Most people celebrate their 50th birthday with a party, a fancy dinner, or a big gathering of friends. But as my milestone approached, I felt pulled to do something completely different.
Instead of spending money on a celebration for myself, I decided to use it to celebrate other people. I had formal invitations printed—real ones, with gold accents and elegant lettering—“inviting” each recipient to join me in celebrating my birthday.
Inside every envelope, I tucked cash in varying amounts, depending on the act of kindness I had planned. Then, on the morning of my birthday, I set out with fifty envelopes and a single mission: give them all away through fifty random acts of kindness.
