Poetry by Javed Akhtar: Ghazal

From Quiver (Translated from Urdu) “If dreams are ready for the harvest, know The time of pain has come. Prepare to sow. This life is a strange business when I see That gain and loss are all the same to me. Someone is shattered with grief, still smiles with joy. Just like the face uponContinue reading “Poetry by Javed Akhtar: Ghazal”

Regaining the Funny Plot

“Every episode of Seinfeld could have been solved with a cell phone […] We used to have miscommunications that couldn’t be corrected instantly. We lived in that chaos and it was funny and we were happier.” Kelly Oxford By: Gabriela Yareliz The wellness online world is fantasizing about going analog. Back in the day, theContinue reading “Regaining the Funny Plot”

A Lesson from The Abolition of Man

“Did you know C.S. Lewis predicted the modern obsession with “being nice” would destroy the soul? In The Abolition of Man, Lewis argues that when a society stops believing in objective virtue, it doesn’t become tolerant… it becomes manipulable. He calls the result “men without chests.” People with appetites and intellects, but no courage, noContinue reading “A Lesson from The Abolition of Man”

Ruling Over the Ashes

“An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes.” Sun Tzu Anywhere we see corruption, violence and a disregard for freedom and human life, we see what Sun Tzu was talking about— men who rule over the ashes. It certainly feels like these men have dominated the headlinesContinue reading “Ruling Over the Ashes”

The (Obvious) Smoke in an Elevator

By: Gabriela Yareliz Sometimes, our gut feeling and intuition is blunt and clear. We receive the message and understand it immediately. I stood there clutching some recycling as the elevator door rolled open. I was eager to get into the elevator as it’s the only way into the basement where the trash and recycling areContinue reading “The (Obvious) Smoke in an Elevator”

No Bad Weather

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Alfred Wainwright By: Gabriela Yareliz Alfred Wainwright is right. The morning was warmish and damp. I ventured out ambitiously, and now, the temperatures have dropped wildly. I find myself yearning for thicker sleeves and my knit hat my mother made me. I was reminded ofContinue reading “No Bad Weather”

Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math

By: Gabriela Yareliz Words I have heard often tied to 2026: “subtraction”, “restraint”, “frugal”— it’s everywhere. Open a Substack, and play a game of bingo for every time one of these words pops up. #trending Allegedly, we need less so we can run with the horse (year of the horse)— whatever the hell that means.Continue reading “Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math”