Sunday Edition | August 31, 2025
- Olga Nesterova
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
Because life is more than politics — and kindness still matters.
This Week: LIGHT
As we celebrate Labor Day and brace for the incoming pumpkin tsunami, it’s easy to wonder where summer went. Was it the weather, the longer days, the vacations—or just the constant chorus of “it’s too hot”?
What we really miss is something older: the childhood feeling of freedom, holiday, and… peace.
So instead of dwelling on the calendar turn, let’s get excited for September. Keep your energy high. Guard your personal light. Let it shine bright enough to withstand any darkness.
🎭 CULTURE SNAPSHOT
1) Taylor & Travis: It’s official
Taylor Swift announced her engagement to Travis Kelce with the caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Reporting also noted the proposal happened weeks earlier, giving them time to celebrate in private before going public. Congratulations to Taylor, Travis and the Swifties.
2) Labor Day, explained (and celebrated)
The U.S. observes Labor Day on the first Monday in September—a federal holiday since 1894 honoring workers and the labor movement. The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City in 1882, and celebrations still echo those origins: parades, picnics, and time with family and friends.
3) K-Pop Demon Hunters: a global smash
KPop Demon Hunters has rocketed to the top of Netflix’s all-time charts (yes, most popular film ever on the platform), with Netflix touting 236M+ views—and sequel talks underway. If you haven’t watched the monster-fighting idol trio yet, now’s your moment.
4) Free opera under the stars (NYC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival is back at Lincoln Center Plaza with 11 free screenings from Aug 22–Sept 1—no tickets required, thousands of seats nightly. Highlights include Verdi’s Aida, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Strauss’s Salome, and Puccini’s Tosca. Not in NYC? The Met’s Live in HD series beams performances to cinemas across the U.S. and Canada (tickets on sale now).
5) New at ONEST...
Starting next Sunday, we’re premiering a new series that takes you inside exclusive museums, collections, and exhibitions. Episode One: a guided visit with the director of NYC’s Roerich Museum—history, art, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Stay tuned.
🫶 LET'S TALK ABOUT LIGHT
As the sun clocks out earlier, our mindset becomes the lamp. A few tiny rituals can keep the spark alive—and sharing that light doubles it.
FOR THE MIND
Energy follows attention. Give yourself something small to look forward to each day and let novelty do the heavy lifting.
Keep the spark as days get shorter
Make micro-plans. Put one small, happy thing on the calendar every weekday (a sunset walk, a call with a friend, a new café). Anticipation fuels energy.
Chase morning light. Ten minutes of early light at a window or outside helps anchor mood and sleep.
Swap doom-scrolls for “joy-scrolls.” Curate a folder of creators that uplift you; open it on purpose.
Refresh your soundtrack. Build a September playlist—three old favorites, three new discoveries, one wild card.
Start a tiny streak. One page, one push-up, one paragraph, one sketch—daily. Momentum beats willpower.
Make someone else’s day brighter
Send the 3-line note. “Saw this and thought of you → why you matter → rooting for you.”
Gift a micro-upgrade. Coffee for a colleague, a snack for your doorman, fresh fruit for a neighbor.
Share a platform. Spotlight a small business or artist you love on your socials.
Lend a hand. 15 minutes to help someone finish a nagging task.
Name the good. In meetings and group chats, call out a specific thing someone did well.
FOR THE BODY
Season shifts are your cue to tune the engine—warmer foods, steadier fuel, and simple movement while the skies still cooperate.
Fall prep on the plate (gentle metabolism boosts)
Think colorful, protein-forward, and mineral-rich—with cozy spices to match the weather.
Protein at breakfast. Greek yogurt, eggs, tofu scramble—steady energy, fewer crashes.
Fiber + color. Load veggies, legumes, and berries for gut health and fullness.
Magnesium mates. Pumpkin seeds, leafy greens, dark chocolate (yes), to steady nerves and sleep.
Hydration + electrolytes. Cooler weather hides thirst; add a pinch of salt and citrus to water.
Warm spices. Cinnamon, ginger, turmeric can make simple meals cozier and satisfying.
Move while the weather plays nice
Bank some outdoor motion now; future-you will thank you when the wind turns brisk.
Sunset strides. 20–30 minutes after work—phone on Do Not Disturb.
Park circuits. One bench = step-ups, triceps dips, incline push-ups (3 rounds).
Carry the groceries. Farmer’s market “rucking” is functional strength.
Stair minutes. Two quick flights, three times a day.
Social sport. Pick-up pickleball, frisbee, or a neighborhood walk club—fun keeps you consistent.
LET'S COOK
Warm Harvest Salad (serves 2–3)
Bridge-the-seasons food: warm, hearty, and bright—comfort without the nap attack.
You’ll need: 1 small delicata or butternut squash (cubed), 1 can chickpeas (rinsed), 2 cups cooked farro or quinoa, 2 cups baby greens, ½ red onion (thinly sliced), ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds, handful feta (crumbled).
Dressing: 3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp maple syrup, 1 Tbsp Dijon, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, pinch salt & pepper.
Do this:
Roast squash + chickpeas at 425°F (220°C) with olive oil, salt, pepper ~20–25 min.
Whisk dressing.
Toss warm grains with half the dressing. Fold in roasted veg, onion, greens.
Finish with pumpkin seeds, feta, and the rest of the dressing. Eat warm. (Add grilled chicken or tofu if you like.)
FOR THE SOUL
Light isn’t only outside; it’s in the stories we share and the pages we turn.
🎬 3 movies for a happy family night
Gentle, funny, wonder-filled picks that leave the room lighter than before.
Singin’ in the Rain — tap-dancing serotonin.
Spirited Away — wonder and courage (kids + adults love it).
The Princess Bride — “as you wish” never gets old.
📖 Book Recommendation of the Week
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune — tender, witty, and quietly life-affirming. You’ll finish lighter than you started.
🌿 DID YOU KNOW?
Why Light Changes How You Feel
Daylight is a different beast. Typical indoor lighting is ~100–500 lux; outside—even in shade—can be 10,000–20,000 lux (sunny days 30,000+). That’s why indoor days feel “dim” as summer fades.
Morning light sets your clock. Getting outside within an hour of waking helps anchor mood, focus, and sleep. Aim for 10 minutes on a clear day; 20–30 if overcast. (Through a window = far less effective.)
Night light delays sleep. Bright overheads and big screens after dark push your circadian rhythm later. Try dimming lights 90 minutes before bed, using lamps below eye level and warmer bulbs.
Color helps, brightness matters more. “Night mode” shifts blue tones, which helps a bit—but lowering brightness is the bigger win.
Autumn physics is real. As the sun sits lower in the sky, light intensity drops; you may need earlier or longer daylight breaks to feel the same lift you got in July.
Seasonal mood? Light can help. Morning light-therapy boxes (10,000 lux) are an evidence-based option for seasonal blues—talk to a clinician if you’re considering one.
Try this week: Put a 10-minute outside block on your morning calendar, and a 90 min before bedtime “dim the house” alarm. Small switches, big gains.
😀 HAPPY MOMENTS
Videos guaranteed to make you smile.
🕊️ CLOSING WORDS
Summer’s light doesn’t end; it relocates. It moves into playlists, porch dinners, early-morning sun, generous words, warm salads, and the habit of noticing what’s good.
Carry it with you into September—and pass it on.
Have a gentle Labor Day and a bright week ahead. 💛
As always—Stay ONEST.
O.N.
Happy Sunday —And remember, life is more than politics.
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