By: Gabriela Yareliz
I went from listening to a podcast about Alix Earl vs Alex Cooper (I don’t know these people, but it’s all people can talk about) to Oprah talking about the Hoffman Process (I landed there after the heartwarming Emma Grede podcast).
I was walking from an appointment, and the sun was showering us with gracious rays of warmth. A part of me anxiously wanted to pull out my phone and open the Outlook email app, but then, I stopped myself. I looked around at the bright avenue and the invitation to live sunk in. I started walking and ended up at the edge of the neighborhood. As I walked, I relaxed into the cadence, and freedom started to sink in. I had taken the afternoon off from work, and as I usually do, I had difficulty shaking off the week. But every step I took away from my work laptop and resisting the urge to open the apps in my pocket made me more defiant and free. The weight started lifting. I started to breathe deeper.
I felt the sunshine on my face, and released my to do list.
These are ordinary moments, but they are not small. They make up the acts of defiance that make us feel alive. The robotic autopilot starts to glitch and sputter to a stop. Suddenly, we feel the blood pumping through our veins. As I walked, I did a full circle, and started to feel the exhaustion settle in. It was sweet. I had accomplished something and beat electronic despair. That is no small act.
I invite you to do the same.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 