Hi Friends,
Bellingham summers have a particular kind of chaos to them (the good kind, mostly). The days stretch longer with more sunlight, there are endless mountains to climb, alpine lakes to swim in, etc. This summer had an extra layer of chaos because I moved. Still in Bellingham and only a mile away, but a move is still a move! In the process I discovered that I still own the screwdriver set my dad bought me when I moved into my freshman dorm room (my partner has not one, but three bookcase-size toolboxes, and I still refuse to get rid of it).
Right in the middle of all that, I backpacked the rocky coastline of the Olympic Peninsula over the Fourth of July. Being completely phone-free for five days was just the break I needed from the moving chaos. Highlights included three black bears and, somehow even better, a “Fun-Meter” button that someone had left on the trail. We adjusted it accordingly, obviously.
The week-long trip turned out to be the first real space I'd given myself to pause and reflect since I launched Cents of Joy. Which was well timed, because this past July marked one full year in business!
From the Blog: Cents of Joy Year 1, Wrapped
When I sat down to reflect on my learnings from year one, it became pretty clear that I don't have a tidy answer for what it all means yet. But that didn’t stop me from mulling over the lessons I want to build on in year two! You can read the full post on the blog: Cents of Joy Year 1 Wrapped: Reflections from my First Year in Business.
A Timely Tip: The Mid-Year Check-In
If you have federal student loans, this one's worth five minutes. As of July 1, the interest rate reduction for enrolling in autopay jumped from 0.25% to a full 1% and it's retroactive if you're already enrolled. The catch is a deadline: you need to be enrolled in autopay by September 30, 2026, to lock in the reduced rate through June 2028. It applies to Direct Loans issued after July 2012.
What I'm Pondering
Reading: I just finished the Red Rising series which I started back in December. It’s been a looooong journey. It was darker then my usual read but it was SO good. I’m ready to come up for air and read something new now so send any recs my way!
Listening To: This 2015 Interview with the poet Mary Oliver.
Following: This weird story about a local grosbeak massacre nearby where I live.
Thinking About: I you gave yourself five phone-free days right now, what's the one thing you think you'd actually miss? And what do you think you wouldn't?
Quoting: “If this object had poop on it, would I wash it off or throw it away?” (Me all month when packing and trying to decide whether I should keep or get rid of something)
Cents of Joy News
In the spirit of simplifying rather than adding more options, I've retired the sliding-scale Clarity Hour and replaced it with a limited number of pro bono hours a month instead. You can check that out here!
Thank you for reading. If anything here sparked something for you, hit reply and let me know.
Wishing you a slow & sunny summer,
Audrey
