

I know it’s your day but I’m still delighted it’s been another year I’ve had to know you, read your words and be cheered by your encouragement. C, I hope this year smears wonder and beauty all over you face and home, beside and amid the hugs and kisses of your loved ones. I hope no hand smaller than yours finds a permanent marker, no run attempted without staggering you with beauty, no day leaving you without some measure (however hard fought) of satisfaction, victory or heart song.

I disagree. I don’t just disagree, I hugely disagree, hugely as your worries and as stubborn as a stain on your favourite shirt. The idea that we grow too old for birthdays is stingy, stale and mean-hearted. I refuse to wait until someone hits an age with a zero on the end to make a big deal of them, and – as sure as I eat cake for breakfast whenever possible – I am not going to wait until someone has left the world before I tell anyone how amazing they are to me.  I don’t even want to wait a year between love notes to be honest.

Happy birthday H! May the year ahead have really short lines to the best BBQ, a ready availability to Mountain Dew (unless you’re avoiding each other, in which case may there be an ocean between you), may your nails never crack, split or have smudged polish, and may every room reno you do take half as long and look twice as good as you hoped! May your sass continue and shine ever brighter, your lippy never fade or dry out, and may your year ahead be as brilliant, fantastic and gorgeous as you are!

Because isn’t there a wonder to birthdays? The thrill that hopefully most people have, given way back in miniature history, when you were celebrated? As we get older, I think there should be more festive carry on and jubilation. Hooray! You made it through another 365-ish days of routine, chaos, dreaming and constant breathing in and out! Let’s have cake, or ice-cream, or a bunch of kale and play your music and realise even for 10 seconds that there are people who are glad that you exist, right now in this point in time.

When people say rockstar, I think of you… I hope this birthday and year rock your socks off, stuffing memories and brilliance down your shirt, in your pockets, and gives you a standing ovation… I hope this year leaves you a hot, sticky, grinning mess at the end of many days and midnights. Rock on, lovely!

For all the dislike aimed at Facebook, I love it for being able to wish people happy birthday. I anticipate the opportunity to let someone know I’m delighted to know them, to have them part of the puzzle and tangle and glory of life, and most of all to wish them something for the next year.  And none of that “hope your day’s great” or “all the best for the next year!” Nope. Not going to happen. Not in my wish.

I pray inspiration will curl around your shoulders, shout in your ears and be the dazzle in many of your smiles. Mostly, I hope you have a wonderful year, filled with love, laughter, salt water and $5 note always appearing when you need it.

Yes, my wishes are long and use way too many commas and lots of energetic words. But that’s the point! I think, if there is one day in the entire year where you get to shrug off the gravity and seriousness of adult responsibilities, it’s your birthday – and that it should be a day where the possibilities of the next year are tumbled over your head like a waterfall of flowers and exclamation points, delivered by friends whooping and dancing like a pre-2000 disco. Plus, it’s incredibly fun to be a fairy godmother, one birthday wish at a time.

Here it’s your birthday! You really, REALLY should be here so I can wish you happy birthday to your face, and give you a koala and a platypus and make you a pavlova bigger than your head! *Sigh* But you’re not here, so instead I get to wish you the most spectacularly FMDAS birthday year EVER. So, I hope this year (and birthday) rock you so hard to the very best of music that in 40 years’ time when you start feeling arthritis in your hip you think “Hmm, that must be because of the awesome 2014-15 Year Of Brilliance”. May your blacks never fade, your Docs never wear out, your boots keep red and belligerent, and your queso bowl never fail.

All the paragraph breaks are chunks of wishes I have given friends over the past year or so. Each different in tone, delivery, inside jokes and wishes. But every single one of them is meant whole heartedly, with a grin and absolute delight that I know that person, and I’m their friend.

Here’s hoping this year brings you many fantastic memories, cultural curiosities and absolute delight at being your wonderful self. I hope this year swamps you in kisses, laughter, dancing in the kitchen and nobody finding your secret stash of treats. I hope this year brings the perfect words and phrases trickling into your ears, fingers and heart, and may you always have something/one nearby to write the inspiration down on. I hope this year leaves happiness around your head like a glowing halo, laughter trailing you like a joyous shadow, and satisfaction tucking you into bed at night. Happy birthday!

So, now I’ve explained my why, here’s my How To: Wish Someone Happy Birthday recipe:

1. Think about the person for a little bit. Think about what first springs to mind about them, their delights, life, goals and (maybe not-so-)secret passions. Remind yourself of who they are to you.
2. If there was one or three things you could grant them – fairy godmother style, or ninja awesomeness delivery – what would it be? Physics doesn’t apply, neither does reality.
3. Mix 1 and 2 together, and wrap in wishes, hopes and encouragement for them in your words.
4. Send that wish to them. Forget about delivery style – on Facebook works (it’s instant!), or a text message, or by camel even. The point is you send it immediately, without overthinking it, because it’s THEIR wish, and wrapping or presentation isn’t necessary.
5. Shout “Woohoo! I have him/her in my life and they are awesome/bizarre/brilliant/my friend! We have superb taste in friends!” Or, you know, something similar. Celebrate that you know them, even if there are literally oceans between you.
6. Remember, even if it’s not their birthday, that everyone has at least 354 UNbirthdays that you can also give happy wishes for. And if the date creeps by, you’re not LATE – you’re EARLY for their next birthday! Excellent!

Do you believe in the importance of birthdays? What do you think is an essential part of celebrating someone’s existence? What wish would you most like to receive?