For [s]he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever.
Psalm 112:6
I believe I met Mrs. T on a Thursday night.
It was a Thursday evening when I pulled into the Hope Lodge behind the university hospital. I parked and got ready to roll up my sleeves. The Hope Lodge is where people receiving cancer treatments and their families can stay while they are completing their treatments and procedures far from home. A good friend and brother from the church works at the hospital, and he came up with the great idea that we should go and help out serving dinner once a month to the families in residence and that we should visit with and sing to the patients. As a church, it was something we loved doing.
That evening, the kitchen was bustling under the bright little kitchen lamps. Some people were stationed at the food trays, others were at the sinks washing bowls and plates, and some were helping others sneak an extra dessert (just kidding). After serving the food, our church music group would set up the keyboards, guitars and microphones, and we would start singing songs about God’s love, mercy and the hope we can find only in Him.
That evening, a woman caught my eye. She was seated close to the microphones, and she was holding one of our song books. She was singing loudly with us. That was Mrs. T.
After the music time, we would sit at the tables and talk to the families and hospital patients. They were all very sweet people. I became friends with Mrs. T. We exchanged numbers, and we kept in touch by phone. There were times when I escaped the campus to hang out with her and talk.
She was a strong woman, and she wanted to see the town a bit more, so we arranged for a museum day. On museum day, I came to the Hope Lodge, and Mrs. T was with her sister who was visiting her. They were looking stunning. Mrs. T had a lovely orange scarf tied as a turban around her head. She was the classiest woman in town that day. I always appreciate a woman who can pull off an amazing turban and bright lipstick–a woman after my own heart. I took them to the art museum, and we had a ball. She knew so much about the different painters and works of art, and she told me what museums were like in her country. She told me about all the places she had traveled, and her sister was very sweet. I remember the university hadn’t finished the new Eastern Art wing and garden. Mrs. T wanted to see it.
On another occasion, she and I hit “downtown”. It was a cloudy day, and I remember we ate at this marvelous little Italian place where a lot of jurors from the local court would go for lunch. We ate a hefty plate of pasta and chatted about life and faith over garlic bread. She would ask me about my studies, and I would bore her with my stories about reporting. She always seemed amused.
Mrs. T eventually finished her treatments and was sent home. I didn’t see her after that. We kept tabs on each other through our common friend who works at the hospital.
Yesterday, Mrs. T passed away.
I pray that her family finds comfort in this difficult time. I pray God puts His unmovable peace that surpasses all understanding in her loved ones. I pray He fills them with hope and the knowledge that some day there will be no more death, sorrow or crying because He has conquered all things. I pray that God fills her family with the same kind of faith she had.
Though she is resting, her influence remains. I can say that her faith impacted me. She had a solid faith. She knew God was at her side, always. She knew she was not alone. This wasn’t something she hoped, it was something she knew.
She was a lovely, lovely woman. If there was a word lovelier than lovely, I would use it. She was very kind and always encouraging, despite all she was going through.
I am forever grateful and blessed that our paths crossed.
I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate the song “Be Still My Soul” to her family. It is sung in this video by one of the lead singers of our church music group:
Still, my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow
God You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone
Still my soul be still
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold onto His ways
With shield of faith
Against temptations flaming arrows
Still, my soul be still
Do not forsake
The Truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord
And hope will rise As stars appear when day is dimming
It’s intimidating to come into full eye contact with your busy week. Here is a dose of Tumblr magic for your Monday. (It’s how I cope with law school Mondays).
The work/study week begins.
Guys, God is still on His throne; a Savage Garden song just came on; the world is still spinning. Yes. It will be a good week.
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“Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing & your attitude when you have everything.”
3] From Christine Caine’s desk.
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“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” -Cecil Beaton
5] Take a walk through your garden (figuratively speaking–your soul). What needs weeding? What needs watering? What needs to be shared? Just take a minute and sit there. Be still. Adopt a bunny. Be daring and eat something without washing it. (That last one is ridiculous…I blame Monday)
“Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”
6] God’s timing is perfect for all things in our life. God has set eternity in man’s heart.
7] Not everything can be planned, avoided and/or calculated. Some things just happen. And remember: Oftentimes, things aren’t happening to us, they are happening for us.
Today, I woke up and stared out of my window. The day was gray with a dark green hue. Rain was falling steady. I was still in my apartment glancing at the neighboring building’s fire escapes, which were shiny, black and wet, avoiding the thought of walking to church. The rain did not let up. I then put my poncho cape over my skirt, blouse and backpack. I looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame–not Esmeralda. I took my umbrella and walked down the stairs, careful to not allow the hall door to slam and wake the neighbors. When I shuffled through the lobby, my friend, one of the building managers, saw me and laughed. I looked ridiculous. I wasn’t feeling the walk– I let out a half sigh when I was unwrapping the Velcro of my umbrella. He told me it was a beautiful day. I gave him a half smile and managed to pop my umbrella open. The truth is– the East Village looked like magic today. The rain made all of the plants look greener than green. The lighting made the city look like it was dressed for a party. Stunning. It took me 40 minutes to get to the church. I was waiting at the intersection to cross and walk into the church on the corner. My hand clutched my skirt which was absolutely soaked. There was water in my boots, my socks were wet, my hair was wet–I basically looked like I had just gotten out of the shower. I was laughing so hard when I reached the doors of the church. Someone could wring me. Despite the weather, it was a perfect day. The air was cool, the rain was lovely, and I was reminded of how amazing it is to be alive; feeling, walking around (the squish, squish of my boots)– Rain reminds me of the things we see as slightly inconvenient that make us grow, that cleanse us, that make us feel. Rain is kind of like love; tiny drops fall and break, but they fill oceans that go on for miles; they revive dry streams and refresh a still lake.
