Before we get to this week's animal, I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the dads, grandfathers, stepdads, mentors, and father figures who help guide, support, and encourage the people around them. My dad gets a special shoutout for helping encourage my love of the outdoors at an early age - fishing trips, hikes, and beaches were all part of growing up and a huge inspiration for The Daily Wild. Thanks Dad!

I've been thinking a lot lately about how many people have helped The Daily Wild get to where it is today. Someone stops by the booth and shares a story about their favorite animal or a subscriber hits reply to an email. A friend mentions the cards to someone they know or leaves a kind comment online.

Most of these moments are brief, and each person probably doesn't think much about it afterward. But I've learned that those small words of encouragement often stick with me far longer than anyone realizes. Sometimes they're exactly what I needed to hear on that particular day.

Which brings me to this week's animal. Because if there's one creature that understands the power of small contributions adding up to something extraordinary, it's the Ant.

– El

As I’ve been trying to build The Daily Wild community, I’ve talked to a lot of people, many who I've never met before. Most interactions last only a few minutes. On their own, these moments seem small, but the Ant reminds me that meaningful things are rarely built all at once. An ant focuses on the next step, the next task, the next grain it can carry. Yet through thousands of small, steady actions, something remarkable takes shape.

What fascinates me most about ants isn't just their persistence, it's the way they work together. When an ant discovers a food source too large to carry alone, it doesn't struggle endlessly trying to prove it can do everything itself. Instead, it sends a signal, other ants arrive, and together, they move something that would have been impossible individually.

There is something deeply human in that lesson. Many of us have been taught to admire independence, to figure things out ourselves, and to carry the weight alone. But some goals aren't meant to be carried by one person. Sometimes strength looks less like self-reliance and more like asking for help. The Ant reminds us that support is not a shortcut, it's part of the design.

Entire colonies thrive because each ant contributes its piece. There are builders, gatherers, protectors, and caretakers. No single ant does everything. Yet together they create something remarkably resilient.

That’s definitely true for me, too. The Daily Wild isn't being built by one person. It's being built by every conversation, every subscriber, every person who shares a card with a friend, leaves a kind comment, stops by a market booth, or takes a moment to connect with the ideas these animals inspire. I’m not a very patient person, so it’s an important reminder for me that progress rarely arrives all at once. It accumulates quietly through small actions repeated over time. A conversation. A shared story. A newsletter. One more step forward.

Whatever lies ahead for you, don't worry about the entire mountain. Focus on today's piece. Trust the accumulation. Small, steady efforts have a way of becoming something much larger than we can see in the moment. And when the road ahead seems daunting, send your signals,  lean on your colony, then focus on the next small step. What seems impossible alone often becomes achievable together, one grain at a time.

I'm thrilled to finally say 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!