We took a little time this weekend to get away to one of our favorite places and it's been exactly what I needed. My days have been filled with beach walks, swimming and seafood dinners. In the midst of all of this relaxation and fun, I still find myself thinking about The Daily Wild. I’m not thinking about it because I’m stressed or feel pressure, but because creating it genuinely brings me joy. When your work is connected to something you love, it doesn't feel like work.

One of my favorite surprises about building The Daily Wild has been the people I've met along the way. Yesterday, I met a wonderful artist and children's author named Linda Hansen, who was hosting a small pop-up where we're staying. We spent time talking about creativity, watercolors, and the joy of making things that bring smiles to other people. Her book, Otto the Otter, is the most adorable story with her beautiful illustrations as the backdrop. And a great inspiration for this week’s featured animal.

Here’s hoping you all find a little joy this week (if you're reading this, Linda, happy birthday!)!

– El

It's hard not to smile when you pull the Otter card.

In fact, it's one of the most popular animals in the deck. Maybe that's because otters seem to have figured out something many of us forget.

In my conversation with Linda this week about her book, Otto the Otter, we chatted about the differences between river otters and sea otters. These two types of otters are close relatives, but they've each found their own way to thrive.

River otters are energetic explorers and are semi-aquatic. They spend much of their time running riverbanks, sliding down muddy hillsides, diving for fish, and moving between land and water with remarkable agility. They're curious, playful, and constantly investigating the world around them.

Sea otters have taken a very different approach. They rarely leave the ocean and spend much of their lives floating on their backs. They even keep favorite rocks tucked under their arms to crack open shellfish and have some of the densest fur of any animal on Earth, up to a million hairs per square inch, to stay warm in cold coastal waters.

Despite their different lifestyles, both species have something important in common. In their own ways they find ways to play.

Scientists have discovered that play isn't simply entertainment for otters, it's essential. Young otters develop the coordination they'll need to hunt, while adults strengthen social bonds, practice important survival skills, and recover from the daily demands of finding food and raising young. Joyful play isn't a break from life. It's part of how they thrive.

For much of my life, I treated joy like something I'd get to later. After the deadline. After the project. After life finally slows down. But otters remind us that joy isn't separate from a successful life. It's one of the things that makes success sustainable.

I've noticed this while building The Daily Wild, some of my favorite moments have been the unexpected conversations at markets, the emails from readers, watching someone smile after pulling a mystery card, or meeting someone like Linda who shares the same love of creating.

Those moments don't distract me from the work, they remind me why I'm doing it. Maybe the otter has it right. Joy isn't something we earn after the work is finished. It's one of the things that gives us the strength to keep going.

What if joy isn't the finish line? What if it’s the fuel?

If this week's otter resonated with you, there's a good chance another animal is waiting for you too. The Daily Wild deck includes 55 animal companions, each with its own gentle reminder for everyday life.

Pull a card whenever you need a little perspective, encouragement, or curiosity.

> Explore The Deck

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