Hi there,

Magical things have happened to Jeannie Ralston in Seattle this week, including an encounter on an Alaska Airlines jetway, which she’ll write about later, and a gathering with a bunch of cool women at a rooftop bar last night.

One of the women, Dee Quiggle, has been showing Jeannie Ralston around her hometown over the past few days (we’re planning to offer a chockfull NextTribe trip there in 2025). Something Dee said really struck us: “We live every day. We only die once.” We love that because we’re all about squeezing as much juice out of life every moment we can.

Jeannie Edmunds feels that her 90-year-old mother lived by that saying, which makes her passing this week more bearable. She is taking some time off, collecting herself after a profound experience—holding her mother’s hand as she left this Earth.

Another staff member, Janet Siroto, lost her 99-year-old mother earlier this month. When we lose a parent at this age, there is an intense mix of emotion: gratitude that we had them in our lives this long and grief for the hole their passing will leave in our lives and hearts. (Plus, it’s overwhelming to realize that we’re becoming the elders now.) If you still have a parent, count yourself blessed and hug him or her.

And don’t forget to hug yourself often and to treat yourself to some downtime in these last days of summer. A perfect opportunity to read some of our new magazine offerings.

Want more? Check out our library of 1,600 articles!

Happy trails!

Jeannie Ralston, CEO + Jeannie Edmunds, Chief Operating Officer