I have explained why my customized birthday cards are truly special creations in my earlier article here –
My Personalized Cards of Soulful Beauty – Designed for Those Who Earned My Regards!
The title itself conveys that my cards are made for deserving people who have impacted my life in meaningful ways.
They contain words crafted from the depth of my heart — with care, love, and meaning — esteeming people for who they truly are.
The cards sparkle with their character, highlighting them like the stars they genuinely are.
The third card I designed this year was for a friend.
This year, I was fortunate enough to spend enough time with him to truly comprehend the depth of his generosity and his authentic, caring nature.
Pizza is a symbol I associate with him because he once said we would meet over Pizza as an insurance — that even if the time spent together wasn’t fun, the Pizza would compensate with its taste.
The joke wasn’t really needed, because Pizza was never my kind of food, and I would never normally meet anyone over Pizza.
Yet, when he came over and ordered two Pizzas, I shared one with him — and surprisingly, I enjoyed it!
Domino’s Pizza tastes especially good with Italian seasoning. That’s when I thought of Kung Fu Panda, who in the first movie searches for the secret ingredient to unlock his ultimate Kung Fu power.
My Pizza Panda friend felt a little awkward about his weight. Over the years, he revealed that he had put on quite a bit of weight — as earlier, when I had known him, he was his fit, younger self.
When I saw him again, I could instantly recognize him — the same face — but he had grown dimensionally into a more mature version of himself, with greater emotional depth. This actually made him more interesting.
Life taught him lessons that helped him shape a new equation for his well-being — involving his expectations around work satisfaction, love life, and independence.
He now values money and autonomy more, especially since loyalty at work hasn’t been rewarded with the pay hikes he truly deserves.
He shared his happiness by planning an outing with me, treating me to delicious Fried Rice and Manchurian.
He said he remembers me as a symbol connected to his first job — since I had helped him with a video presentation back then.
Now, as he begins his second job, he wanted to see me again — completing a circle and marking the start of a new chapter in his professional journey.
Pizza Panda had to begin his new journey, and he was gearing up for it.
During the few days he spent with me, he ordered good food and chose to eat only with me.
I was just a brief pitstop in his life journey — he had to leave and move forward.
Just before catching his night bus, he ordered two Pizzas once again.
He packed one for his journey, bid me goodbye, and wished me well.
When I saw the Pizza after seeing him off, I missed him.
I messaged him saying — The Pizza is here. It may taste good with Italian seasoning, but there’s one missing ingredient that cannot be replaced — you. The Pizza feels empty without you.
He messaged back, telling me to enjoy the Pizza without guilt — and that he would miss me too, as he ate his Pizza alone on the bus.
Pizza Panda inspired me earlier in my life without his knowledge — I admired him for pursuing a career I was passionate about at a later stage in his life.
He also silently inspired me to take a bold step — to donate all my hair for the cause of making wigs for cancer patients.
This time, he came into my life briefly just before I had to go through a tough phase — making me feel loved, regarded, and respected for who I am.
There are some people who believe in you and trust you — who value you not for money, beauty, or achievements, but for who you are inside.
This is dignity.
I accept love from such souls openly, because they inspire me to be a better version of myself — starting from a place where I am already valued.
These are marks that stay with me, nourishing my motivation to be my best self and live to my utmost potential.
These are the people who feel genuinely happy for my successes — and feel my sadness when I feel sad.
Coming back to the Panda Po in the movie Kung Fu Panda — he eventually discovers that there is no secret ingredient that makes him a powerful Kung Fu Panda. The power was always within him.
Po’s gentle father, a tall bird who runs a humble noodle shop, helps him realize this truth. He reveals that there is no secret ingredient behind his delicious noodle soup — it tastes special because it is made with care, dedication, and love. Nothing magical. Just intention and belief.
In a similar way, I realized something meaningful through my own experience.
The secret ingredient behind the Pizza was not the Italian seasoning — it was my friend’s companionship. In the end, he mattered more than the Pizza itself.
And through this, I discerned something even deeper.
That moment reflected back to me that I too carry value — the value to be loved, respected, and to have companions who genuinely enjoy spending time with me. Just like Po, the worth was never missing. It was always there, waiting to be recognized.
