Greetings my lovely feral, dark, and bright ones,

I hope that you all had a great first day of June yesterday. As most of you know, I ended up taking the day off as a sick day. And by “sick day,” I mean I essentially turned into a human burrito and slept through about ninety percent of it.

I needed the rest. Big time.

Exhaustion has a funny, almost aggressive way of getting you to stop, drop, and reset. Your body just decides, “Oh, you think you’re running the show? That’s cute. Watch this,” and flips the main breaker. But honestly? It was the best thing I could have done.

It is so strange—I sit down to write today, and I have absolutely nothing sad, depressing, or heavy to get out of my head. No major rants, no raving, no existential crises. Maybe taking that extra day of pure, unapologetic sleep, combined with actually getting out of the house this past weekend, was exactly the soul-medicine I needed.

Now, I am currently trying to schedule some vacation time at work, and let’s just say the scheduling gods are not playing nice right now. It’s not working out quite like I’d like, but I’m not letting it ruin my vibe. I will figure it out. I always do.

For today, you’re just getting a stream-of-consciousness, “whatever-pops-into-my-brain” kind of post. Grab a coffee, and let’s wander.

The Switch 2, Digital Renovations, and Mom’s Advice

I was lying in bed last night thinking about how desperately I want to update my island on Animal Crossing and finally dive back into my Dreamlight Valley worlds. I haven’t done a single thing to either of them all year.

The irony is that I got the shiny new Switch 2 earlier this year, and you’d think I’d be a gaming machine. But life had other plans. With Mom not doing well and stepping into the role of her caretaker, my nights weren’t spent terraforming digital islands; they were spent just trying to catch my breath. By the time I actually had a free second to pick up the console, my brain cells were fried. I just didn’t have the energy to do anything more complex than stare at the ceiling.

But now, as I navigate my way forward through the grief and the quiet morning after her passing, I feel a shift. I’m finding myself with a little more focus, a little more desire to pick up the controller and just play.

A beautiful memory popped up last night while I was thinking about it. I used to sit and tell Mom all about the games, explaining the village drama and the valley updates. She thought it was hilarious and told me I should make up my own storylines to go with the gameplay, record the videos, and share them with the world.

At the time, I probably laughed it off. But looking back? It’s funny how those memories surface right when you need them. I might actually do it. A little creative storytelling in my cozy gaming worlds feels like a pretty sweet, lighthearted way to honor her advice. We shall see. Watch out, YouTube, I might be entering my gamer-girl era.

Since I’ve been out of the loop for a minute, I did some digging last night to see exactly what I’ve been missing for the month of June. If you’ve been away from your screens too, here is your official gaming catch-up!

What’s New on the Island (Animal Crossing: New Horizons)

June is a massive lifestyle shift for our islands in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer has officially arrived, and with it comes a ton of fresh energy:

• Wedding Season is Live (June 1–30): It’s time to head back to Harv’s Island! Reese and Cyrus are looking for their annual anniversary photoshoots, which means unlocking gorgeous wedding-themed furniture and heart crystals. Time to play event coordinator.
• Shark Season is Officially Here: Keep your eyes on the ocean waters! The finned silhouettes are back—Great Whites, Hammerheads, Saw Sharks, and Whale Sharks are actively spawning.
• Summer Shells: Young Spring Bamboo is gone, and bright blue Summer Shells are washing up on the beaches. Time to hunt for those seasonal DIY floating mats, shell wreaths, and wallpaper recipes.
• International Children’s Day & Father’s Day: Check Nook Shopping right now! Exclusive seasonal items like the handmade crown, cape, and thank-you mugs are available to grab.
• The Bug-Off: Flick is making his first official summer appearance on the fourth Saturday of June. Get your nets ready!

Deep Dive into the Valley (Disney Dreamlight Valley)

For those who haven’t played, Dreamlight Valley is essentially a cozy life-sim meets Disney magic. You build up a valley, clear out the “Forgetting,” and live alongside iconic characters.

• The Realms & DLC: Inside the Dream Castle, we have magical portal doors to distinct realms like Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and The Lion King. Plus, if you have the A Rift in Time expansion DLC, you unlock Eternity Isle—a massive secondary world where Jafar is causing chaos, and you get to hang out with Rapunzel, Gaston, and EVE.
• The BIG Free Update – “A Hero’s Journey” Drops TOMORROW (June 3rd): Talk about timing! A massive new update drops tomorrow morning! A brand-new Hercules Realm is opening up inside the castle. We get to travel to Phil’s training island, fight off the darkness plaguing the grounds, and unlock both Hercules and his legendary mentor, Phil, to bring them home to our Valleys!
• Brand New Events & Features Coming This Week:
  • Godly Glamor Star Path: Launching tomorrow with the update, a gorgeous new seasonal pass full of radiant ancient Greek attire, Olympian cloud mansions, and mythic mounts.
  • The Dreamlight Parks Fest (Starts June 10th): The fan-favorite parks event is officially returning next week, letting us collect hidden buttons around the valley for exclusive park-themed rewards!
  • Premium Shop & Scrooge Store Upgrades: Jasmine’s tiger Rajah is arriving as a cozy animal companion bundle! Plus, Scrooge is getting automated store upgrades this week with way better daily rotations for furniture and clothing we don’t own yet.

Ripped, Burned, and the Truth About “Showing Up”

On a completely different, slightly spicier note: I recently received a condolences card in the mail.

To be completely honest with you all? I ripped it up and burned it.

Before anyone gasps, let me explain: that person is absolutely not in my life. And here is my philosophy on support—if you genuinely care about someone who is grieving, and you happen to live in the exact same city, you don’t buy a generic piece of cardboard, lick a stamp, and call it a day. You make a decision. You get into a car, or you get a ride, and you show up at the front door. You make an actual, physical effort to be there for a person.

Now, I know some of you who know the history might ask, “Rae, would you really have let that person into your home if they just showed up?”

Yes. I absolutely sure would have.

Why? Because if they took the time to drive over, look me in the eyes, and show real compassion and empathy instead of being self-centered, it would prove something huge. It would prove that they grew up. It would prove they changed for the better.

I am a firm believer in the idea that people can wake up. I always hold onto hope that people can evolve and learn how to be decent human beings. I try to see the good in all situations, people, places, and yes, even things. It’s just who I am wired to be. I am not delusional, and I’m definitely not a doormat. I just happen to have a good heart, and I refuse to let the world make me cynical. I still have faith that there is good in this world, even if you have to squint to see it sometimes.

Checking In, Punching In

I am heading back to work today, and I’m actually looking forward to a good day. I genuinely enjoy what I do, which feels like a minor miracle in adulthood, so I think that counts for something. The daily grind doesn’t stress me out the way my old life used to, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

So, yeah. I don’t have a massive, groundbreaking essay for you today. Just a heart that’s feeling a little lighter, a brain full of digital island designs, and a soul that is resting.

I hope you all have a beautiful Tuesday. I am sending out a massive wish that June brings every single one of us the kind of greatness, blessings, and unexpected joy that we could never even think to ask for. The world is a heavy place right now; we all need a little extra grace.

As for me? I am at peace today. And that is more than enough.