Welcome to Yescessary, the newsletter that's all about putting what matters most - first. You can subscribe and follow me on Instagram @yescessary
Cheerio!
I hope you’re feeling well and keeping well these days!
Folks, I did something that I’ve never done before; I put a HOLD in my calendar for a UK conference months before knowing I could attend.
Have you ever done that?
My trip is the inspo for writing about the F-word.
I’m sure you’re curious. Let’s chum for a bit and I’ll tell you all about it.
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This issue is all about the F-word (spoiler: it’s faith), a no-fail Thai iced coffee recipe, and my summer Yes-essentials.
If you need a reminder that things have a way of working out, this one’s for you!
I had trouble finding things when I was a kid. My mother would send me upstairs to retrieve something simple, like a tablecloth.
I’d stare at the mishmash of our linen closet and not see what she asked for. Then, I’d freeze with anxiety. Every. Time.
I remember walking downstairs, head bent, empty-handed. My mother would promptly send my younger sister up. Three seconds later, “Got it!” would fly out of her toddler mouth.
Those scenes turbo boosted my insecurity, exhibit A’ed my inadequacy.
I accepted that I was no good at finding things.
Fast-forward to my summer job interview in university. I remember my anticipation and confusion when the recruiter, Gary, reached into his drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. He had the grandest smile when he told me there were only three summer jobs in customer service, and he was giving me one - TTC Lost Articles.
Ha! I was so nervous. I still had mongo anxiety about never being able to find anything. Of course, I luvvved it. And guess what? I got freakin’ good at finding things.
First, there was an incredible system. Everything was logged according to the type of item, the route and time of day.
Second, as a professional finder, I had to always believe that the object was there.
That’s the piece I was missing as a kid.
If I didn’t believe, I would never find it.
Fast-forward to this year. It’s been a tough go which I touched on last post, but I’m grateful to have a had a string of positive things happen – a couple of projects that were shaky steadied. We took a moon shot and got IN to a global pitch forum. We’re prepping like mad! My son navigated his first job interview solo – and got the gig! My “put it in my calendar” trip to the UK happened. I rediscovered Sticky Toffee Pudding. Divine!
Courtesy of the Children's Media Conference 2025
There were many F-bombs dropped along the way, but I’ve been activating another F-word. FAITH. Removing all religious attachments! Not robing up and going Billy Graham on you! I don’t think. Hear me out.
By faith I mean that deep in your gut, strong belief that something good will happen, even though you don’t know for sure.
Faith is belief mixed with hope and a chaser of conviction that good is coming – and that good may not come as the goal or the desire you’re focusing on, but it’s still coming. Faith is intangible, invisible, there’s no dang proof, yet we still believe.
Faith is distinct from manifesting, which is based on visualizing already achieving your goal or desire. Lawd, I love me a manifesting fest, but faith (to me) is abstract, not specific. Faith is believing in the invisible forces working for us. Faith is believing that what we are looking for will find us.
As I reflect on this year, my big change has been choosing to deeply believe that things will work out. And this deep belief has upped my resilience big time.
Not gonna lie, it hasn’t been easy. There are people in my orbit fully convinced that things won’t work out. It’s terribly confusing for me because I know they also don’t know what will happen. If none of us know, then why are they so sure?
While we’re on this, I’m equally wary of overly positive people. Certainty is dangerous, right? I rewatched Conclave on the plane. It inspired me to wear red more often.
No pulpit! I promise!
I’m fan-girling faith. That’s why I felt compelled to write about what I’m noticing here.
Hoping and wishing isn’t enough. I need to DO.
Back to the “put it in my calendar” conference - I put the word out. A producer friend was super kind to connect me with the organizers. We booked a virtual, we hit it off, and bingo bango, I was asked to be a juror for the pitch competition. My bosses agreed I should go. Sheffield, UK - approved!
But I did that. I connected with the conference organizers. For the other wins, I secured key production partners, we applied for the competition, I role played the interview with my son. I did.
Wishing on a star is rad, but real, boots on the ground action helps things happen.
Miss Faith likes company.
I put Miss Faith in my pocket every day, like a set of keys. Even when the universe is testing a sister, I’ve been carrying the feeling that things will work out with me everywhere and every day.
To be specific, I’m layering feeling faith in brief moments between meetings, on my drive to work, as I drink my coffee. I’m bringing her with, even on tough days. She doesn’t seem to mind being with all the other rando things I carry like bobby pins and hair ties. It’s working.
