It’s that time of the year again for a new version release. Forty-two is a fun number, of course, famous from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
I’m in Miami, where I’m attending a conference by Richard Saul Wurman. I decided that it would be a great way to fill my brain on my birthday. Since New Year’s, I’ve been in warm climates and had lots of dips in the ocean. Had a small birthday dinner a few days ago and my friends surprised me with a beautiful “HappyBdayMattic” cake.
This last year was particularly challenging, especially at the beginning. However, it just kept getting better, and particularly WordCamp US in August was inspiring. The warmth and support of the WordPress community pulled me out of the funk I had been in. It was also when I kicked off the habit of daily blogging, which led to 2025 being the highest number of words (34.7k) I’ve posted since 2004! I traveled 209k miles, about a third lower than last year, spending longer stretches in 45 cities and 16 countries.
One of my biggest lessons of the year was learning how to ask for help. I’m usually the person others come to, and I carry a lot of responsibility on my shoulders from my friends and loved ones, and for the companies and communities I’m lucky enough to be part of. I’ve had some bad experiences asking for help in the past, as well. Now, how I see it is that it might not always work, but if you don’t ask for help, you also don’t give people the chance to step up. This year, the support of several friends got me through some really tough spots.
A joy of this year was seeing my godchildren grow up, close friends starting families, and the Audrey Scholars program. There’s a Walt Disney quote I just found out about that I love: “I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty.” Kids can’t help but remind you how important it is to maintain that childlike sense of curiosity.
A random new thing I’ve adopted this year is coconut water. I’ve been trying to hydrate with electrolytes, especially first thing in the morning, and it’s a great natural source of minerals.
My main goals this year are to keep up daily writing, post some of my archive photos, finally visit Rome and bring my family, swim more, and be the best leader for Automattic and the WordPress community through the incredible changes and opportunities of the AI era.
Even though I have several decades of history now, I find myself looking forward far more than back. Great words to live by I just learned from Jeffrey Katzenberg, apparently originally from Doug Ivester.
Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.
That said, it is a funny time to revisit my original version-number birthday post, 2.2, which is exactly 20 years old now.
I wish everyone a wonderful 2026!
All birthday posts: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42.
Happy birthday! I love coconut water! While living in Rio, I used to subscribe to a company that would deliver coconut water every week (the company is called Coco Legal, and btw they use Woo + Woo Subscriptions). 🙂
Happy birthday Matt. I have had a chance to have a ring side seat to your life and I am delighted that you are more curious, more child like and more interested in the future and not in the past. Keep on trucking. Or in your case blogging!
Happy birthday! Myself, I have the big Five-O coming up in the next month. Should be mildly entertaining…
Happy birthday and thanks for being example and inspiration for many.
Happy birthday young man!
Happy birthday Matt! Glad you were able to ask for help and gave others the gift of stepping up. I love that Walt Disney quote. And am really happy you will at last visit Rome. Wishing you a wonderful 2026!
Happy Birthday Matt! My parents have a place in Umbertide (not massively far away from Rome), near Tuscany if you want to escape to an Italian Borgo, just let me know. If you go to the Hassler Hotel beware of the Lemoncello.
Sorry I forgot but if you’d be interested in a private audience with a certain person, you can mail me and I will do my best to arrange it for you through friends.
Wishing you a wondrous birthday and happy everyday Matt.
May your year and beyond feature many very fun adventures.
Thank you for being who you are and for all that you do.
Happy Birthday Matt!
Born in the first month of the year.
We share a quiet beginning,
a reminder that new starts always carry hope.
May this year soften what the last one hardened,
bring light where shadows once stayed,
and gift you moments that feel calm, kind, and true.
May life meet you gently this year,
and may it be better, warmer, and brighter
than the one you leave behind.
Happy Birthday, Matt! 42 is a special year, I hope it brings you good health, happiness, and success!
Happy birthday, Matt! I’m a day behind you (and a, um, couple of years ahead of you). Be safe and enjoy!
Happy Birthday Matt, hope you have an amazing year!
Happy birthday Matt. Thank you very much for building such an incredible WordPress community and for the kind 42nd birthday wishes. I truly appreciate your leadership, vision, and continued inspiration to the global WordPress ecosystem
Happy Birthday Matt!
Hope this year brings lots of happiness and success in your life.kudos to you and WordPress.
Happy Birthday, Matt “The Motivator!”
Happy birthday, Matt! I hope you had a fabulous day. I’m loving the regular blog posts. Thanks for all you share! Sending good vibes from your friends in the UK.
Happy birthday Matt! I’m looking forward to your photos. Thanks for the great reminder from Ivester and Katzenberg.
Happy birthday, Matt. Wish u all the best. I want to say thank you for your attention to blogging. I believe you can build anything, but you choose to keep caring about blogging through WordPress, and of course, WordPress.com, so people who love blogging can still have a home. With the shutdown of the legendary Typepad service, and the unclear direction of Blogger’s future development, the presence of WordPress.com has become a source of hope for many people to keep creating. Once again, thank you.
Happy Birthday, Matt! Have a lovely year!