Issue #122 | June 5, 2026 | Previous issues​

Hey Reader,

🥳 It's JUNE.

Which marks the beginning of my favorite season.

June, July, and August are when I thrive (at least in New York).

Spring is beautiful—the pink peonies have been divine perfection. Autumn colors cannot be imitated by anyone's paintbrush (sorry artists). I adore snow and ice skating.

But Summer.

That is where my heart belongs. That's when my body relaxes and unfurls especially as I bask in the sunshine.

If I had it my way, summer would be eight months of the year, the rest would be divided for the other seasons. You might be shaking your head—I seem to be one of the few who dances in 90-degree weather.

Anyway, on Monday, I went grocery shopping and treated myself to a low-sugar peach oolong tea. Black tea + peach flavoring. YUM. What's not to love?

As I was enjoying my beverage, I happened to notice there was writing inside the bottle cap.

Yes, I'm one of those people who love discovering secret messages and unearthing buried quotes as I travel through life.

But this quote rattled my bones. Every cell in my body screamed NOPE!

Let's see what you think of the quote.

Oh, it's such a harmless statement. Some of it is downright true.

I mean, you only live once, right? (wink wink)

And getting life right, by working and doing the right things, sounds like wise advice you'd give at a graduation ceremony.

But then he ends the quote with the most offensive thought imaginable: once is enough.

ONCE IS ENOUGH????

OMG JOE.

Really?

I don't buy it for one minute.

If once is enough for you, Joe, by all means.

But once is not enough for me.

Do you know how many corners of the earth I haven't explored yet?

Do you know how many books I haven't devoured yet?

Do you know how many flavors I've never tasted, and never will?

Do you know how many times I've stood in front of the ocean and said, "That's enough. I'll be glad to never see you again"?

Zero.

And don't even get me started about how many stories I don't have time to finish.

Time, Joe. The continuity of time and life.

I hear people saying they'd never want to live forever. It scares people. It's confusing. I get it. They're imagining a horrific hell on earth and then living that way perpetually.

No one would want that. It would be illogical.

But for just one moment I want you to picture the best day you've ever had in your life so far.

Go ahead. Take a few minutes and recall it. If you don't have a full day then pick a favorite moment.

If you want to make this deeper and fun, write it out. Be specific.

Why was it your best day or moment ever?

What did you do?

Who was there?

How did you feel?

Did you want it to end? Maybe you even wish you could relive it.

Now stretch that.

What if you could have many days like that?

Not the exact same day.

Just days where life is good to you and days where you are good to life.

And then repeat.

Forever.

Some might say that's greedy.

I say this feeling is built into your DNA.

So Joe.

• One life feeling awe at a sunset? Not enough.
• One life counting stars? Not enough.
• One life carrying and nursing a child? Not enough.
• One life basking on the beach soothed by ocean waves? Not enough.
• One life of fragrant pink peonies filling me with joy? Not enough.
• One life exploring the woods, splashing in streams, or catching baby newts? Not enough.

I want more.

I can't get enough of the good stuff.

I don't think we were designed for misery and brevity—even though that is our reality right now.

I believe we were designed with eternity in mind—and hints of it are hidden everywhere in nature.

• Sunsets that never end.
• Ocean waves that never stop.
• Constellations of stars that never burn out.
• A universe with no borders—and still expanding.

And then there are perennial flowers, who disappear and return every season—as if to prove that life is worth living.

My mom's peony bush that she planted twelve years ago still blooms every year, though she's gone.

I collected them in a vase and filled my bedroom with them.

And you know what I learned? Her bush may keep blooming every year for another 50-100 years!!! 🤩

The clues are all around us.

So get out in nature with curious eyes and a heart open wide.

See what's hidden. See what's possible.

Because once is not enough.

With love and more...,

Anna

P.S. I understand many people are suffering deeply. I'm not denying or minimizing suffering, pain, and death. I'm simply saying, life was meant to be more. It was meant to be good.

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