“When we stop resisting the moment we’re in, we make room to fully enjoy it.”
A note for August,
For years, many of you welcomed the Weekly Happiness Note into your inbox each Thursday. As life evolves, this little publication is evolving too. Beginning this summer, The Happiness Note arrives during the first week of every month. My hope is that it becomes a small monthly ritual. A quiet pause you can return to whenever you need a reminder of what matters most.
Each month, I’ll share a simple theme to carry with you, along with practical ideas and gentle reminders to help you remember the good, feel your best, and reset as needed.
August has a way of reminding us that time moves quickly. Before we know it, conversations begin to shift toward fall, routines return, and summer quietly starts to slip away.
This month’s theme is Savor Summer.
As I thought about how I wanted to experience August, one word kept coming to mind.
Presence.
It’s the word I’m carrying with me this month.
I don’t want to rush toward September before I’ve fully experienced August. I want to be where my feet are, savour what’s still here, and enjoy this season while it’s here to enjoy.
July was filled with some unforgettable memories. My family travelled to Saskatchewan to watch my oldest son play baseball, followed by a family trip to Alaska that reminded me just how beautiful our natural world is. We also spent plenty of evenings at the ballpark cheering on my youngest son while streaming every game we could from Saskatchewan.
This month brings more family time, more baseball, and more opportunities to savour the season together. We’ll be taking our oldest son back to Arizona as he begins another season of pursuing his dream of playing college baseball. We’ll spend some time together in the desert before another baseball season begins and a new chapter unfolds. Back home, we’ll be cheering on our youngest as he represents Team BC, while I continue supporting coaching clients around the world, work that continues to bring me so much purpose and gratitude.
More than anything, I want to savour what’s left of summer. The warm evenings. The extra daylight. The conversations around the dinner table. The moments that are easy to overlook because they seem ordinary, until one day we realize they weren’t ordinary at all.
Thank you for being here. I’m grateful you’ve chosen to spend a few moments of your month with me.
Let’s make August a month to savour.
In gratitude, ❤ Emily
This Month’s Reflection:
Sometimes we make life harder than it needs to be.
We push through busy schedules. We worry about what’s coming next. We spend energy resisting what is instead of embracing the moment we’re in.
August has a way of inviting us to do the opposite.
Instead of rushing toward September, what if we slowed down just enough to savour what’s still here? What if we cared a little more about how we want to feel, and a little less about trying to control everything around us?
This month’s reflection is inspired by my article, How to Move Out of Resistance and Feel Good Now. Although I wrote it several years ago, its message feels especially meaningful this time of year.
When we stop pushing against life and begin paying attention to what helps us feel grounded, connected, and present, we often discover that the path forward becomes a little lighter.
As you move through August, I invite you to carry these three simple rituals with you.
This Month’s Three Rituals:
Remember the good, feel your best, reset as needed…
💛 Remember the Good:
When life feels full, it’s easy to focus on what’s unfinished or what’s coming next.
This month, notice the moments that invite you to slow down.
A sunset that lingers.
A conversation that makes you laugh.
Coffee on the deck.
A walk with someone you love.
The simple joy of being exactly where you are.
The more we notice what’s already good, the less time we spend wishing we were somewhere else.
Ritual:
At the end of each day, ask yourself:
What moment today made me feel most present?
Hold onto that feeling for a few extra seconds before moving on.
🌿 Feel Your Best:
One of my favourite reminders from this month’s reflection is that we can use our feelings as a guide.
When something leaves you feeling energized, peaceful, grateful, or connected, pay attention.
Those feelings are pointing you toward what matters.
This month, instead of asking, “What should I be doing?” try asking,
“What helps me feel most like myself?”
Ritual:
Choose one activity that consistently helps you feel your best.
Protect time for it this month.
Even fifteen intentional minutes can change the way you experience your day.
🔄 Reset as Needed:
There will always be things we can’t control.
Plans change.
The weather changes.
Summer eventually changes.
Instead of resisting those changes, what if we practiced meeting them with a little more acceptance?
Presence isn’t about making life perfect.
It’s about returning to this moment, again and again.
Ritual:
Whenever you notice yourself rushing ahead or worrying about what’s next, pause and take one slow breath.
Then quietly ask yourself,
“How do I want to feel right now?”
Let the answer guide your next step.
Three reminders for August:
Savour the season before it slips away.
Let your feelings guide you toward what matters most.
Presence often begins the moment we stop resisting what is.
Reflection for the Month:
Where in my life could I let go of a little resistance and make more room for presence?
Carry that question with you throughout August.
This Month’s Quote:
A gentle reminder: The Happiness Note is designed to inspire reflection and personal growth. The ideas shared are for informational and educational purposes and are not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.