Happy Sunday, friends!

First, a quick thank you to everyone who stopped by the Arboretum Market this weekend. One of my favorite parts of the day was watching people pull cards from the Mystery Animal Card vending machine. I never get tired of seeing which animal finds its way to someone and hearing the stories and reactions that follow. I’ll be there again next Saturday as the hours move to 10-2pm!

I’ve been thinking about strength lately. A few weeks ago, I started a strength training class with a group of friends. I'll be honest, those first workouts felt sooooo hard. Every exercise felt challenging, and I found myself wondering if I was ever going to get the hang of it. But something funny happens when you keep showing up. The workouts are still hard, but now when I hit a challenging moment, I remember where we started and how far we've come in just a few weeks. That's why I decided to feature the Camel this week.

Sometimes we're so focused on the challenge in front of us that we forget to look back and see how much stronger we've already become.

– El

When most of us picture a camel, we imagine endless stretches of desert, blazing sun, and miles of seemingly impossible terrain. It's one of those animals that thrives in conditions that would quickly wear most creatures down. Not because it's stronger or faster than everything else around it, but because it's built differently. Camel survives through preparation, patience, and an incredible ability to conserve energy.

When life gets hard, it's easy to assume we're reaching our limit. We look at everything on our plate, the challenges we're facing, the uncertainty ahead, and wonder if we have what it takes to make it through. We feel tired. We feel stretched. And it’s easy to assume we're running out of steam. Camel offers a different perspective.

Camels are built for journeys that would overwhelm most animals. They travel across harsh landscapes, endure extreme conditions, and keep moving long after others would have stopped. Not because they're fearless and not because the journey is easy. But because they carry reserves that aren't always visible from the outside. The same is true for us.

One of the things I've noticed in conversations with friends lately is how quick we are to underestimate ourselves. We focus on what feels difficult right now while forgetting everything we've already navigated. The hard seasons we've survived. The disappointments we've recovered from. The changes we've adapted to. The responsibilities we've carried. The losses we've endured.

We rarely give ourselves credit for the strength we've built along the way and maybe that's why Camel feels like such an important companion right now. Camel arrives as a reminder that you have already done hard things, probably more than you acknowledge.

If the Camel message resonates with you this week, consider the possibility that you are far more capable than you think. The road ahead may be challenging, but you've traveled difficult roads before. The next chapter may require endurance, but endurance is already part of who you are.

Trust yourself. You have more strength in reserve than you realize.

Each week in this space, you’ll get something to try, a simple way to connect more deeply to the wild all around you.

Here’s this week’s Daily Wild Experiment.

Make a list of three hard things you've already made it through.

When self-doubt appears this week, remember the list and remember the camel and remind yourself: If I made it through those things, I can handle what's next.

I NEVER get tired of seeing your Instagram posts, text messages about animals and the cards you pulled. Here are a few Daily Wild sightings from the week!

Yes! You can now order The Daily Wild animal inspiration card decks them from the website. Whether you’re grabbing a set for yourself or looking for a meaningful gift, they're designed to encourage curiosity, confidence, and a little more connection to the world around us.

As we build this community, I would love more than anything to hear from you. What’s landing? What did you notice this week? What do you want more of? Just reply to this email and let me know.

I am really loving it when you share your daily card pulls with me - I’ve been seeing more of these come through Instagram. Tag @yourdailywild! It never gets old and always makes me smile to see the animals that are calling to you!