Dog Days of Summer — and the Search for Flow

I've been watching my kids this summer, feeling both proud and a little envious.

- My daughter Alexandra is interning at Book of the Month Club in NYC — reading books in Central Park on weekends, fully absorbing the city.

- My daughter Caroline is getting ready for college, working at a summer camp and tutoring, but lit up when I suggested she learn Billy Joel's New York State of Mind on the piano.

- My son Henry is coaching younger swimmers while quietly shattering his own PRs nearly every race.

Each of them has something — work, play, and a thread that gives them flow.

And me? I tried surfing. (Yes, that's me in the photo.) Fun, humbling, and a good reminder that teaching this old dog new tricks is harder than it looks.

- I know I should do yoga.

- I know I should meditate.

But "should" is the enemy of play — and anything that feels like homework rarely sticks.

So here's what I keep coming back to: as adults, how do we rediscover the thing that gives us flow?

Einstein used to nap holding a set of keys. The moment he drifted off, they'd clatter to the floor and jolt him awake — and he'd immediately write down what he'd been dreaming. He engineered the threshold between conscious and unconscious thought.

Steve Jobs studied Picasso's Bull series obsessively — watching how Picasso stripped a drawing down to its essential lines — because he believed simplicity was the hardest thing to achieve.

Both of them protected something: a relaxed, wandering, right-brained state of mind. The place where discovery actually lives.

I'm realizing that writing does that for me. It pulls me away from my inbox and into my inner world. It doesn't feel like work — it's a release. A way of finding out what I think, going with the flow of life, stepping back to reflect.

To appreciate something as simple as this little dog standing guard on the windowsill while his mama cooks inside. 🐾

So I'll ask you: if you spend your days in spreadsheets, inboxes, and left-brain mode — what lets you get into a state of flow? And if you haven't found it yet, how are you looking?

The dog days of summer are the perfect time to wander a little.

Plan a bit for the future. Reach out if you would love to share!

Tiffany Kent

Your Friendly Wealth Engagement Guide

Disclosures: Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. The information contained herein should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.

This commentary offers generalized research, not personalized investment advice. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description of our investment services or performance. Nothing in this commentary should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future investment returns. All investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with an investment & tax professional before implementing any investment strategy. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Wealth Engagement LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.