For a lot of people, August feels like the end of summer. It does for me. I feel like we have reached the crest and are on our way down.
The days are still warm, but somehow they feel different.
The sunsets seem to come a little earlier.
The gardens start changing.
School supplies begin appearing in the stores. EVERYWHERE!
Everything gently whispers that another season is on its way.
For me, August has always carried another meaning.
August 3rd, marks 32 years since my mom passed away. This day has become harder not having my sister to reach out to. The only other person who would understand.
Even after all these years, this date quietly reminds me how quickly ordinary moments become precious memories.
It also reminds me why creativity has become such an important part of my life.
Not because everything has always been easy.
But because creativity has helped me notice life while I'm living it.
We Think Memories Have to Be Big
You can see the beginnings of my July 2026 Junk Journal here on My Youtube.
Sometimes we think the memories worth saving are vacations.
Birthdays.
Christmas.
Big celebrations.
But when I look back, it isn't always those moments that I treasure most.
It's the ordinary ones.
An afternoon ice cream stop.
A coffee shop I discovered.
A funny text.
A bakery receipt.
A wedding invitation.
A walk through a little gift shop.
The shell tucked inside an envelope.
Those tiny pieces of life become surprisingly meaningful later.
That's exactly what I was doing during this week's Creative Care Friday.
I wasn't creating a masterpiece.
I was simply gathering little pieces of July into my journal before the month slipped away.
I Wasn't Behind...
One thing I kept saying during Friday's live was...
"I am not behind."
I smiled when I heard myself say it because I think so many of us need to hear those words.
It was July 31st.
I hadn't finished my July journal.
And for a moment, I could have told myself I was late.
Instead...
I slowed down.
Took a deep breath.
Took another sip of coffee.
And simply enjoyed creating. Scissors, Glue, Ephemera
Because creativity isn't another item to check off the to-do list.
It's permission to pause.
Sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Creativity Preserves More Than Paper
People often ask me,
"What do you actually do with all these journals?"
The answer is simple.
I remember.
I remember stopping for homemade ice cream.
I remember visiting Mystic Connecticut
I remember laughing over coffee.
I remember the little adventures that would probably disappear if I never wrote them down.
Years from now those tiny scraps of paper won't just be paper.
They'll be reminders of a life that was fully lived.
And I think that's beautiful.
August Feels Like a Gentle Reset
Maybe August is your reminder too.
Not to rush into fall.
Not to feel guilty about what you haven't finished.
Not to worry if your creative space has been neglected.
Instead...
Take twenty minutes.
Cut some paper.
Paint something simple.
Write one page.
Collect one memory from today.
Because one ordinary day may become one of the memories you treasure most someday.
A Little Piece of My Heart
Losing my mom so young changed me.
Years later, losing my sister changed me again.
Neither experience made me appreciate perfect projects.
They taught me to appreciate ordinary days.
That's why I believe so deeply in creative self-care.
Not because art makes life perfect.
But because creativity helps us slow down long enough to notice that life is happening right now.
And those little moments become the ones we carry forever.
Your Creative Care Challenge This Week
Before August slips away...
Choose one small memory to save.
Maybe it's:
- your favorite coffee shop receipt
- a pressed flower
- a movie ticket
- a handwritten note
- a photograph
- a beach shell
- a favorite quote
- a funny text
Glue it into a journal.
Write a few sentences beside it.
Thirty years from now, you'll be grateful you did.
Because sometimes the smallest memories become the biggest treasures.
Until next time...
Take a deep breath.
Give yourself grace.
Use what you have.
Create something that makes you smile.
Because the ordinary moments you're living today may become the memories you treasure tomorrow.
-teresa XO
