Expect miracles.
Everyone is talking about AI. Here are two conversations that went into the nuances of the new world we are facing.
The AI Conversation Everyone Should be Having -The World’s First Podcast (listen here 🎧)
AI: Destroyer of Worlds– the McManus Podcast (listen here 🎧)
To my faithful friend who hasn’t left me…
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I was reading a blog post by someone who was discussing how their period has come and gone over the years. I know many women who go on and off with their menstrual cycle throughout their lives. Stories where the body has burnt out for a season, where trauma or athletics has taken a front seat or where the body has shielded itself to feel safe. It’s a real thing. These stories break my heart. People close to me hold these stories.
As you get older, you read about how stress cuts down your fertility. Stress kills. I was talking about this with a close friend, and they said something (in humor) along the lines of, “Your body may be immune to stress given everything that has happened since you were a kid.”
It dawned on me the other day that I have lived through a lot of stress, but my period has always been faithful in its arrival. In fact, if I described events in my life, a doctor could easily explain away why my cycle was missing if it ever was. It wouldn’t be hard to do. Life has been filled with insane f*ckery.
As I was reflecting on this, I was filled with gratitude. I know that others aren’t so lucky in this area (but they are in others). My body has been insanely resilient and steady. Through everything, it has bled every single month like clockwork through every up and every down since it’s first arrival. With its normal shifts and sometimes imbalances (the heavy bleeds), but it has never left me. For now, until I enter some other later phase, our alliance is sealed in blood.
I was filled with gratitude for that accompaniment. Sometimes, we treat these bodily rhythms as if they are inconvenient, but they are a gift. Imagine if we educated young women to value their rhythms. To see them as signs of something greater. To listen. To heal. It made me think of all the things our bodies do without question— stuff we don’t often think about, but stuff that we would notice and worry about if it were missing.
What body rhythm are you grateful for? What has been steady through the ups and downs (even if imperfect)? What has survived the storm with you?
“No lead is safe.”
By: Gabriela Yareliz
‘Chaos’ was the main word used to describe game three. There was a bizarre ‘Welcome to Vegas’ Cirque du Soleil situation at the beginning, a moving National Anthem, and the game began. It was a total snooze fest until the last half of the second period, where the gridlock was broken.
Some of the most impressive parts of the game were— McNabb returned with the cage on his face. He got 33+ minutes of ice time. His team was yelling “Warrior” when he was on ice.
Two VGK goals were disallowed after two Brind’Amour challenges. Carolina was watching the iPad like a hawk. The crowd was frustrated, but these seemingly were the right calls. VGK had to come again, and come correct— which they did thanks to Mitch Marner.
The turning point of this game was the penalty on Carolina for too many men on the ice. Things got spicy. There was a goal from Hertl, Walker put the puck into his own net (everyone cringed; this counted on Marner’s score sheet), and Marner had the insane breakaway before the end of the second period. Marner ended up scoring the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup final history.
When the second period ended, I knew VGK’s lead was not safe. I said it out loud. I was like, VGK cannot get comfortable. They need to score again. Carolina loves to be asleep at the wheel, and suddenly wake up fifteen minutes out from the end of the game. In true Hurricane fashion, they stormed the third period, twelve minutes out from the end of regulation and tied this game. They had three goals in :39 seconds. This was insane.
Does Carolina want to win? I mean, yeah. No doubt about it. As no doubt as Gwen Stefani is. It’s like they see the third period ending, and suddenly get some sort of jolt. Major respect to Carolina for how they came back out of nowhere to push this game into overtime. We were shook. Tortorella’s face went from sassy-smug (his tan looks amazing and his hair is on point, though) to deeply concerned. Brind’Amour went from clenched jaw and tear-filled eyes to confidently serene (looking like freakin’ Gaston from Beauty and the Beast).
At the end of the first OT, the teams were still tied. It was truly anyone’s game. This series has been absolutely insane. Carolina’s desperation driving the action, and VGK slapping itself awake to remember it can’t be coasting.
