The day before Valentine’s Day has a funny way of stirring things up. Expectations. Memories. Maybe a little pressure to feel something — excitement, romance, closure, validation — all wrapped up in pink and red packaging.

And sometimes? None of that shows up the way we imagined.

Let’s be honest, sis…learning to walk away from people, situations, or expectations that no longer serve us is one of the hardest parts of adulting. Especially when we’ve invested time, energy, or heart. But here’s the truth: choosing yourself is never a loss. It’s alignment.

Now that the holiday has passed, we don’t have to harbor over it for too long. Sit in your feelings, acknowledge them, journal them, cry if you need to and then give yourself permission to move forward. Valentine’s Day doesn’t define your worth. Your relationship status doesn’t measure your softness. And closure doesn’t always come with a conversation, sometimes it comes with distance.

Walking away isn’t dramatic.
It’s clarity.
It’s boundaries.
It’s growth.

This week, winding down looked like giving myself space to reflect and yes, pouring a glass of intention while doing it. As part of my February collaboration, I’ve been featuring AMB BRAZI — The Legacy Continues, a limited-edition wine created by the Black-owned Chateau Bevvy Winery, which is preparing to launch in Bessemer, Alabama. The wine honors Derrick Marks Jr., an up-and-coming Birmingham artist whose life and impact continue to be celebrated through legacy and storytelling.

And in a way, that reminder felt fitting this week. Legacy teaches us that life is bigger than moments of disappointment. Bigger than one holiday. Bigger than what didn’t work out. It reminds us to cherish what matters and release what doesn’t.

So I sat with my thoughts. Reflected. Reset. And toasted not to what was lost, but to what lies ahead.

Because moving forward is an act of self-love too.

If you’re still processing Valentine’s Day in your own way, give yourself grace. Then stand up, adjust your crown, and keep going. Your next chapter deserves your energy more than your past ever did.

Raise your glass with me tonight, whatever you’re sipping and remember:

This glass is for growth. For peace. For choosing yourself.