August, with ease

Out of office-ish

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Twin Lakes, Mammoth, CA

I meant to send this newsletter two weeks ago. But my easy breezy August attitude took over. Plus, I’m leaning hard into my laid-back, tie-dyed, point of view—because I’m spending this month in my home state of California.

Last year at this time I was in the middle of a monthlong Eurotrip, during which I l took five full weeks off work, visited five countries, and left my laptop in the U.S. This year, I decided to once again escape the oppressive summer heat of Texas but stick closer to home. And my laptop came with me. I’m writing to you from San Diego (where I went to college), but I’m also visiting Mammoth, LA (where I grew up in the ‘burbs), Los Olivos, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Las Vegas.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve embraced living my life in seasons. Some seasons of life are natural and feel communal, like refreshing your space as new buds bloom in spring or hunkering down in the chill of January. But some seasons are more subtle and come from within. You can discover your current season from the themes of your morning pages, the message within your recurring thoughts, or by noticing curious synchronicities. Instead of shrugging these clues off, pay attention. The path you should take next is already mapped out for you there.

Instead of resisting or ignoring the seasons that pop up for me, I’ve learned to dive into them with intention. So I approached this August with one goal in mind: ease.

I’m easy with work, schedules, and deadlines. I stopped habit tracking and left space for flexibility and wandering in my calendar. I left behind the gym, asked my body to relax, took long, ambling walks along the water. I loosened my grip on budgets and worries. I stepped outside, noticed the breeze, formed fresh freckles, jumped in ice-melt lakes. I am easy with those around me, offering some extra patience and forgiveness, focusing on their smiles, breathing in their scents. I’ve eased some self-imposed restrictions; I’m ordering dessert and maybe a third glass of wine.

Above all, I am easy with myself.

Now is not the season to push; this is the season to receive. This August, I am not busy other than when I am busy receiving the admiration of those who know me best. I want to feel how loved I am, try to fathom just how good my life is. I want to capture my friends’ laughter in a glass bottle to keep on my bedside table through winter.

In some seasons, you spend all your time searching for just a sliver of light. This August, all I see is dawn.