Don’t Die In Another’s World

“Had I not created my whole world, I would certainly have died in other people’s.” Anais Nin

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Some of the most glorious moments of our journeys are the ones where we buck all expectations and cultural rules imposed, and we create our own operating system.

My rule is that the only opinion that matters is God’s. Once you know you are doing something in alignment with His character, nothing else matters. Everything else be damned. There are no rules to create a beautiful life but the ten.

We often live in so many prisons of our own making. Sometimes, we sit in the prisons others create for us. At times, it’s almost like we ask for permission to exist, to move, to believe, to stand tall, to move toward dreams, to leave our harm. We live suffocating slowly.

We must own our agency. We must shed what controls and manipulates us. We must wear our faith as a shield. We must speak in truth. We must rise with courage.

Belief by belief— brick by brick, build your own world.

All Sorts of Life

“That’s the kind of story I want to write, the kind that stops being writing and starts being life.” George Saunders

By: Gabriela Yareliz

The Chinese lunar new year. First night of Ramadan. Ash Wednesday. Resurrection Sunday peeks over the horizon on the other side of fasting and journey.

My express train going local. Sigh.

It’s weirdly “warm” compared to what we have had the past few weeks. It’s rainy and damp.

I am listening to old New York stories, and reminded that so many people around us have the most incredible stories. Each person a vault of life, that if tapped, reveals sparks of magic, insight and history that offers sudden understanding.

The stories we tell— these moments of transition have a way of reminding us of our points of transformations. The moments that make our voice break. The moments that make tears fill our eyes to the brim. The moments that make us break out in uncontained laughter. The moments that make us our most undeniably honest selves.

Other’s stories have the power to shift something deep inside of us, like a train that clicks onto a different track (like my currently rerouted train).

If we dare to talk; if we dare to listen— there is so much that deserves to be told, heard and passed on.

This Week’s Favorites 2.17.26

Image via Pinterest.

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Strawberry milk was my favorite as a kid. Speaking of favorites— these are some of the things that have caught my eye these past few days.

Martha Stewart, the queen.

Megan Roup in conversation with Pia Mance (and yes, I did a The Sculpt Society workout shortly after).

On not wasting the wounds and thorns and how God is ever present.
Chinese medicine wisdom. *me with my Chinese herbs being annoying*
This theme song had wisdom.
Image of Olivia Culpo via Instagram. Love the glamour.

This palette photo reminded me of college:

Image via Pinterest.

An interesting week with a dash of nostalgia.

(And it’s only Tuesday).

Are We Pacified?

“All you need to do is look at what they are good at and get better than them.” Andy Frisella

By: Gabriela Yareliz

What if comparison makes us better?

Yesterday, I saw some minutes of the women’s Olympic skiing. It was WILD. The speed, the way they are stacked in placement, and how one thing can affect the whole picture. The camaraderie, and also, the rivalries. Some win; others lose. Some return; others have run their last course.

I was listening to Andy Frisella, and I loved his conversation on athletes. The best coaches and athletes examine other teams and players. They compare. They learn how they make passes and how they move. Comparison is used for data, analysis and improvements. Comparison is used to win.

People who want excellence, look at others aspirationally and strive. Anyone who is competitive pays attention to the people around them, Frisella says.

Frisella argues that sometimes, the voice that says comparison is bad is the one trying to make it ok to be lazy. A voice that gives permission to the lesser version of you. The voice that stifles your growth. It’s a voice that does not work in your favor. Winners do not listen to that voice.

It’s important to weigh the information around us and wonder if it calls us to be better or if it attempts to silence the voices urging us toward growth. Does it draw us to our highest self? Does it strengthen the voices that lure us into complacency? Are we seeking to pacify ourselves and our insecurities?

Compare to win.

Spring Dreams

Image via Pinterest

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Yesterday was our first day over 39F in weeks. The sun was shining, and I kept feeling like there was an important thought I had forgotten. I was racking my brain like a child shaking the last coin out of a piggy bank, all in efforts to remember the forgotten piece. While I never remembered what I forgot, I knew the world was thawing.

There is a constant drip-drip from the roofs; the snow and ice sheets on the streets are turning into streams. It was like Narnia after the winter curse is broken.

