Today would be Maya’s 33rd birthday, one of the best days of the year. We called Maya the Birthday Queen because she had a uniquely special gift of crafting the most unexpected, thoughtful, beautiful ways to honor her friends and family. This really was a daily practice for Maya - to be fully present and truly “see” each person around her, making them feel so loved, cared for, and appreciated. Like every day was their birthday. The first birthday Maya and I celebrated together was her 19th, just a few months after meeting freshman year of college. We threw a pizza karaoke party that lasted all night before everyone traveled home for the holidays. By that point, Maya and I already knew we had a lifelong connection. We aptly picked the duet, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which would become our go-to karaoke song for years to come. I’ve thought a lot about how to celebrate the absolute supernova that is Maya Amoils on her birthday. I truly want to cultivate joy and epic, meaningful experiences doing her favorite things. But I also want to follow in her wisdom and example of authentically honoring emotions as they come. So my reality today is that it’s 2:30pm and I’m just now getting out of bed. I miss my best friend every day; and as I reminisce on more than a decade of birthdays we spent together, my heart aches. As Maya once described so aptly, grief “is like an ocean. You have to have respect for it. Every time you think you may have a semblance of being in control, you’re humbled.” The waves of grief have humbled me many times this year, and also led to beautiful, transformative experiences, conversations, and connections. So in honor of Maya, today I am focusing on gratitude. Gratitude to have known such a magical human being. Gratitude for all our cherished memories. And gratitude for all the ways in which Maya’s love, kindness, and impact are eternal. I’ve included some excerpts from Maya’s writing, as well as a poignant conversation she had about her cancer journey with @allthewiserpodcast. I hope Maya’s words enrich your life, and that you can pause today for your own reflection of gratitude. Happy Birthday, Maya. Love you always. 🌈🐝💛