These days, the bar is very low. You can quickly congratulate someone on their birthday in one of the countless chat groups you belong to, write a short sentence without any real meaning, and you’re done. You’ve “done your part,” but no one really pays close attention. It’s just more digital noise, digital pollution, and wasted time.

I still remember calling someone on a landline for their birthday—full of intention and presence.

Even when someone writes a deep, personal note, you need to be in a particular state of awareness to truly appreciate it.

I don’t share these empty wishes, and I don’t want to receive them either. That probably makes me seem like a weirdo.

Many years ago, I chose a few people with whom I exchange personal wishes. I chose them because something in their energy resonated with me. They are the select few who lift my energy rather than drag me down or waste my time with shallow, meaningless one-sentence messages.

And this has continued for years—beautiful and almost effortless.