September 2023
Some people say that September is the best month. I’ve always been a bit skeptical about this, given my personal proclivities for the summer and the stress that I’ve always felt upon the arrival of back to school season. But life is full of surprises, because this September was pretty spectacular! I kept a nice, healthy, disciplined and organized routine going throughout the month and embraced the change of seasons, from sweltering days to the onset of chilly mornings and evenings to a last blast of “Indian summer.” Maybe that’s in fact the beauty of September – it’s got a little bit of everything and somehow reminds us of all there is and all we can be. Wherever you are, I hope that you experienced this month with the best of “back to school” energy, filled with purpose, promise, abundance and excitement about what’s to come next!
10 things to check out
A couple of evenings ago, we enjoyed one of my favorite annual DC events: Art All Night. Over the course of two nights, neighborhoods in all eight of the city’s wards organize art in the streets – live music, craft markets, food vendors and some really cool installations. We loved walking the streets of our neighborhood drinking warm apple cider, listening to some great brass bands and seeing all of the talented makers in the marketplace. If you live in or are visiting the area, be sure to check it out next year!
Crush Funk Brass Band @ Art All Night – photo by my friend Yoko If you’ve been reading 44 Revolutions for a little while (it’s been going for just over a year now, and I sadly still haven’t gotten around to writing an anniversary post…it may still come though) – thank you! You might recall that I decided that my word for 2023 would be Evolution. For me, a lot of that has been about living up to the mantra that I always tell my son Rohan – that we can do hard things. One of the “hard things” that I set as a goal for myself was learning to ride a bike, which is sadly something I skipped out on as a kid (crazy, isn’t it?!). So this month, I took the adult learn to ride class from WABA, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. While I think I need another class to begin peddling confidently, this fabulous three-hour session got me feeling comfortable and understanding of the basics. Sometimes getting started is the biggest accomplishment, so if there is some life skill that you’d like to develop – it’s never too late!
I was fascinated to learn about the Let Grow Project (NY Times, gift link), a homework assignment designed to support kids in tackling more things on their own. Developed by a psychologist and an author who specializes in freer range parenting, the approach has been helpful in tackling anxiety in kids as well as building independence. As Rohan is about to turn 10 (!!!), I’ve been giving him increasing responsibility – things like crossing the street on his own, going to the grocery store next door, going for little walks closeby with a friend. While this seems incongruous with the current approach in (upper middle class) American parenting, much of the world doesn’t see it that way. For my son at least, giving him responsibility and encouraging autonomy has always been a winning strategy. I’d be curious to get people’s thoughts and experiences on this – please let me know what you think!
For me, a super important and enjoyable part of welcoming autumn involves lighting candles in warm scents. There’s nothing that makes a space feel cozier, especially as the days get shorter and the evenings cooler. Currently, I’m alternating and circling between Wood Cabin by Keap and pumpkin spice from Sand & Fig (thank you, Praveen!). The Skylar Fall Cashmere from Nordstrom is also delicious, with notes of roasted almond, cinnamon bark and spiced ginger. All these candles are made from soy or coconut wax, burn clean and are beautifully designed.
I’d been hearing about Nisolo footwear for a while. They’re known in particular for their boots and bags, and given that one of the highlights of fall is getting to rock a cute pair of boots, I ordered the Dari Commuter Boot in black. I absolutely love these boots, which have a 2.5” heel, are crafted in breathable yet waterproof leather and with cushioned insoles. Once you break them in, they are so comfortable! And you can feel good about shopping with Nisolo, which focuses on sustainability and living wages. If you’d like to order something from them (I highly recommend this pair of boots!), please use this gift link for $50 off your first order.
When I started watching the fourth (and last ☹) season of Never Have I Ever, Rohan asked if he could watch with me. I wondered at first if it was a bit too mature for him, but again he’s about to be 10, and I reminded myself that I always strive to openly communicate with him about all manner of issues, big and small. We ended up watching seasons 1-3 as well (first time for him), and I think it was all the more meaningful for him after his summer trip to India (time spent mostly with my parents). Watching together opened up all kinds of fascinating and heartfelt conversations between us about family, friendships and growing up, which I cherished. I also cherish Poorna Jagannathan, the Tamil/Indian-American actress who plays Nalini, the mom in the series. Poorna, like the character she portrays, is such a badass! I really enjoyed this piece from Vulture, on her perspectives on Nalini’s evolution and the status of South Asian actors in American television and film.
I’ll be on the road again at the end of October/early November for work, to Zambia and Brazil (my very first trip to the latter!). After deciding that I’m done with my current horrible, cheap and non-functional carry-on suitcases, I got this 21” hard-shell from Quince, which is ultralight, with 360 spinning wheels and an interior compression system designed to maximize space. It gets rave reviews, and I can already tell that it’s going to be my workhorse suitcase for work and weekend trips.