When interviewed by media, Tortorella said he still hadn’t seen that last goal in the second OT and how it went in. I hadn’t seen it until this morning because your girl was asleep. (Not for lack of thrill, but that is how sleepy I got— it was midnight ok? I sleep like a grandma, and I was on ET).
VGK got a lucky bounce from a VGK-Hurricanes interaction and the boards that sealed VGK’s victory.
They say this game was one of the best in hockey history. Why? It was pure chaos. It’s clear that both teams want it. Both have gotten Lady Luck to kiss their die.
They say that 70% of the time, the winner of game one wins the series. And 77% of the time, it’s the winner of game three. So far, that pattern would point to VGK. But I don’t know. Carolina seems to come alive as the walls start closing in on them. And boy, do they come alive. They go from tropical storm to category four in :39 seconds.
The locker rooms seem to have a different approach. Tortorella has said that due to the team being veterans, he doesn’t say much in the locker room. He said not much was said ahead of OT when they knew they blew their four-point lead. They knew what needed to be done. Brind’Amour seems to be leading good old fashioned southern pep rallies back there.
VGK was sassy with that last lucky goal, saying it went “according to plan.” Tortorella said that was draws him to this game is the camaraderie.
“The camaraderie of it all. To watch a team be a team.” John Tortorella
Also, can we take a moment to discuss how ESPN is doing Emily Kaplan dirty again? I wrote about it here, before. Whoever is styling her needs to stop and give this job to whoever is in charge of Messier and PK. It’s pure sabotage on this poor woman. ESPN needs to invest in its women as it does with its men. Messier looks ten years younger this playoff season. Come on! Emily deserves the same.
Carolina was devastated but the cards were dealt as they were dealt. Props to VGK for not getting in their heads after two disallowed goals, and to Marner, who probably had the best game of his career. Respect to Carolina who woke tf up in the second half of the third period and decided to fight until end of regulation and beyond. Their second goalie Bussi (a Western Michigan U hockey player) was fantastic.
The question now becomes, as we head into game four territory, will the teams establish a rhythm or dominance or will it be pure chaos through the last buzzer in game seven? Nobody knows. But hey, there are two American teams fighting for the Stanley Cup— so I guess no matter what happens, America, on its 250th birthday, WINS. 🇺🇸
I leave you with the goal that won the chaotic game three:
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Welcome June! I decided to start the summer with a trip to refresh Sephora favorites and a fake tan I forgot to wash off (true story).
Why do people on 90s tv shows have breakfast with friends? Who has this kind of time other than the leadership at work who doesn’t show up until 2pm on a regular day anyway? What kind of life does one lead to be able to have a breakfast with someone else? This is the mystery.
It’s getting warmer. Thunder storms loom, and I am pumping Flonase into each nostril until they arrive. I finished the Stay Hot MWH series— I am not gonna lie— I wanted more than just five days. A new challenge starts Monday with Vita Sidorkina’s The Core.
The Arrae bloat gummies are spicy (it’s the ginger)! But I like them more than the capsule. And here we are. End of another week. I spent half the week with a migraine or phantom migraine, and now, I am back and energetic. The hormone balance protocol is working, and I feel human. These are the things that caught my eye this week!
“Your silence will not protect you.” Audre Lorde
“To clear your psychic weight, you must draw lines from one chapter to the next, end one version of yourself and welcome the next. You do not have to ruminate on what you once did because you are not that person anymore. You are different, and so is your life. With time, those memories will fade into a distant recollection, and most will disappear forever. You are allowed to close the door. You are allowed to let go. You are allowed to find your new, solid ground in the knowledge that you have learned the lessons you needed to, and you will walk forward with more grace, more self-awareness, and more patience. You will become who you always needed to be.” Brianna Wiest
Making Summer Fridays count…
“That’s the lesson of Marah. The journey wasn’t over, and every bitter moment was an invitation to depend on God again. It’s still true for us today. The hard seasons aren’t dead ends; they’re classrooms where we learn to pray with more honesty and trust with more depth.” Glorify Devotional
Song of the week:
Summer on the mind!
