It was an unusually short (and should I say, steamy?) summer this year in New York. But I’m never one who complains about the heat. I find that summers have a re-energizing effect.

A high dose of Vitamin-D promotes immune system strength and bone health, yes.
But more importantly it regulates the mood.

The sun radiantly wraps its rays around each of us and like flowers, we bloom in our own direction.

It breathes life into everything it touches, nurturing every petal, every river and every breath we take. It is a soulful, youthful and eternal source of energy….which is why as summer is headed out the door, there’s only one thing else that truly lifts my spirits: my upcoming birthday.

Being a September baby has it’s perks but it wasn’t always this way.

Imagine having to start the school year on your birthday. During my adolescence, even though parents drilled the importance of education in my brain, I felt cursed to celebrate my birthday in this manner.

But these days, the gift is seeing the sun shine its hardest as the summer fights to stay just a little longer. I milk it until its very last drop, wearing all my summery outfits as I slowly begin to incorporate transitional pieces like lightweight knits and closed toe shoes.

Waking up to endless birthday calls, cake, presents and parties. The sheer joy of being celebrated by your loved ones (and having loved ones to celebrate with).

Your birthday is truly the only day of the year where you get to be worshipped, just for being you. And it’s the only day when you must celebrate yourself for that same reason, guided by self-compassion and understanding.

The real source of magic
This kind of joy from being celebrated is better when felt from the opposite end. Sure, being the surprised one when tearing open gifts and reading sentimental cards reminds us of how special we each are. But over time, I learned that the giving part is what made me even more excited.

The responsibility of giving felt incredibly fulfilling. I had this chance to guide & lead the happiness of someone else’s special day.

Gift stores are designed to make it easy but the level of thought is purely individual. Most of us buy cards. But how many of us truly take the time to source something the receiver would adore?

Thoughtful gifts are often remembered far longer for their intentional and conscious focus than generic ones. This goes back to my personal ethos about gifting as a whole: the art of giving is always to consider the receiver. 

Birthdays don’t bypass anyone. Each of us has this day, this reminder of our indefinite place in eternity. Yet, most are seemingly focused with the increasing number that they fail to wonder if it has shaped their wisdom. They fail to wonder whether or not the extra digit has added any significance. The next time your birthday comes around, remember that it’s more than just getting older and accumulating wrinkles. The passage of time is a chance for:

1. Self-celebration: recognizing your existence, your uniqueness and your journey so far. One day to be a little “extra,” eat some cake, dress up, take a day off, etc.

2. Reflection & renewal ritual: a pause to take stock of your past year, your growth, lessons learned and intentions.

3. Bonding opportunity: permission to see friends and family, being remembered and valued and reinforcing connection by marking your milestone.

4. Gratitude practice: celebrating yourself but also those that shaped you and raised you.

Sophia Loren’s quote beautifully pinpoints the true measure of age (shown above). The fountain of youth is open to all who tap into their innate natural gifts. We are not here simply to record the passage of time in fine lines and numbers.

Our creativity, and talents are not dissolved with age. And…when we say, “age is just a number,” it is time that we mean it with actions. Our physical celebration is ongoing and birthdays are reminders to keep growing.

Finally, the element of surprise can be recreated over and over again through intentionality and intricate details, and not just for birthdays. We can start by communicating deeper with ourselves and those around us. Cheers to recognizing special moments in time before they pass us by!

How might you take time to celebrate yourself?
How can you create this magic for others?

Think about it.


(Read The Future of The Gift & Celebrations Market Deep Dive from Five-Course Tasting 👇 )

I believe a gift has to look and feel like one. If you’re handing over a whiskey, why not add Glencairn glasses? And if you’re already including the classic tasting glass, for the love of God, just add the whiskey stones and cocktail picks already. Maybe even dark chocolate for an extra sophisticated pairing? Because you know, it brings out the flavor of the caramel + smoke. Then you might decide to also gift someone an actual Old Fashioned experience, like the one above….which is not just thoughtful, but considerate and gracious. Good for you, for being a fantastic host 😁

Hosting is an inside job that we adore
⚫ Always thoughtfully curated and combined, with the recipient in mind
⚫ Superbly gift wrapped with custom notes & words
⚫ White glove execution, from logistics to personalization, and presentation handled seamlessly

It just leaves a warm, lasting impression and an elevated moment of pause, no matter the size or value.

Sometimes the real gift comes through in presentation, further inspiring you to pick it up and taste it.