A birthday is the single day of the year that we can call our own. It is a day where we get to express our gratitude for living and where our closest friends and family get to celebrate our birth. Gifts are exchanged, cake is eaten and memories are shared.

Forty-Eight years ago today President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Something a few folks wish to contest but something many of us are more than willing to celebrate.

For my part I am grateful he was born and eventually ran for President – not because of the policies of his that I might support, nor because of his party affiliation but rather for a more selfish reason – he motivated me to get off my butt, roll up my sleeves and get to work. If not for his campaign I would not have become a citizen journalist or a blogger and doubtful I would have become so heavily involved with CNN’s iReport. This site, The Avocado Jungle, would not exist nor would I have taken the risk to believe in my dreams once again and pursue my love and passion for story telling, filmmaking.

Yes, if not for Barack Obama I might never have made “and Boris” the adventure web series.

I also owe him a bit of thanks for some of the folks I’ve met because of him. One year ago today I was covering a campaign backyard event that was partly a birthday party for the now President (he of course was not in attendance – there were many of these parties across the campaign) where I met two people who would soon become good friends, Steve Braun and Erikson Albrecht. It was because of these two that I became involved with a new and ambitious organization called WeChangeLA and started volunteering at local food banks and getting involved in my community. And through them I met many more people who were willing to reach out and help those in need.

It’s amazing how one person can have an effect on so many – something we all have in common. All of us have effected other people’s lives, all of us have had an impact on even strangers that we’ve encountered going through an average day. Of course there is nothing average about the celebration of any life, no matter their title.

So Happy Birthday Mr. President. Thanks for being born….

….in Hawaii….