As the sun re-emerges, my mind can’t help but wander toward spring. I keep dreaming of a spring walk through Oyster Bay.

You just feel it in the air. We’ve tilted the scales of winter toward spring. It’s inevitable.

What will spring usher in?

More skirts- sheer is fun.

Image via Elle Brasil

Shoes that aren’t boots- and colorful socks!

Image via the Editorialist

Cooler matchas– with fruit flavors.

Image via Pinterest

Button down shirts- also bringing more color.

Sunglasses return- because it won’t be dark 24/7.

Image via Pinterest

Brighter blush- the more color the better.

Image via Rhode

What are you looking forward to as we soon start to descend into a new season?

Best Self

Image via Pinterest

“It’s no secret that you can’t be the best anything if you aren’t your best self.” Grey Huffington

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I am devising a plan to feel like I have a life again. Our habits and days are made of choices, and lately, it feels like all I do is work, commute (another full-time job), and sleep to do it all over again the next day.

Everything else— exercise, being present, communication, hell— even peeing, feels like a rushed moment. I am tired of feeling that anxiety and rush around human moments. It’s this ticking clock that if I don’t squeeze this thing in now, I won’t be able to that day.

Mood when I suddenly pause after insane bouts of productivity.

In the past two weeks, I have heard at least twice that those human moments, whether it’s waking up, eating breakfast or the daily shower, show how much respect you have for yourself. How we move sends a message to ourselves.

As I heard this again recently, the image of me cramming breakfast into my mouth on a train platform popped into my head. About the only things I do in my house for sure before leaving is reading my Bible, tongue scraping and my makeup (and getting dressed of course). And it’s not about being hard in oneself; on the contrary, it’s about humanizing oneself.

Rushing image via Pinterest.

Move with excellence, Emma Grede says.

If you, like me, sometimes feel like your own afterthought— it’s time to devise a different plan. One that relays respect to your own soul.

The Massie-Khanna Alliance

Massie and Khanna, image via Axios.

What Bobby said.

Listen, it’s my philosophy that you know a politician has integrity when both parties hate him/her while he/she keeps pushing accountability.

I am a fan of the bipartisan effort and work propelled forward by Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna. They seem to be the real deal. May they see all of this through with the backing of the American people.

Pam Bondi should have never landed this role in the administration. (Though I am sure she is fulfilling the role they had for her).

Justin Anderson said it well:

“Pam Bondi was not elected or appointed to protect predators, institutions, or power. Her only job is to serve the American people. Hiding the truth is not neutrality – it’s complicity. and history has never been kind to those who chose silence over justice.”

When you see the photos of children with their clothes off and the names of criminals redacted, you know decades of government and the current administration have failed. Some of our representatives, however, seem to be locked in.

Questions for February

Image via Pinterest

“If no one told you what to like— what would you actually choose?” Theo Von reading an ad for Pepsi

By: Gabriela Yareliz

On many mornings, I listen to comedy during my commute. It helps keep the blood pressure low. The morning is always filled with weird things.

Today, it was a train with blood smeared on the outside of it, on the side (alarming). A woman dramatically twitching in her seat and mumbling to herself, clearly on drugs. An elderly woman who moved so slowly the doors almost closed on her, while having a line of people behind her waiting to get out. It’s never boring.

As I listened to Theo Von this morning, he read a Pepsi ad, and the quote above reminded me of something we have talked about here before— listening to inner wisdom.

Who are you when the ads, the social media marketing, the posters on the green boards in NYC— when it all vanishes and is silenced, what do you choose?

When was the last time you checked in with yourself and how you are feeling?

Time to journal!

“Journaling is the writing on the walls. It’s walking through your inner world and making note of what’s there. It’s slow, and it’s honest, and it’s one of the most intimate acts of self-intimacy. Because if you can’t be honest with yourself on the page, how can you expect anyone else to truly know you?” Wilde House Papers

Questions as we begin the month:

-Does it draw me in?

-How do I feel when engaging?

-What energy/attitude/vibe do I want to embody?

-What can I add to nourish myself?

-What am I not changing? (Whatever you do not change, you are choosing).