Miss Faith needs doubt to exist.
My life has heart swell, kiss on the shea buttered lips moments, but it’s also a grind. Stress and overwork have left many marks on me. I’ve had difficulty getting out of bed some days because of the weight of sadness, anger, frustration, exhaustion, doubt. Ugh. Those days.
My faith has been tested this year and I held the line.
I have a saying that propels me and helps me get up,
“EVERYTHING IS AN OPPORTUNITY.”
Faith seems to come back stronger after I dip.
Miss Faith is freeing.
What can we do? We try, try, try and the chips fall where they fall. Insert shoulder dust. Insert peace. I’m working on focusing on what I can control and then I’m working on controlling less! Holding on to faith helps me let go in a new way. I’m holding onto something while letting go. I’m a sucker for a paradox.
Miss Faith likes it when I share her with others.
I was recently cashing out at my fave fashion discount store (where no one is a loser) and my loyalty card was acting up. The cashier told me it wouldn’t scan. I told her gently it would. It did. Did I know it would? Nope. Did I believe? Yep.
I shared, “I’ve had faith play a role in my life lately.
We forget about faith and it’s important.”
Well, that hit a chord. She teared up. She said she’s been struggling, and she needed to hear that. I told her I have no idea why I felt compelled to share, but I know faith likes to be talked about. Faith likes to be passed on.
And that’s why I thought I’d take a moment to tell you what’s bolstered my resilience lately. I’ve rediscovered the power of having faith.
So, how did I build faith this year? I focused on the present.
I’m learning that faith isn’t about the future, it’s about right here, right now, in this very moment, what can I do to help myself and believe?
I feel secure knowing that I am on the right path. Faith has given me peace, renewed strength, optimism, mettle and resilience to keep going even when I don’t know what the future holds. Game changer.
If you’re struggling and even if you’re not, I hope me sharing what’s been working for me helps.
To button (I’m sure you’re curious), I’m still a fantastic finder.
We just found my son’s health card (missing for months) in the Monopoly Deal deck.
How are we living like this?
My method -
Tip #1 – Believe it’s there. It will keep you calm as you look. Have faith.
Tip #2 – Retrace your steps. Time of day. Route taken.
Tip #3 - It’s usually UNDER, BEHIND, or in the rare cases IN something. Look for but also look through.
My six-year-old self must have known I’d find much more wonderful things in life than a tablecloth!
I ordered iced coffee on a whim during shoot in late April. It was terrible. In fact, awwwful. I wanted it to be richer, velvetier.
That led me on a taste adventure, and I discovered Gafae Yen at my neighbourhood Thai restaurant. Five-star, hot damn deelicious.
This is a no fail, version modified from this recipe. I brought this iced coffee to work last week to rave reviews. One of my colleagues even dreamt about it.
Just sayin’ you may want to give it a try…
INGREDIENTS
4 cups brewed flavoured coffee (I do stove top and half caf. It’s the flavoured coffee that sets it off.)
1 300 ml can of sweetened condensed milk
Sprinkle of cardamom (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Brew coffee. Store in fridge until cool (2 hours or more or overnight).
Slightly warm the contents of the full can of condensed milk in a pot. Stir the milk into the cooled coffee. Add less milk if you like it less sweet.
Pour coffee into cups with ice. Add a sprinkle of cardamom to each cup if you dig the aromatic. The scent. Oh yaaaa.
Server up! No fail yum-star. I cannot buy iced coffee from cafés now. There’s no comparison!
Summer is not over yet. I’ve had some new faves pop up for me lately. I’m no gatekeeper, so sharing all!
My hairdresser intro’ed me to this UV protector. Sunscreen everywhere!
Halfway through Dream Count from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Queen.
Most days no makeup, just this serum with resin. Wowzers. Severn, ON, good on ya!
Thank you so very much for reading!
Off to soak up some more summer before it’s gone. Wishing you a seamless and smooth back to routine this September!
Hello! It's me, AG.
I'm Andrea Griffith (a.k.a. AG), a TV exec, writer, wife and mother.
Yescessary is the love child of yes and necessary, the word I use to describe my personal philosophy for living with intention, purpose and with my priorities in the pole position.
This newsletter is where I share funny moments, helpful strategies and everything I'm learning on my journey to build a meaning-full, content life.
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