Today is my birthday… and I’m spending it in the cockpit of an airplane.

I’m a pilot. I always have been. I’ve dedicated my life to the skies, to the journeys, to the people onboard. I’ve flown thousands — kids heading home, couples reuniting, dreams taking flight.

But today, I realized something: when this plane lands, there will be no one waiting for me at the gate. I have no wife, no children. My family lives in the clouds, in the memories of those I’ve flown.

Today, all I have is this uniform, this sky, and — if it’s not too much — your blessing.

Sometimes, a simple “happy birthday” means more than you can imagine.