By: Gabriela Yareliz

May– my favorite month. It is always action-packed with birthdays and holidays. What is not to love? I got to attend my new employer’s commencement ceremony in my full regalia, which was nostalgic. I made a new work bestie. I started reading Seduction by Robert Greene, and it is gold. (All of his books are). I stopped my Kennedys spiraling. (Soon to be resumed when I read the new CBK books).

I was late (thanks to the trains) and sprinting across Times Square and like 14 Michael Jackson impersonators on the reg. I also did the Pilates by Bryony Summer Camp Challenge. I am almost done with it. I started late, so I am behind a bit. Creativity flowed. My Notes app is full. I learned new things (which I loved). I completed Aggie Lal’s Hormone Challenge and started her biohacker course, Fit as F*ck.

For my birthday, I ate the best tacos and flautas of my life (thank you to my husband). I listened to so many podcasts. One of my new favs is the Foster sisters’ The World’s First Podcast. They always crack me up. Thoroughly enjoy the banter. Sara is my fav.

We went to the Memorial Day Parade, which was beautiful. I hadn’t sung some of those patriotic songs since elementary school. Ran through a thunderstorm and watched a lot of hockey and late night overtimes. (I got some next-morning assists from matcha). Got a new favorite hockey player since the age of 10– Matt Rempe– here’s to you, kid.

I watched the legal system and rule of law of this country crumble with the rest of us. But also see a new awakening in young people that is refreshing and gives me hope. There is always hope.

Summer is here. We are posting summer verses on Instagram every Wednesday @modernwitnesses_ (give us a follow). The posts of the month that got equal traffic were Morning Trains and Photo of the Year. Both speak for themselves. Glad folks enjoyed. In my book, it is officially summer. We have already turned on the AC or I would have quit pilates. #pilatesprincess

As usual, I read a lot of good stuff, so the quotes here are always gold. I hope they leave you inspired. Sending you blessings in June. I am grateful for the 3,000+ of you who read and visit and share your love. Happy start of summer!!

Quotes

“We learn to think so that we can allow our inappropriate and impractical thoughts to die instead of us.” Alfred North Whitehead

“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.” Tony Robbins

“Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up. Day by day, and at the end of the day, if you live long enough, like most people, you will get out of life what you deserve.” Charlie Munger

“Pessimists don’t change the world.” Jon Gordon

“MySpace literally had us randomly doing html codes at 14 like we had been in the CIA for years. Nobody remembers how we learned it, but all of us somehow just knew.” Melissa Joan Hart

“I’ve realized that people who let life happen to them really resent anything that reminds them of their passiveness. I cannot stress enough, that being an active participant in your existence is affirming. Consciously look after yourself please, you’ll be better for it.” @mxmsworld

“Get yourself surrounded by empowered humans who choose to weave gold out of every situation rather than playing victim.” Jessica Alix Hesser

“Both faith and fear demand you to believe in something you cannot see. You choose.” @thoughtful_scripter

“Choose not to be harmed– and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed–and you haven’t been” Marcus Aurelius

“The goal for relationship is connection and love.” Edie Wadsworth

“Your thoughts are the best predictor of your future. If you transform your thinking you will transform your life.” Erwin Raphael McManus

“If we want gardens, we must become gardeners. If we want love, we must be loving. If we want change, we must alter our own course. If we want connection, we must reach. If we want place, we must be steady. If we want home, we nurture a house. If we want to love who we are, we must become who we most respect, and admire.” Unknown

“What people say about themselves does not matter; people will say anything. Look at what they have done; deeds do not lie. You must also apply this logic to yourself. In looking back at defeat, you must identify the things you could have done differently.” Robert Greene

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we use to create them.” Albert Einstein

“We know the truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart.” Blaise Pascal

“Man imagines that it is death he fears; but what he fears is the unforseen… what man fears is himself, not death.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery

“Living authentically requires us to be honest with ourselves and others. We can’t stay hidden and hope to experience the love we want. To love and to be loved is to know courage. It’s about embracing who we are, flaws and all. It’s to take a stand and say, ‘This is me. This is what I’ve got going. This is what I’m about. Take me as I am. I love me. And that’s actually what matters.’ Let that be the starting point as you step into the unknown. That’s what real courage looks like. Every time.” Rainer Wylde

“The degree to which a person can grow is directly proportional to the amount of truth they can accept about themselves without running away.” Leland Val Van De Wall

“If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Oftentimes, I find myself torn between savoring the world and saving the world. But then I realized that savoring must come first otherwise there would be nothing worth saving.” @Veeshoney

“Be inconvenient to the system dedicated to domesticating you, taming you, and keeping you cut down to size.” Rainier Wylde

“I am beginning to see that much of praying is grieving.” Henri Nouwen

“Go forward bravely, fear nothing. Trust in God; all will be well.” St. Joan of Arc

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” Robert A. Heinlein