I welcomed the autumn equinox with (what feels like) an indulgent yet well-deserved gift to myself, a necklace from Satya, which makes gorgeous jewelry that incorporates symbols from different faith traditions, chakras and talismans of all sorts. Most of their pieces are hand-crafted in India and Thailand, by artisans working on a fair trade and living wage basis. And in addition, a part of their proceeds goes to support their educational foundation. I chose the open heart chakra necklace, noting that this energy is about having an “open heart that gives and receives love freely, expanding to welcome the infinite blessings of Universal love.” Sounds good to me!
Open heart chakra necklace from Satya On a few occasions this past month, I enjoyed having friends over for meals – sometimes planned but often improvised. Contrary to past seasons when I’ve felt the need to make elaborate multi-course meals, these days I’ve been leaning into simple entertaining. That’s usually meant some store-bought nibbles to start (e.g. olives, injera crisps, murukku), followed by a no-fuss but hearty dinner (usually something that can be made ahead of time or prepared in a sheet pan or one pot) and concluded by a dessert that someone brings or buys. This approach goes against my personal grain but feels right, because entertaining is after all about being able to enjoy your guests and vice versa. Check out these easy dinner party rules for a nice reminder of some of these basic principles.
Simple entertaining for the win! I recently discovered the Dear Future Me website, which allows you to write and email a letter to your future self, whether that’s in 6 months, a year or 5 or 10 from now. I chose to send myself a little missive for when I turn in 50 in 5 years (!!!) and I can’t wait to receive it and consider whether today’s thoughts, hopes and dreams resonate with who I’ll be then. Because as Frantz Fanon said: “In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself.”
What I read
I’m in a really nice reading groove at the moment! My absolute favorite this month was A Spell of Good Things, the dazzling sophomore novel by Ayobami Adebayo. Released this year, it tells the story of Wuraola, a young doctor from a wealthy family, and Eniola, a teen boy whose family is scraping to get by and can no longer afford his school fees. While the two have nothing in common, they are both forever changed by a common tragedy, illuminating the ties that bind us all, for better or for worse. Like her debut novel Stay with Me which I also adored, Adebayo’s writing pulls you in, making you feel like you’re right there in the shoes of the protagonists and watching life unfold in modern Nigeria. You must check this one out!
What I watched
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Love At First Sight, a recent film release on Netflix about a young American woman and an English guy who meet and fall in love on a flight from New York to London. It felt warm and fuzzy while also supplying some food for thought, on how random a meeting (and life!) can be and how much can change in a single moment. Maybe there’s something to this fate thing after all…
What I listened to
Something that I listen to often – the Tiny Desk concert of Alicia Keys. It dates back to June 2020 but always makes me smile!
What I cooked
In leaning into that fall spirit, I made a list of all the warm, cozy things that I’d like to cook over the next couple of months. I highly recommend this practice at the beginning of each season, as it gives you a nice broad roadmap for potential meal planning and things to look forward to! What’s on my list? Soups (this week we enjoyed creamy cashew butternut squash (gift link) and creamy tomato), chili, apple crisps and cakes, pumpkin pancakes and roasted veggies. As the temperatures dip, I also like making sheet pan meals, which are lovely because you literally toss everything onto a baking sheet or two and let the oven do all the work, warming up your space in the process. So my favorite this month was definitely this sheet pan bibimbap (gift link) by Eric Kim in the NY Times. I’ve always loved the Korean rice and veggie (and meat, if you wish) dish but had never made it before. Highly recommend!
And a poem to sign off…
SEPTEMBER MORNING
In this early autumn,
I’m learning that
The fall can also be the rise.
Is this what freedom tastes like?
It’s funny what can transpire in one candlelit, oud-scented evening,
And also what a journey can be,
When growth replaces inertia,
Courage trumps fear.
Like pedaling a bike for the first time,
On a gorgeous, cloudless September morning,
Or holding firm to a thousand tiny truths.
Inhaling them in the first brisk breeze,
Ravenous, fledgling, yet seasoned now,
Tinged with spice and sweet and knowing.
They’re yours. They’re you.
- Ramya Vivekanandan, September 20, 2023
Thank you for reading and for being here! Please feel free to leave a comment, let me know what has inspired YOU this month or share this newsletter with anyone who you think would enjoy it. See you at the end of October!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the September edition! The part about "getting started is the biggest accomplishment" really resonated with me. Congratulations on taking bike lessons as well!
P.S. I am currently in Zambia but will be leaving in two weeks, so unfortunately we will miss each other by a few weeks :(