It’s that time of year. Summer sun’s still beating down on your brow. Everyone’s trying to soak up those end-of-the-summer vibes and ray, with last days at the pool, and end of the season vacations, and warm summer nights that slip away too fast. All the while, students–and parents–are hustling to get their kids ready for the next grade. Or their first year at college.

August is a month of new beginnings and the end of seasons. Literally, it’s the last full month of Summer. It’s the start of school, and the start of many university semesters. It’s the end of summer camp, the beginning of new friendships–or a new book.

For me, August certainly brings a lot of change. Big changes in my friendships, because they’re getting older, and I still have a lot of life to live. A change in my worklife, as I move to launch my Etsy (officially, it’ll launch August 6th!). And of course, getting back into the flow of school. I can’t help but think about all the things I wanted to do this summer, but didn’t have the chance, or time, or energy too–writing my book (in three months… which has burned me out before, so I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea. If you’re reading this, Nayah, yes, you can say I told you so).

A lot of me is anxious about it. I’ve never done well with big changes, especially ones I can’t predict.

But in every change of seasons, every end of an era, comes a new beginning and a new setting as well. It’s still something I’m grappling with accepting, but.. change isn’t bad. It’s just new. Strange. Wild. Wholehearted. It’s adventure, surprise, exploration, growth–a chance to step out of your comfort zone and find yourself. I know I do all this reading to find myself in other character’s stories–why shouldn’t I embrace my own Hero’s Journey, my own destiny?

Why shouldn’t you?

I recently read Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, and I wholeheardly enjoyed it (and highly recommend it. You can read my Goodreads review of it here). The Year of Yes concept is just–saying yes, to the things that scare you. Saying yes, to opportunities, to the things you would push aside. Saying yes to meeting with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Saying yes to playing with your kids. It’s a concept I try to embrace, and it’s gotten me big places–saying yes pushed me to start this blog!

And I think it’s a good concept to embrace now, too, in the midst of change, and turmoil, and fresh starts, and tearful goodbyes. Say yes to feeling, Yes to endings, Yes to change. Yes to hope that things will turn out, even if you can’t see the light at the end of the path, not yet. Maybe I’m being a little dramatic for a monthly update, but hey–say yes to dramatics too. It can be pretty fun.

Reading Challenge

This month is a few fun things–mainly, Mustard Day is today, and I dedicate this day to my dear bestie Mustard, may you have bright days in your future and never apologize if people think you’re an acquired taste. Go thank the mustard to your ketchup in your life. Brighten up their day ❤

Okay, onto the actual challenge–this month is also Happiness Happens month! Happiness Happens is a movement dedicated to celebrating what makes you happy, and sharing that happiness with other people! Your challenge this month is to read a book that either a. makes you happy, or b. makes someone you love happy.

No, this does not need to mean a book you find mind-numbing that your great aunt Josephine insists is the best book ever. But maybe it is. Maybe it’s the book your little sister loves and rants about, and now you make the time to read it. Maybe it’s a book your best friend has always wanted to read, so you two read it together. Maybe it’s a book you’ve had on your TBR forever that you finally go out and buy–or borrow from your local library (because it’s making yourself happy too!). Whatever it is, embrace the moment. Make it a moment. Get yourself a nice cup of tea or cocoa, or water(!), sit out on the lawn, and read. Rest. Revive.

If you’re feeling stuck, here are some books that made me happy!

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I’ve recommended this in previous posts, and I think it’s finally time I give you a review on it… stay tuned if you like books that inspire you so much, you have the energy and confidence to go climb Mt. Everest. (plus, it’s a novel, that almost feels like a self-help… the best of both worlds).
• The System Divine series by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell. Oh my word. This series… the plot twists… the romance…the action… I could go on and on. This sci-fi dystopia stole the title for my favorite novel after four years of having the same novel in that coveted spot. I highly recommend.
• Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. This middle grade spy series is an absolute blast, featuring math-smart but street-stupid turned spy, Benjamin Ripply. It’s filled with humor, edge-of-your-seat action, and a touch of romance–plus, a new book releases this October, giving you about a month to binge through the 12 books currently released. I have fond memories of running through the bookstore to find the newest releases as they came out, and after my little brother became obessed with the series, my love has been rekindled.
• Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg. This is technically… technically, a kids’ board book filled with art and interactive elements featuring beautiful oops! in art. Think the vibes of Bob Ross’s ‘happy little accidents’. But really… this is a book everyone can enjoy. My family has bought multiple copies over the years, and always love it to pieces (sometimes literally… oops!).

And let me know in the comments, because I always need more books for my TBR–what’s one book that makes you happy?

Prompts for the Month

Per usual, we have our writing, and self-care prompts for the month. Let me know in the comments if you write anything based off them, I’d love to read them!

Write something based off one of the following prompts:

convince me why I should

i suspect you forgot me

let me discover my dreams

and our self-care prompt:

Go somewhere you’ve never gone before.

Until next month, stay free, vibrant, and exactly who you are. ❤