Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends.

First, a big welcome to all of the new subscribers. I met so many of you at the market this past weekend, and it was such a joy to hear your stories, talk about animals, and share what The Daily Wild is all about. Whether you've been here since the beginning or just found your way here, I'm so glad you're along for the adventure.

Like many of you, this season has been wonderfully busy. A friend recently introduced me to the phrase 'Maycember,' which perfectly captures the craziness of this time of year. Between work, appointments, the end of school, and everyday life, many of you are sharing that the calendar fills up fast. One thing I'm trying to be intentional about lately is making room to have fun! For me, that looks like tennis with friends, afternoons with family, lunches that go just a little longer than planned, and finding moments to simply enjoy the people I love. It's a good reminder that fun isn't something we earn after everything else is done. It's part of a life well-lived and a great lead-in to this week’s animal…

– El

As summer begins and many of us head to a pool, lake, or beach this holiday weekend, I find myself thinking about dolphins. If you've ever watched dolphins swim, one thing becomes obvious almost immediately: they make it look easy.

They leap through waves, ride currents, surface for air, and dive beneath the water with a sense of ease that's hard not to admire. They're powerful animals, but they don't spend their energy fighting every current. Instead, they work with the water around them, using intelligence, awareness, and adaptability to move efficiently through their environment.

Dolphins are also among the few animals known to play throughout their lives. They surf waves for fun. They chase one another. They create bubble rings and interact with them. Young dolphins learn through play, but adults continue to play long after they've mastered survival.

That always feels like an important reminder.

Somewhere along the way, many of us start treating playfulness as something we earn after the work is finished. We tell ourselves we'll relax when the project is done, have fun when the deadline passes, or enjoy life once everything is under control. But dolphins don't separate play from life.

Their curiosity strengthens relationships. Their play develops skills. Their social bonds help them thrive. What looks like lightness from the outside is actually part of what makes them resilient.

Dolphin appears when we're working harder than necessary because we've forgotten to look for a current that could help carry us while having a little fun along the way.

This weekend, as you watch ripples move across a lake or float in a pool, consider the wisdom of the dolphin. Not every wave is meant to be conquered. Some are meant to be ridden.

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.

Each day, choose one thing to do with a lighter touch.

Notice what happens when you stop fighting every wave and let yourself float for a while.

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 last-minute graduation 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!