Growth

By: Gabriela Yareliz

This month, I’ve been reflecting a lot on growth; personal growth. What it means to be a lifelong student. I’ve been learning from people like Lauryn Evarts Bosstick, Ed Mylett and Ryan Holiday (all personal favorites in the podcast and writing sphere).

You may have noticed that this month I was very consistent, here. Apologies to your inbox. I did a 30-day challenge for fitness, as well. I promise more consistent content to come, but not every single day. This whole process was for me (and hopefully you had some laughs along the way).

Ed Mylett says, “Self-confidence is the process of keeping the promises that you make to yourself.” I am a person of a lot of discipline. I am not surprised I have basically made it through January. It wasn’t about that, it was simply about keeping a couple of promises to myself to start off the year.

I started 2021 with an itch to create and to create differently. I have so many ideas brewing. So here I am, setting up my cool intelligent notebook, recharging my camera and scribbling stuff into a notebook.

So much of this world– social media and even writers online revolve around this notion of looking at what the audience likes and catering to it. I find that boring. I mean, it’s cool if that is what you want– to be a caterer.

I am reminded of a conversation Bob Colacello (editor of Interview magazine from 1971 to 1983 and then a correspondent for Vanity Fair starting in 1993) had with Diana Vreeland, repeatedly– she would tell him, “How many times have I told you– your job as editor is not to give people what they want. It’s to give people what they don’t know they want yet.” (Influence, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, pg. 36)

Bob Colacello said, “Real creativity is being true to yourself and getting people to go with you.” (Id.) Those words stayed with me; they are like glued to the back of my eyelids. I want to be really creative, and I would be honored if you continue to come along with me.