Y’all, I’m tired today… but also wildly energized at the same time? This was one of those weeks that felt full in every sense of the word.

I spent several days in San Diego at one of our biggest work events of the year. It's one of those events where, if everything goes well, no one notices the hundreds of moving pieces behind the scenes. The reality is that it takes months of planning, dozens of people, and countless little details to make it all possible.

Earlier in the week, I ventured up to Oceanside and squeezed in some time with one of my middle school best friends. It’s been 35+ years since we lived in the same city, but we laughed, caught up on life, and I left feeling incredibly inspired. Not because of everything she's accomplished (although she's doing amazing things!),  but because she's still so completely herself. In a world that constantly tells us who we should become, she's never stopped being who she already is.

Then, earlier today, after a week that seemed to move at full speed, I met my parents for a quiet Sunday morning with breakfast tacos, dogs, and catching up on the week.

Now, if you’re still with me, you’re probably thinking – Awesome, El, but what’s the point of all of this?

Each one of these moments was special this week because they reminded me of the importance of staying grounded and surrounding yourself with good people.

It's surprisingly easy to get pulled toward whatever feels loudest or most urgent. We spend so much time thinking about what's next that we forget to notice what we already know, the people who know us best, the work that's built through small acts of teamwork, and the relationships that have quietly shaped who we are over the years.

That's when I thought about the elephant.

– El

Elephants are known for their incredible memories, but memory alone isn't what makes them remarkable. It's what they choose to remember.

In the wild, elephant herds are led by an experienced female called the matriarch. Over decades, she builds an extraordinary mental map of her world. She remembers where hidden water sources can be found during droughts, which migration routes have kept the herd safe, and where danger has been encountered before. Scientists have found that her experience often becomes the herd's greatest survival tool when conditions are at their hardest.

But here’s what really caught my attention. Elephants don't use memory to stay rooted in the past, they use it to move forward.

Every season brings new challenges for the elephant herd. Rivers shift, rainfall changes, calves are born, and sometimes the herd loses one of their own. Yet elephants move with a quiet confidence because experience has taught them what truly matters. They carry the wisdom that has helped the herd survive and flourish, passing it from one generation to the next.

Elephants don't become wise simply because they've lived a long time, they become wise because they remember what was worth carrying forward and I wonder if this is true for us, too.

We spend so much time searching for the next answer, the next project, the next animal for the card deck, or the next opportunity, that we sometimes overlook the wisdom we've already earned. The relationships that have shaped us, the values we've tested, the lessons we've learned, and maybe most importantly, the people who remind us who we are.

Maybe that's why this week's three moments stayed with me. My friend reminded me what it looks like to stay true to yourself. My work reminded me that extraordinary things are built through people working together. Breakfast with my parents reminded me that some of life's most rewarding moments never make it onto a to-do list.

Maybe this week the Elephant is asking us to remember that the strongest things we build. Whether we’re talking about relationships, careers, or communities, these are rarely created through one grand gesture. They're built through years of showing up with consistency, care, and intention.

Like the elephant, even as we move forward and grow, we can do so with quiet confidence because experience has taught us what truly matters. Learning is my love language, but growth doesn't exclusively come from learning something new. Sometimes it comes from remembering what has always been true.

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!

I'm thrilled to finally say yes, you can now order The Daily Wild animal inspiration card decks 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. Visit www.dailywild.com to learn more.