I wanted my class to submit a written gesture of gratitude to some instructors. Then I encountered a surprising hurdle.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you dear colleagues ... Send them a thoughtful note or card with heartfelt birthday wishes for a friend, showing them how much their kindness meant to you.

But once you're done basking in the well-deserved flood of birthday attention, you've got to reel it in and thank everyone for the kind words. Which can be overwhelming! People took the time out ...