Hello friend,

Somehow, we're already wrapping up another month. Anyone else wondering where July went? August is coming. Happy Halloween. Merry Christmas. lol

August always feels like such a transition month around here.

My stepson is getting ready to start his senior year (how is that even possible?!), back-to-school shopping is happening, end-of-summer weddings are on the calendar, and Michael and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. 🤍 How is this my life!?

Even still, these long, hot days have me dreaming of cooler mornings, open windows, and all the cozy things that come with a new season. Of course, here in Arizona, we still have a long way to go before it feels anything like fall.

Before we jump into August, I wanted to share a little bit about July.

July was awesome and a little rough at the same time - if I'm being honest. If you follow me online you may have seen some of that! I definitely shared about it in my subscription group​

Life can be like that. So full of good and not so good. It was a bit of a reminder that my body still gets the final say. And that healing comes in layers.

After weeks of dealing with elbow pain, I finally got some answers. Between Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (HEDS) and the extra stress it can put on my joints, I ended up with lateral epicondylitis. Basically, there are tiny tears in the tendons on the outside of my elbow. So now, I am in physical therapy every week until we see progress. Not exactly what I had planned for summer. 😅

If you've been around for a while, you probably know my instinct is usually to push through. But I am being told not to push through right now...

But the funny thing about chronic illness is that sometimes pushing through is just part of life. There are still appointments, responsibilities, family, and all the normal things that don't stop just because your body is struggling.

The hard part is learning the difference between pushing through because you need to and pushing past the point where your body needs support.

That balance has always been a challenge for me. Anyone else?!

For someone who loves checking things off a list, slowing down an already slow life is not always easy. But I'm learning that taking care of myself isn't giving up. Sometimes rest and adjusting are what allow me to keep showing up.

Have you ever had a season where life forced you to find a different pace?

Outside of appointments and physical therapy, July has actually been a pretty quiet month around here. And honestly? There has been something really nice about that.

The monsoon storms have been one of my favorite parts of this month. After weeks of Arizona heat, watching those clouds roll in and hearing the rain is such a reminder to slow down and appreciate the little things.

Btw, can we talk about how Arizona summers make every errand feel like a strategic mission? 😂

Michael has tried to get me out of the house a few times, but with the heat being what it is, we've mostly embraced slower days and finding little moments to enjoy summer without melting.

We did make a trip to Wildflower for coffee and a sweet treat, which was such a fun little outing. Sometimes those simple moments end up being the ones you remember.

The boys also took me to the mall to shop for a dress, which turned into a really fun family day. I don't take those moments for granted.

We've spent a lot of time at home too—baking goodies, saving and drying flower seeds for fall, enjoying the little routines that make home feel like home, and just taking life one day at a time.

One of my favorite things this month has been seeing Bailey getting up and around more.

After everything she's been through, every little improvement feels like such a gift. Those moments remind you not to take the little things for granted.

And speaking of flowers...Since my garden died this year, Michael has started bringing me flowers every week. 🤍

I don't know why, but this little tradition has quickly become one of my favorite things. Fresh flowers around the house just make everything feel a little brighter, and I've been drying some of them to save for fall projects.

We also filled out our mail-in ballots this month, had plenty of doctor's appointments sprinkled in (because that's just real life around here 😂), and continued finding little moments of joy wherever we could.

Some of my favorite moments this month:

Morning coffee.
Monsoon storms.
Fresh flowers on the counter.
A sweet treat from Wildflower.
Baking something in the kitchen.
Watching Bailey have a good day.
Family time.

The ordinary things.

And honestly, those are often the things that matter most.

How about you - what was one of your favorite moments from July?

As we head into August, I'm not trying to make everything perfect or rush into the next thing.

I'm just hoping to keep showing up, keep taking care of myself, and keep finding the little moments that make life feel good.

Before I go...

I'd love to hear from you.

What was one little bright spot from your July?

Or what are you looking forward to in August?

Just hit reply. I really do read these, and I love hearing what life looks like on your end too.

Thank you for being here and following along with me. Whether you've been here for years or you're newer around here, I'm so grateful you're part of this community. 🤍

Wishing you a beautiful end to July and a wonderful start to August.

With gratitude, Josie 🤍

Brighter Living | Brighter Rising

P.S. I'd love to hear about something you're excited about or something you're working on!?

---

A few things you might enjoy:

🤍 Self-Care & Wellness Favorites → See my lists​

🤍 Read the Latest on the Blog → New Posts​

🤍 Shop My Favorite Wellness, Home & Lifestyle Finds → Offers + Links​

---

Note: Some links I share are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to shop through them. It never costs you anything extra, and I only share things I personally use, love, or genuinely think are worth sharing. Thank you for supporting Brighter Living | Brighter Rising.

---

---