What’s that over there? ............. BEAUTY ! ......... My BEAUTIFUL friend .........
I’ve been struggling to find the right words to adequately describe and honor YOU on your special day. It hit me when reflecting on our many wonderful Hawaiian retreats. You are BEAUTIFUL!
I decided to google “beauty” just to support what I already know in my heart and look at this, turns out you are officially beautiful too!
It’s as if I googled “Dana” All of this rings true when I think about you, our relationship and the impact you have on so many people.
Your Kindness of and Respect for people go hand in hand and is evidenced in all your relationships, even passing acquaintances. Your kindness is expressed as genuine interest in people and their well-being. You care to notice and reach out when somebody is sad or not themselves. You are genuinely interested because you respect people, without holding them to any standard. You invest in really listening to and caring about people. This is received as kindness and respect. So many examples of this in my family alone... even my extended family
Confidence - Anybody who knows or just observes you would say that when you walk into a room, it is with confidence, when you present to a group or chat one-on-one, it is with confidence, when you collaborate, build a plan or make a statement, it is with confidence. No matter the context, your confidence is a gift. It gives people comfort, calm and reassurance. Of course you have the track record to justify being confident, but only you know if you actually are confident, it may be as much about how your approach is deliberate and with intention that implies confidence. Either way I’m sure this is one of the key factors in your tremendous professional success and I know it is one of the reasons people are drawn to you. I’m remembering when we first met at a Delta Sig party – I immediately knew you were somebody I wanted to know. 35+ years later you’re still reassuring me.
Generosity - there are endless examples of your generosity, particularly considering you are reading this after just treating 2 dozen people to what I’m sure will be an amazing weekend on a grand scale. I am forever grateful that you have made so many of the finer things in life accessible to me, and my family.
• “Hawaii I’d like you to meet my friend Melissa, Melissa this is Hawaii – we go way back”
• Countless weekend getaways - you rent the amazing house, I show up, not a bad arrangement
• An absolutely unforgettable 21st b-day celebration!
• World series tickets ! what ! who does that ??
• Disneyworld adventure of a lifetime
• Contributing to the Jessica survival fund
• Etc.....etc.... etc.......
• Insert multiple lists from multiple other people who have benefited from your generosity
That you CAN be so generous is a reflection of hard work, sacrifice and the guidance of some pretty awesome parents. How proud they must be! I feel such sorrow for you that you cannot share all your tremendous accomplishments with them in the same way you would if they were here, but I just know and believe that they are with you every step of the way. Also, for what it’s worth, I am really proud of you!
That you CHOOSE to be so generous is a reflection of something even bigger! It’s the size of your heart, your love of and for people, your Faith and the genuine joy you get from helping people and making them happy.
You can’t consider your generosity without recognizing the $$$, but what I find even more amazing is what you give of yourself. You continuously amaze me with your ability and desire to reach out, to GO THERE, in so many ways with so many people. This takes time, energy, commitment and requires an awareness that escapes most of us. Oh, and you do all of this on top of your day job! Good thing it’s not a demanding job so you have lots of spare time. Truth is you give of yourself not out of obligation (for which you could find a million valid excuses) but because it fills you up – that is beautiful !
Honesty – what immediately comes to mind is the wise advice you gave me recently “just be honest – there is vulnerability in being honest – and that is a good thing” This is really the foundation of our friendship and why it means so much to me. You are the only person I am completely honest with. I am never concerned about sugar coating something or what you might think. I know you love me and will either give me confirmation or challenge me to consider a different perspective or muster the courage to face what you know I already know. I can’t imagine getting through so many difficult challenges in my life without you there to guide me in such a supportive, all-in way. I love that we can discuss any topic from all angles even when, or especially when, we have different perspectives (Kansas) It makes me sad to think most people don’t have the good fortune of a relationship like ours.
Ah and then there is the immeasurable beauty of your Distinctive Personality. Have you ever noticed how people gravitate towards you? Not only for all the beautiful reasons mentioned above, but also because you’re just as beautifully flawed – We all know that you are exceptional, but at the same time you are simply one of us, because you wouldn’t have it any other way – which makes for a great party. Time with Dana is laughing til it hurts, drinking til the bottle (s) are empty, eating til we are sick of the stupid food and engaging in deep rewarding conversation.... til we are back to drinking and laughing. So sad when it’s time to say goodbye, but there is always comfort in knowing we will pick up where we left off time and time again.
This weekend we will be celebrating You with an intimate group of friends and family all of whom would put you on a short list of the most important people in their lives. I know I’m not the only one who would say “Dana is my best friend”. Not many people could pull together 2 dozen people and call it an intimate gathering of close friends and family. Relationships like these don’t just happen – they require the care and consideration that you have made your life’s blood.
Dana, you live life beautifully, embracing and nurturing all it has to offer. You’re an inspiration to us all.
Happy Birthday to by dear BEAUTIFUL friend,
I Love you,
Melis