The Summer of Firsts
There's something almost rebellious about truly living in the present when the world constantly pulls you toward yesterday's regrets or tomorrow's anxieties. This summer, every weekend, I found myself looking for something new to do, something to discover. It was like I needed these little adventures to stay sane.
I didn't realize it then, but there's actually science behind this. When we try new things, our brains release dopamine and we naturally focus on the present moment instead of worrying about the past or future. This summer became my experiment with that idea, without even knowing it.
This was my summer of firsts.
Living Trees
I did a train ride through Redwood forest that blew my mind. I saw trees that are over 2,000 years old - trees that use anywhere between 100-150 gallons of water daily. I watched how fallen trees were being held up by other trees, like they were taking care of each other. Think about that - these trees were alive before so much of human history even happened. Standing next to them made me feel tiny in the best way.
I also did this random thing one evening - plucking wild plums in a forest in SF with a friend. We gave some to strangers on the way home and kept the rest. It was such a simple joy.
Learning to Cook (Finally)
Earlier this year, I did this health program that changed how I think about food. Now I cook 4-6 meals a week at home, which is crazy for someone who used to live on takeout. I started making simple things - quinoa, fresh salads, Greek yogurt with whatever seasonal fruits looked good at the farmers market. And oh my god, the summer fruits this year were incredible.
There's something calming about cooking when your mind is all over the place. The kitchen became my quiet space.
Water Everywhere
I visited Lake Tahoe twice this summer on weekends. The heat made me spend hours in the water, longer than I ever have before. But Sand Harbor Beach became my favorite ritual. I drove there twice around 5 PM, parked across the bridge, and just walked to the water. I'd stay in until sunset, watching the sky change colors. Then I'd walk back to my car under these amazing painted skies. I hope I get to do this every single year now.
Hidden Beach Days
The Bay Area has these secret beaches that my local friends told me about. Every other weekend, I'd disappear to one of these spots for a few hours. I'd just sit and listen to the waves, sometimes dance in the water like no one was watching. Some beaches that i really enjoyed were China Beach, Gray whale cove state beach.
Hikes and Camping
I hiked Angel Island and Lands End this summer. The views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge were insane. I'm not usually a hiking person, but something about being up high gave me this real sense of accomplishment. Then I went camping in Yosemite for the first time ever. Cooking food over a fire, reading by flashlight, falling asleep under more stars than I knew existed.
As summer ends, I'm holding onto something important. You don't need to do big, expensive things to feel alive. Sometimes it's just about saying yes to small adventures.
This summer felt long in the best way possible. Each weekend was like a mini adventure.
What I've Been Reading
In the last couple of weeks,I found some really interesting reads
- The leverage Paradox - Be a purple cow - about standing out in a crowded world
- A company sent with iPhone with actual bites taken out of it, a founder literally offering equity for tattoos - wild marketing stories that actually worked
- Hello Kitty's $80 Billion Secret Sauce -the business genius behind that simple cat design
A small ask
I'm on the hunt for some good stationery brands - you know, the kind that make you actually want to write by hand again. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them! Drop me a line at my email and let me know your favorites.
Until next time!