Hello friends. As we approach another weekend, I encourage everyone to stop for a second and take a deep, collective breath. For ourselves, and our communities. For how far we’ve come. For what is yet to come.
I’m thankful to say that the smoke is significantly clearing up in Seattle, although it is making way for the gray rain clouds that are moving in swiftly. I’ve always loved rainy days (and the excuse to stay curled up in sweats and soft blankets all day), but I’m appreciating them even more right now. For some reason, there’s something about resigning myself to nature on those dark weather days that forces me to be more present, and think more earnestly about how I’m going to conduct and enjoy my day.
I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I’m finding it a lot harder lately to stay present and mindful in the moment. This year is flying by, and it’s easy to look backward on what we’ve endured in the last 9 months (and are still enduring now). And yet as the homestretch of 2020 approaches, I’m also finding myself stuck dwelling on the uncertainty of the future. Not knowing when life will get “back to normal”, when I will get to make regular plans with my loved ones, what choices I should make for my career and family.
As easy as it is to reside in that mental space (I’m a master at worrying), I know it can keep me from actually embracing the things I love, especially this time of year! There are two quotes that I’ve been returning to when I need to reframe my mindset and embrace the now.
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” Dalai Lama
“If you live in fear of the future because of what happened in your past, you’ll end up losing what you have in the present.” Anonymous
The present moment is where we have control, and opportunity, to cultivate the life we want. I hope you’re finding ways to revel in joy and gratitude in the little moments right now.
Keep scrolling for this week’s food for thought.
Some things to chew on…
- Natural disasters are currently threatening the U.S. on multiple fronts. Wildfires continue raging in Washington, California and Oregon. Meanwhile, the gulf coast is suffering from dangerous flooding and other disastrous affects from Hurricane Sally. You can read the latest updates on that here. While the worst from this hurricane has passed, forecasters say there are several more tropical storms churning in the Atlantic, and that this year is expected to be the worst hurricane season in history. And for both of these natural disasters, the hard truth is that climate change is making them worse. Here’s an explainer specifically on how climate change is making storms like Sally even more dangerous and life-threatening.
- Here’s an in-depth article on ways you can help people affected by both of these disasters.
- Here’s an in-depth article on ways you can help people affected by both of these disasters.
- Here’s another hard truth. The pandemic is making hunger in America worse. As of late last month, the Census Bureau reported that about 1 in 10 Americans didn’t have enough food. Hunger in America was certainly a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is only making things worse. On top of that, ”a slew of COVID-19 relief packages — from unemployment assistance to housing protection — are set to expire by the end of September, weeks ahead of the 2020 presidential election, leaving millions of people vulnerable to worse economic and health outcomes.” If, like me, it’s hard for you to believe that tens of millions of people in this country struggle with one of our most basic needs, then you should definitely read the PBS article I linked above to learn more about how we got here and what can be done. This is a problem that we can, and that we must solve, because this kind of ”deprivation can have lasting effects — trouble getting enough food to eat can lay the foundation for chronic illness and reduced health outcomes later in life.”
- Answer this question. Are you actually getting enough rest? Are any of us? Between the pandemic, the upcoming election, and everything else in the news, we’ve got a lot on our minds. And we’ve still got to work and make money, take care of our families, manage our health, plan for the future, the list goes on. Well, according to experts “all this stress lingers in our body, affects our sleep patterns, and can lead to chronic exhaustion.“ I came across this really insightful article on the Good Trade, exploring why we need not just sleep, but actual REST. The author starts by admitting that “…rest can feel out of reach right now. You don’t have to be productive in a pandemic, say the hand-lettered images on Instagram, but everything else seems to remind us that we need to get our behinds in gear. The daily recital of stock tickers before the morning news, the reduction in unemployment assistance, and the constant barrage of thought pieces around “the future of [insert industry here]” remind us that productivity is paramount. But rest is radical; it’s resistance; it’s how we can keep the momentum of social change this year is demanding. So what’s the secret to *actually* feeling rested right now?…” Click here to read the full article and find out.
Some fun foodie news…
- Okay this is crazy to me. Remember back in July (which feels like 10 years ago) when there were all those news reports about people getting mystery seeds in the mail from China? Tens of thousands of people in all 50 states reported getting seeds in the mail. What were the seeds? And what did people do with them?! (surely throw them away immediately right??) Well, a new in-depth investigation is shedding light on the answers… and I for one am SHOCKED. Amazon has also decided to ban all foreign seed sales in the wake of this fiasco.
- CBD oil has quickly gone from a fringe health hack to one of the top wellness trends on the market, with tons of products out there to improve your health & home. And now the queen of homemaking herself, Martha Stewart, is out with a new line of CBD products. The line includes things like Meyer Lemon Oil Drops and Berry Medley Gummies. Click here to check out the products.
- And another item to add to the growing list of household snacks getting a seasonal or holiday-themed twist: Oreos. The cookie brand is now selling limited edition Gingerbread Oreos to get you in the spirit.
And a few treats to leave you with…
- Loving this ”Definitive Ranking of the 10 Best Healthy Snacks You Can Buy at Trader Joe’s“ from Real Simple… and I can attest myself that the Tortilla chips with brussels sprouts, garlic, onion and parsley + the spinach and kale Greek yogurt dip are a seriously addicting snack combo.
- Who knew there were so many benefits of cinnamon essential oil? The ve rsatile spice can help with a range of health issues, from fighting off a cold to preventing cavities. Plus, it’s been proven to help you get even more into the fall spirit. Click here if you want to try some out for yourself.
- Next time you need a quick little escape, browse through this fabulous collection of Fall Front Porches from Southern Living. It’s all the autumn inspo you need.
Did you like something in particular from this newsletter? Or did you see a story out there that I should know about? Please reach out and let me know!
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