Celebrating 50 in Style.
On July 15, 2010, I turned 50.
I’d learned long before that if I wanted Yoni to remember my birthday and do something special, I needed to give him a little nudge.
So, usually a month before, I’d casually mention that it would be wonderful if he could book a table at our favorite restaurant in Amsterdam for the 15th of July and maybe, just maybe, consider a present.
Most of the time, it worked like a charm.
But the big 5-0 was approaching, and I craved something truly special.
The only hitch? We’d planned an incredible private tour of Thailand, and on my birthday, we were set to be deep in the jungle.
I told Yoni not to worry, that I didn’t expect anything fancy—just a promise that when we returned, he’d plan something memorable.
July 15 arrived, and there we were, right in the heart of the jungle. I woke up that morning excited, knowing we were about to embark on a white river rafting adventure. Thom and Yoni, the adrenaline junkies, were buzzing with anticipation.
But there was no “Happy Birthday,” no singing, and certainly no cake. I kept waiting for a surprise, but… nothing. Not a word.
I tried to stay positive, but when Yoni turned to me and asked, “Why are you so negative and aggressive?”—well, that was it. The volcano inside me erupted, and let’s just say “explosive” doesn’t quite cover it.
Yoni was stunned, quickly apologized, and asked the golden question: “How can I make it right? How can we enjoy the rest of our vacation?” That instantly calmed me down.
I’m known for my quick mood swings, and just like that, the rest of the vacation turned out to be fantastic.
Back in Amsterdam, I’d completely forgotten about the birthday mishap.
In September, I treated myself to my own special gift for turning 50—a solo pilgrimage on the Camino.
I returned home on Saturday, October 16th, and the very next day, I was back on stage, wrapping up the final day of our Train-the-Trainer program.
As the event ended, I was puzzled when my assistant apologized for leaving early and missing the closing moments.
“That’s odd,” I thought, but I didn’t dwell on it. All I wanted was to get home, crawl into bed, and sleep.
I opened the door, and SURPRISE!
The house was packed with my office team, volunteers, and friends.
They’d planned a full-on belated 50th birthday celebration for me.
The highlight? A heartfelt video Yoni had spent weeks creating, expressing his love for me.
What more could a girl ask for at 50 than a love like that?