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Is Vegas still calm? #NoPanicVGK
Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes flipped the tables on the Vegas Golden Knights. They spent the majority of game two at zero, and ten minutes before the end of regulation, they tied the game with the Golden Knights. You know what happens when it’s tied— you sigh and buckle up for overtime.
Was yesterday a stroke of luck for Carolina? Was it the no-goal call, Tortorella’s challenge (which did not go his way), McNabb taken to the hospital after the puck to the face, the Hurricane’s fourth line, and as coach Brind’Amour said— a result of “individual efforts”?
It was what one would call a result of momentum, persistence and several circumstantial factors. Tortorella told the media he has thoughts about what flipped the game (he also said he would not share those thoughts in his typical snark), and he continued to praise the team saying it’s a solid team and that he has no regrets on his challenge. He said he would challenge what he saw 10 out of 10 times.
Carolina was at the top of the Metro Division. The Knights barely made the playoffs but swept the Western Conference. Game three will let us know if lady luck stayed in Raleigh or if she came to Vegas to wreak havoc.
The thing about these games is I don’t think a team wins based on luck— it’s the team that becomes undeniable. We’ll see who that ends up being.
It’s gonna be a helluva ride.
“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.” Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Consideration for others is important. Doing your best— also so important. Keys to a life well-lived.
You know what sucks and needs to be disposed of? Perfectionism. At times, it’s engrained in us as children from external sources. Sometimes, it’s personality driven. Other times, it’s an internal thing that emerges from dysfunctional relationships and how we derive value or praise (a survival mechanism!). I am here to confirm what Dr. Schaef says— it’s self-abuse. If it’s imposed by another, it’s abuse.
If the ‘P’ word creeps up on you, it’s time to explore ways to release this pattern and frame of thinking. It’s worth being intentional about this.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
The Knights aren’t panicked. They are cool, calm, collected and winning.
The Hurricanes and Knights battled it out yesterday in the Stanley Cup Final, game 1. It was such a fast-paced game filled with surprises. The scores crawled up the ladder for both teams, rendering them tied at many points in the game.
It could have been anyone’s game. Carolina fought hard, and it is going to be a hell of a series. Listen, if Rod Brind’Amour and his team take this, I wouldn’t be mad. They have been consistent in their grind. I do think the Hurricanes rely heavily on certain players— Ehlers being one (and that can get you into a pickle). But, it’s anyone’s cup.
Last night, I still saw the elements in the Knight’s game that were present in the games with Colorado— elements that I think will take them all the way. They came from a deficit and won.
“We are a really good team, and […] I think they understand these situations because they have lived through them, and they have won,” John Tortorella said.
Closeness isn’t built on perfect alignment, but on the ability to move through friction and find your way back to each other.
Gwyneth Paltrow paraphrasing Esther Perel
By: Gabriela Yareliz
“Love yours,” was spray painted in red on a lamppost as cursive graffiti.
An excellent reminder to love your people and also, it reminded me of Emma Grede’s book, Start With Yourself.
As we start the week, I want us to focus on how we are actively showing love around us, but also, the actions we take to love ourselves.
I saw an excellent reminder from Mimi Ikonn on this. Mimi wrote:
“Here are 10 ways to become more self-possessed:
1. Tell yourself the truth, even when it’s inconvenient.
2. Stop seeking permission to be who you are.
3. Let people misunderstand you.
4. Trust your body’s wisdom over other people’s opinions.
5. Choose alignment over approval.
6. Stop abandoning yourself to keep the peace.
7. Take responsibility for your choices and your happiness.
8. Spend less time proving, more time being.
9. Keep the promises you make to yourself.
10. Become someone you can trust.”
While she writes about being self-possessed, I think all of these are elements of loving oneself, truly.
How will you love this week?
“When I was little my parents would always say, the secret to happiness is ‘Someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.’
And at the end of the day, they’re pretty spot on.” Natalie Saxton
GABRIELA YARELIZ 