Having been in Mumbai during Monsoon season, it is unbelievable that the rains have caused so much damage and taken so much life. Not to mention the floods in Texas, Nepal, and Pakistan. Los Angeles is suffering from deadly fires and Hurricane Irma is making its way to the east coast. I'm sure it feels like the end of days to these parts of the world that have been hit by catastrophe. The remaining four months of 2017 will be all about repair and healing for so much of our beautiful planet.
After donations and prayer, I'm at a loss as to what little 'ole me can do to positively contribute during such epic tragedy. I continually return to the idea of not having control over the big stuff, but I take solace in the idea of tending to the small stuff, stuff that I do have control over.
The ME stuff. Who am I and how am I showing up in this world? Is there healing and repair I need to do as I welcome the remaining four months of 2017? Am I making good choices? Am I being honest? As kind as I can be? Is my heart open? My mind? My ears? Am I being loving to myself and others? These are questions I return to again and again in times of renewal and change. Have you checked in lately with your own ME stuff? The better we are as individuals, the better we are as a collective society.
As always, I am incredibly inspired by NYC and its street art. I've shared some real gems I've collected over the last few months. These artistic expressions are little billboards of hope and possibility that shine some light in times when I feel the darkest. And they keep me on track when tending to the ME stuff.
The end of days isn't meant to be some apocalyptic title, I'm saying goodbye to the end of summer days, and I'm welcoming the days of autumn! It's been such a rewarding summer full of weddings, meeting babies, beach days, travel, theatre, and concerts. (And eclipses, and lobster rolls, and ice cream, and rosé...)
This week's recipe is made up of the late summer harvest of some of my favorite ingredients. Send off your summer with a big bowl of your favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables, tossed with a fresh minty vinaigrette.
End Of (Summer) Days Salad
- 1 cup sun gold tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup peach, pitted and chopped
- 1 cup watermelon, chopped
- 1 thinly sliced Fresno chili
- 1 cup broken mozzarella pieces
- 1 cup corn sliced off the cob
Place everything in a large bowl, toss with the vinaigrette.
Mint Vinaigrette - combine everything in a food processor or blender
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper