Birthday days ain't always the worst days.

Respectfully Mr. Wallace, today (thus far) has been a very good day.

Photo credit: Farrin Adams, The Muse Is Food Photography

Today makes 35 years around the sun.

For the last several weeks, I’ve been in deep reflection mode leading up to today –mostly in a posture of gratitude and awe at how gracious and great God is. Every birthday is something to be thankful for, but milestone birthdays tend to hit differently.

Yesterday among my colleagues, I was asked the question: “Do you remember what you were doing 10 years ago?” I raised my hand and answered confidently and responded, “Yep – I was preparing to celebrate my 25th birthday in Washington, D.C.”

Since my 24th birthday, #CeeDay has always been a big deal for me. And in 2014, I pulled out all the stops: a 25-person dinner party curated by an event planner at a downtown D.C. restaurant, complete with a photographer and custom sweet treats, all which was followed by dancing the night away at Recess. (IYKYK)

The point of her question was to stress the fact that there are some things we carry with us over time (our values, belief systems, traditions and celebrations, etc), and things that we inevitably have to let go of.

It is wild to think that a decade–a whole TEN YEARS!–has flown by just like that. I’ve emerged into this human that not only is a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a niece, a friend, an award-winning writer, an author, a wine culture expert, a marketer, a creative, and entrepreneur, but a woman on a courageous mission to make positive contributions and change each and every day there is breath in my body.

While my hair and appetite for nonsense are A LOT shorter than they were 10 years ago, my faith has increased, my confidence has grown, my palate for wine has improved tremendously, and my network of support has gotten stronger and more impactful.

And to that point, I want to take this time to say thank you.

Thank you God for favor, grace, and abundance blessings.

Thank you to my family and friends who have held me down, loved me unconditionally, encouraged me when the days were dark, and extended me grace when I wasn’t the most deserving.

Thank you to the friendships and relationships that had to sunset for me to realize my worth, and what I will and will not tolerate.

Thank you to the all of opportunities that have come along (and the ones on their way to me) for teaching me resilence and patience.

Thank you to my many peers, mentors, colleagues, and friends in the wine and media industries who have spoken my name in rooms that I wasn’t in, and continue to encourage me to disrupt and create authentically.

And to quote Emmy award winner Niecy Nash-Betts, “I wanna thank me.”

I want to thank me being consistent when it was challenging, for exercising flexibility when stubborness was RIGHT there, and forgiving when I should’ve been knuckin’, buckin’, and ready to fight.

I want to declare to myself for all of you reading this: “Go on, girl, with your bad self! You did that, you are doing it, and you still have yet to accomplish incredible things!”

There’s no doubt in my mind that younger Chasity would be pretty geeked to know how things are shaking out, and I’m confident and expectant that the best is still yet to come.

Now let me go open this bottle of Viarae and toast to myself, okay?!

Cheers to a new year!

P.S. – As a birthday gift to me, can you pre-order Wine Convo Generator? Once you do, comment below or send me a DM on Instagram to let me know that you copy is on its way. Appreciate you much!

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF WINE CONVO GENERATOR!

Click below to get your copy so we can celebrate together on March 12, 2024!

Zelle your favorite #J18 Capricorn $20 today, okay? ;-)

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