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 hold 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. This 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.

what if we lived like august?