This Month’s Picks: December 2014

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

Another year coming to a close. Stay inspired. Here are my picks from December; the little things that made me smile. 🙂

1] Ellen White chosen as one of Smithsonian’s 100 Most Significant Americans. She has certainly had an ENORMOUS impact on my life, and it’s nice to see such an inspired woman recognized.

2] “Pain is temporary, glory lasts forever.” Len (Dancing With The Stars)

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4] Dance on FLEEK: Alfonso and Witney

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6] Quote of the semester:

“If birth and family circumstances dictate character, education in ethics can make little or no difference.” pg. 22 Professional Responsibility: A Contemporary Approach (Pearce, Capra, Green, Knake and Terry)

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“There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.” – Maya Angelou

8] Is anyone else excited about this film? Jane Wilde (Hawking) is an extraordinary woman (a fighter), and I think their love story is amazing.

9] Because Sinatra is NYC in the winter. His voice is heard even when no music plays through the twinkling lights of the city, casting their glow on our hopes, joys, fears and romance.

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“The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one.”

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One should learn how to live life from you, I spend my entire life inside a box.- Arjun

A person should remain in a box only once he is dead.-Laila

15] The bearded T.B. LaBerge writing from his soul. I love his Tumblr.

“I want to marry you, and watch the fire in your eyes burn as your face begins to wrinkle. I want to see how you are 50 years from now, and know that I married the girl whose soul could never die. I want to hear you when you’re angry and to laugh when you are happy, I want to know that I have someone who understands that life is tough, but it’s good when you have someone with you. I want to know that at the end of my life, I had someone that I could love and who loved me back.” –T.B. LaBerge// 50 Years
Also from his Tumblr:
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If you were on a dance show, who would you pick to be your partner?
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Representing Canary Islands (Spain)! Ariadne Artiles. Love her.
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“I shall spend every moment loving… One who loves, does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them.”
St. Bernadette of Lourdes

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“Don’t be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning.”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

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“I want to infect you with the tremendous excitement of living, because I believe that you have the strength to bear it.”
Tennessee Williams, from The Selected Letters: 1920-1945

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“I’m always inclined to believe that the best way of knowing [the divine] is to love a great deal. Love that friend, that person, that thing, whatever you like, you’ll be on the right path to knowing more thoroughly, afterwards; that’s what I say to myself. But you must love with a high, serious intimate sympathy, with a will, with intelligence, and you must always seek to know more thoroughly, better, and more.”
Vincent van Gogh

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2014

So I won’t give up;
No, I won’t break down;
Sooner than it seems life turns around.
And I will be strong,
Even if it all goes wrong;
When I’m standing in the dark I’ll still believe;
Someone’s watching over me.

By: Gabriela Yareliz

2014 was a rollercoaster year. For some, it came with big changes: broken hearts, healing, divorce, marriage, engagements, loss of loved ones, natural disasters, babies and graduations.

2015 is going to be our year, but like every year, it will bring its deserts and valleys, along with beautiful forests and ocean views.

This year was really important for me. It was a very successful academic and professional year. I met beautiful people from whom I learned a lot. I had my first successful cases, and I went gluten free. *Long-suffering grin*. I started work that has challenged and will continue to challenge my creativity, mind and compassion. I learned a lot about myself, and my voice grew stronger.

This year, I met my favorite politician on the planet through amazing providence. I was published in a magazine I grew up reading. It hasn’t all been rosy. There were dark moments when everything seemed to go wrong. There have been stretches of loneliness, pain, rejection and crazy uncertainty. Some of those things haven’t exactly vanished, but I have been so overwhelmed with so many answered prayers and God’s faithfulness. God has been there every step of the way. Celebrating the year behind us is not only about the one year but about everything that has led up to it.

Through difficult decisions, blessings came out of some unexpected sources. For example, I was sponsored with a stipend for my work this summer. I was sponsored by a center that heard of the work I would be doing, and it wanted to support me. I didn’t even apply to the center for the fellowship. God continues to pour out unexpected blessings, and He continues weaving this mysterious tapestry.

It is wonderful to look back and see how far we have all come. I was reflecting on this with some old friends. We have all grown and learned things along the way; some are in unexpected places.

I am so grateful that despite our mistakes, God is patient with us. Even as we keep making the same mistakes and wandering about, He loves us with an eternal love and continues to draw us with loving kindness.

This reminds me of my dog, when she happens to decide to be a rebel and she eats a CD case or something that is inedible. The family gets frustrated when she has these vengeful lapses, even after years of training and not eating things that aren’t food. She hurts herself, yet there is still this love and compassion you have toward a naughty pet (those of you with pets understand). I think we often stubbornly act the same way, and God looks upon us with loving mercy.

I speak for myself. I am hoping that this year, I will be less stubborn. I hope I will grow and honor God in all that I do. I am grateful that despite my pride, mistakes and stupidity, God has promised to finish the work He has begun in my heart. (Philippians 1:6).

I am praying for more growth, sensitivity, patience and grace…

I hope my 2015 is a year used to serve and love people; loving others unconditionally, wanting nothing in return. Love is what it is all about. Sacrificial love; inconvenient love; unreserved love; love that hurts because it is real.

“True Christian benevolence springs from the principle of grateful love. Love to Christ cannot exist without correspondong love to those whom He came into the world to redeem. Love to Christ must be the ruling principle of the being, controlling all the emotions and directing all the energies. Redeeming love should awaken all the tender affection and self sacrificing devotion that can possibly exist in the heart of man.” Testimonies to the Church, Vol.3, pg 396, Ellen G. White

I am so grateful for 2014. It has been magic. 2015 will be great, though. Physical beauty deteriorates, but wisdom and the beauty of the soul grows more and more beautiful as time passes.

Make this your moment; make this a year where dreams come true; make this the year where you don’t give up. The two thousands are 14 going on 15. *wink* It’s time to bust out the quinceañero dress.

How is 2014 ending for you?

2014 ends for me with a flashback of myself standing on the corner of Kenmare and Lafayette in Manhattan getting soaked; soaked with rain and mysterious blessings to come.

“The world may be broken, but hope is not crazy.” John Green

Monday Inspiration: December 22, 2014

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Happy Monday! Country living has been good to me. I spent hours outside doing work with my brothers in a cool, misty gray day. We had a blast, and we even did a hilarious music video looking like crazy farmers. It was great.

There is nothing like smelling dirt, leaves, rain and sky as your perfume; some earth trapped under the fingernails; some twigs decorating the crown of your head; a little burn in the hands; and a sweet ache in the shoulders.

It is almost Christmas!

I hope you are all resting, spending quality reflective time with those you love, and I hope you are away from the shopping chaos.

Remember:

“Though circumstances say otherwise, God is going to come through, on schedule, fulfilling His long-appointed plans for you. Don’t give up before the time is right.” Louie Giglio, Waiting Here for You


“He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger.” O Holy Night

[Images from Tumblr]

Making a Power Couple

The New Trophy Wife (as shared by Feliz) was an fun article published by the Huffington Post (it’s linked).

“A woman who is equal to her man in earning power and career position. That’s sexy.” Kristen Houghton

It’s time we start dispelling thoughts that intelligent women are scary, dominant, not stylish, not sexual beings and meant to be single forever (punishment for success?). 

“A really strong man wants a woman who is equal to him, that is the truth of it now. A weak man wants someone that is docile and servant to him– it is a real sign of insecurity in a man to want a brainless trophy wife. Wives can be beautiful, intelligent and have careers and opinions just as strong as their partners.” Dr. Stephen Juan

When a strong man decides to pursue an “Amal Clooney”, that is when a power couple is born.