You're not gonna yell at a peach tree in February for not producing fruit

First day of kindergarten with the girl who starts her senior year this week. 🥹

My girls have spent the last week getting haircuts, new backpacks, new first day of school clothes, making adjustments to sleep schedules, squeezing in hangs with friends, and slowly transitioning from easy-breezy summer to back-to-school mode.

It got me thinking about something Carey Davidson said in an episode of the podcast a few weeks ago.

“You're not gonna go yell at a peach tree in February that it ain't producing fruit.”

I've been playing with this in my own life, calling it "seasonal strategizing." Instead of cramming every ambitious goal into September because it feels like a fresh start, I’m asking myself, “What is this season perfect for?”

For me, early fall feels like depth over breadth. Consistency over intensity. The kind of sustainable momentum that carries me through winter, not the kind that burns me out by October.

Instead of my usual September goal-setting bonanza, I'm picking just three practices to deepen this month:

1. Morning ocean observations (even just 2 minutes before the day takes off)

2. One courageous conversation per week (the kind I've been avoiding)

3. Evening gratitude specifically for small brave moments (mine and others')

That's it. No massive overhauls. No revolutionary changes. Just three small experiments in showing up more fully to what's already working.

What if you designed this month around your actual rhythms instead of borrowed urgency?

What would it look like to deepen something that's already working rather than starting something completely new?

And here's the one that's been following me around lately: What small brave thing could you practice consistently that would change everything by December?

Our next courageous step doesn't have to be dramatic. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is trust our own rhythm.

What's your September experiment going to be? Hit reply and let me know, or add a comment here. I love to hear from you, and your ideas always spark new thinking for me.

Building courage capital together,

Aransas

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Join Me for an Uplifters Book Talk with Cleyvis Natera!

Ready to dive deeper into The Grand Paloma Resort with Cleyvis herself?

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 16th (location TBA) – we're gathering for an intimate book club discussion with Cleyvis Natera about her stunning new novel.

If you were at Uplifters Live, you already know the magic that happens when Cleyvis gets talking about her work, her characters, and the delicious complexity of writing steamy scenes that make us all blush and cheer. If you missed it, this is your chance to experience that infectious energy firsthand.

We'll explore the layered world of The Grand Paloma Resort, dig into the craft behind the story, and knowing Cleyvis, probably laugh until our sides hurt while learning something profound about courage, creativity, and owning our gifts.

Space is limited to keep the conversation intimate and real.

To join us: RSVP by September 10th. We'll send location details and discussion questions to confirmed attendees.

Bring your copy of the book, your curiosity, and your appetite for the kind of conversation that leaves you feeling more alive and connected to your own creative courage.

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