what if we lived like august?

A thought to unfold…

If we’re not living, what are we even doing?

August is here, and honestly, it’s kinda symbolic of life. It’s the month that reminds us summer won’t last forever. That time is finite. Almost like a little nudge (or maybe a swift kick in the ass) to do all the things we want to do. The things we said we’d do. The bucket list. The plans. The dreams.

It got me thinking….what if we lived life like August? What if we stopped holding back and did the damn thing?

Because if we’re not living…what are we even doing?

Inspiration is everywhere…

Despite what the old surf film tells us, August reminds us that summer is, in fact, not endless. It’s the month where we suddenly find ourselves wondering where it all went. And at the same time, it reminds us there’s still time. A big pull to say yes.

So we do the things. We get to the beach. We take the trip. We see the friends. We watch the sunsets. We say fuck it, I’m in, why not? Basically, we do all the things we kept saying we’d do before it all slips away. 

August teaches us that time is finite. And this practice of yoga reminds us that there’s no other moment than now. 

Yet, so often, we wait. We wait until work slows down. Until we have more money. More confidence. Until the timing feels right. But what are we even waiting for? Why do we wait until something feels finite before we start fully living? Spoiler alert: our time here in this human experience is finite.

In yoga philosophy, there's a Sanskrit word, aparigraha. It's the fifth yama in Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga and is often translated as non-grasping or non-attachment. We usually think of it as letting go of possessions, expectations, or outcomes.

But lately I've been wondering if it can also mean loosening our grip on later. Later, as in believing we have more time. Later, as in believing life begins when work slows down, when the timing finally feels right, or when the stars align. 

What would happen if we let go of all that and stopped waiting? Because here’s the thing. If we’re always reaching for the next moment, the next season, milestone, or even the next version of ourselves, we’re missing the one we’re in right now.

And that’s where August comes in. The reminder that time is finite. Not endless. And yoga reminds us that life is happening now. In this breath, this body, this ordinary moment that makes up our extraordinary life. 

So whatever it is you've been waiting to do…just do the damn thing (one of my brother’s favorite phrases, btw). Take the trip. Call the friend. Watch the sunset. Say yes.

There isn’t a better moment coming. This one is already here. 

Thoughts for practice…

Journal Prompts

Pick one or two that speak to you—or move through them all.

• What am I waiting for?

• Where in my life have I been telling myself, “I’ll do it when…”?

• If I stopped waiting for the perfect timing, what would I do today?

• What conversation, experience, or dream have I been putting off?

• What’s one thing I can say yes to this week (or even today) that feels like fully living?

• If I lived like it was August, what would change?

• Where am I postponing joy?

• What would “do the damn thing” look like for me right now?

Reflections for Your Practice

The next time you step onto your mat, ask yourself:

Where am I holding back?
What would it feel like to fully show up for this moment and go all in?

Can I let go of waiting for the perfect practice and simply experience this one?

What happens when I stop reaching for what’s next and come back to what’s here?

Your practice reminds you that there’s no other moment than now. Every breath is an invitation to come back.

Practice saying yes. Practice being in it. This breath. This body. This life.

Take this with you…

Life is going to keep moving. Time never stands still. There's never the perfect time. So let today become that "someday" you've been waiting for. Do the damn thing.

There’s no reason to hold back. But every reason to go all in.

—this reflection comes from class taught 8.2.2026—

Ps. Every volume has its own vibe—press play and let this one unfold.

everything blooms in its own time

A thought to unfold…

Everything blooms in its own time.

Where can you make room for growth?

Where can you let some light in?

Inspiration is everywhere…

This time of year is such a beautiful reminder of what real growth looks like. If you're anything like me, you might find yourself walking around the yard noticing new greens pushing through the soil, blooms emerging where there was once only dirt, and plants you forgot were even there suddenly making themselves known.

Seeds planted long ago begin to rise. Life returns. Slowly at first, then seemingly all at once.

What a reminder that just because we can't see something happening doesn't mean it isn't. There is growth we don't witness. Roots stretching deeper. Shifts taking place beneath the surface. It’s all happening. Transformation happens long before anything blooms.

A few weeks ago, I got home from my yoga teacher training around 1 in the morning after being gone for two weeks. Mikey was beyond excited to see me and immediately wanted to run around the backyard before bed, and who was I to say no?

Standing out there with him in the dark, I noticed something I had never seen before: a single vibrant magenta peony bloom.

12:38a

The funny thing is that peony bush has been in the ground for three or four years and has never flowered. Not one bud. Every spring I'd keep an eye on it, hoping this would be the year. And every spring...nothing.

Until now.

While I was away living my best life, not checking on it or wondering when it would bloom, it finally did. It felt like such a simple but beautiful reminder that not everything happens on the timeline we think it should.

Some things bloom quickly. Some take years. Some things need a little more sun. Some need a few extra seasons. Some are doing far more growing than we realize.

The same is true for us, my friends. There are dreams we're growing into. Relationships taking shape. Healing happening quietly in the background. Parts of ourselves still finding their way to the surface. So much of what we're growing toward takes shape long before we can see it.

Our job isn't to force the bloom. It's to keep creating the conditions for it. To make room for it. To let a little light in and trust that when the time comes, it'll find its way.

Just like in nature, not everything blooms at the same time. Some things come early. Some take longer. Some need a few seasons before they're ready. And honestly, that's part of what makes them special. Even within a season, everything is on its own timeline and thank goodness for that, right?

A daffodil and sunflower wouldn't feel quite as sweet if they bloomed at the same time. Why should we be any different?

We're not behind, we're right on time.

Everything unfolds in its own time.

Thoughts for practice…

Journal Prompts

Pick one or two that speak to you—or move through them all.

• Where in my life am I trying to force something that might need more time?

• What would change if I stopped comparing my timeline to someone else's?

• Where am I being invited to trust the process a little more?

• Where have I already grown in ways I haven't stopped to acknowledge?

• What conditions help me thrive? Which ones make it harder for me to grow?

Reflections for Your Practice

The next time you step onto your mat, ask yourself:

Where can I soften the urge to force?

What would it feel like to trust my body to move the way it wants to today?

Can I make room for growth rather than rush toward it?

Your practice is a reminder that growth doesn't happen all at once. Every time we show up to our mat is different, and just like you can’t force a flower to bloom, you can’t force your own becoming. Your practice is about creating the right conditions. Show up. Breath. Stay open. See what shows up.

Your practice is a reminder that growth doesn't happen all at once. Every time we step onto the mat is different, and just like you can't force a flower to bloom, you can't force your own becoming.

Your practice is about creating the conditions.

Show up. Breathe. Stay open. See what shows up. And trust that growth is always happening.

Take this with you…

We spend so much time wondering if we're doing enough, growing enough, moving fast enough.

Nature reminds us there's another way.

Not everything blooms at once. Not everything blooms on the same timeline. Some things take longer. Some things ask for more patience. Some things spend years growing roots before anything appears above the surface.

That doesn't mean nothing is happening.

Keep showing up. Keep creating space. Keep letting the light in.

Trust that what is meant to bloom will bloom. It always does.

Ps. Every volume has its own vibe—press play and let this one unfold.