I can’t believe it’s been over two years now since I left my paid job for this one – which pays more, admittedly, in the only ways that really matter.  It’s been quite a journey so far, and one that wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without her.

It’s funny.  I think I’ve actually met Beth Kanter in person three times – and before we ever had, she’d already inspired and influenced our work at Epic Change with the amazing compilation of social change learning she’s collected on her blog and tweets we began exchanging the very first time we ventured onto twitter.  I couldn’t believe at the time that this woman, who Business Week called one of the top 4 innovators in social media, took the time to even respond.  But she did.

She’s also among the smartest people I know.  Thoughtful.  Connected.

If I remembered the times Beth has tweeted, blogged, encouraged me to really think about our work, shared our successes, or connected me to opportunities to which I’d otherwise not have had access, it would be quite a list.

She has made me feel in many moments like I knew what I was doing and, in even more important ones, like it was often okay not to know – but to do it anyway.

I wonder if she knows just how much I needed her to say “let’s get an ice cream” last year at SXSW after I’d spoken for the very first time in a public forum about the work we were doing.  Even though we couldn’t find ice cream, we did find a good lunch and a great conversation.  She made me feel like I fit in there, and again at NTEN, when we ventured out for a fun night in San Francisco.  As a woman who too often works in total physical isolation, in an apartment in sunny Florida a thousand miles from everyone else in my professional network, those moments when I have the opportunity to really connect and have fun with colleagues I respect are too few and far between.

Most importantly, she’s been there.  I’m not sure how – but when I’ve really needed advice or reassurance, she’s picked up the phone or responded to a late-night email, tweet or IM.

I can only imagine how many changemakers Beth supports, challenges and connects every day.  Aside from her own work in Cambodia, her thought leadership and support has surely influenced thousands of changemakers and nonprofits who are more impactful because of the work she’s done to teach us how to effectively use social media and technology to create social change.

Today is Beth’s 53rd birthday.  Her wish was to send 53 students to school in Cambodia, where she adopted her own two children.  I donated.  I hope you will too – or share your own story of how Beth has influenced you.  I can imagine no greater gift than to shine right back at her the light she shines so brightly into the world.

Happy, happy birthday Beth!!  I hope you make 53 wishes, and get every single one…