“The magic of purpose and of love in its purest form. Not television love, with its glare and hollow and sequined glint; not sex and allure, all high shoes and high drama, everything both too small and in too much excess, but just love. Love like rain, like the smell of a tangerine, like a surprise found in your pocket.” ― Deb Caletti
Delilah (radio host) just started playing Dan Hartman’s “I can dream about you” song for this adorable guy who called in. It’s time for bed.
xoxo.
[Images from Tumblr: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: Anushka Sharma]
I think it’s in moments of transition and decision, and moments of complete uncertainty and darkness, that you see people seeking for peace and guidance the most. It’s part of the human condition. We all do it, and we all seek for these things in different places. Oftentimes, we show up at empty wells hoping to find water.
I love people’s stories. Learning from others, saves us from a lot of heartache, and it can give us ideas as to which path to take or how to approach a situation. This is why biographies are amazing. Nothing beats a true story. Nothing is more intriguing than a true victory.
Today, as part of some autumn inspiration, I thought we could look at some words spoken by a very wise woman who had some incredible victories in her life; a woman who faced a Nazi soldier, years after suffering in his hands during the Holocaust; a woman who not only faced the man, but who offered her forgiveness. We often get so angry and annoyed at petty things in life (first-world problems, anyone?). Yet, this woman, in her simplicity and inner struggle did something supernatural– something that does not come easily to us because of our plain human nature. Her life illustrates how we all struggle and have anger, resentment, emotions and desires that are completely justifiable–yet, if we allow and ask God to let His goodness be found in us, He will put His love and grace in our hearts. When we forgive and when we love, we allow God’s goodness and mercy to shine in the world.
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch woman who is known for her writing about her experiences after ending up in a concentration camp after hiding Jewish brothers and sisters during the Holocaust. She also dedicated herself to other charitable works such as helping the mentally disabled and abandoned children. She was a woman who loved, suffered and knew the true meaning of forgiveness. And while she never married, her life was filled with love for those around her. The amazing thing about love is that it keeps reaching out, even after we are gone, because love is eternal. Love does not fail.
She has written several books and published some journals. Below are some snippets of her wisdom. I call it wisdom, because intelligence is one thing, but wisdom comes from God.
I hope you find words that make you reflect on peace, on trusting that hand of God that guides you with loving kindness like a parent does with his or her child. May we all choose to love in a way that keeps reaching, enduring and sustaining.
“Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.” “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”
“God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours…In the Bible, I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains but simply because He has made us.”
“Do you know what hurts so very much? It’s love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.”
“There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”
“In darkness God’s truth shines most clear.”
“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”
“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
Life continues at its slow-fast pace. Life can be looked at in different ways. It can turn into a waiting game. It can turn into a list of things to do. It can turn into a dream. It can turn into a telescope into the future. It can be an adventure. It can be a mystery.
I heard a quote this month I really enjoyed:
“Life is like a boxing match. Defeat is declared not when you fall, but when you refuse to stand up again.”
Truth.
I am in the middle of a great book. I reached the major suspense part, and ironically, I am too busy. It has been weeks since I have touched the book. I don’t even remember the protagonist’s name. That is actually hilarious. The name does not come to mind. Anyway…this is the life. 🙂 We’ve reached that point when the semester becomes a solid routine. It’s kind of exciting. It’s like being submerged in a lake that comes up to your nose, and your eyes are skimming the surface and seeing the tiniest details in the stillness; except in life we are immersed in routine and piles of paper. Piles of paper can be exciting. They mean something is getting done.
When autumn falls on the city, I get excited. The build up is slow, but then everything changes all at once. Life can be like that. Everything is one way, and then, BAM–colors change, things fall, things sleep, temperatures fluctuate and other things begin to sparkle. I think New York was made to be an autumn/winter place all year round. I think of Sinatra, the plaza hotel, and the bridges in Central Park. I think of the little lights that adorn everything and make everything glow in the permanent dimness. October is the beginning of all of that. So, here is my list of random stuff I compiled throughout the month (some of it makes me seem stuck in the 90s–not far from the truth). As I tap my feet and whirl to Frank Sinatra, I leave you to check out this month’s list.
September, you were as busy and as beautiful as one of those secretaries writing everything by hand in a 1940s film.
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BE SOFT.
DO NOT LET THE WORLD MAKE YOU HARD.
DO NOT LET THE PAIN MAKE YOU HATE.
DO NOT LET THE BITTERNESS STEAL YOUR SWEETNESS.
TAKE PRIDE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE WORLD MAY DISAGREE,
YOU STILL BELIEVE IT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. -unknown
2] Boy Meets World Goodness
“You’re gonna mistakes, you’re gonna make good friends, and Mr. Feeny will probably teach you every grade you’re ever in. And maybe you’ll meet a woman as wonderful as Topanga, how’d you like that? And maybe you’ll make a friend like Shawn. But when you’re not a little boy anymore, when the world taught you how to be this man, you know, you’re still gonna make mistakes. But your family and your friends that you made along the way are gonna help you. Even though it’ll seem like the world’s going out of it’s way to teach you these hard lessons, you’re gonna realize that it’s the same world that’s giving you your family and your friends, you know? And you’re gonna come to believe that the world’s gonna protect you, too. Boy Meets World. Now, I get it.” 🙂
[boymeetsworldgifs.tumblr.com]
3] Switchfoot–Love Alone is Worth the Fight
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I absolutely loved this quote I saw on a Tumblr somewhere:
“…Because I believe I was meant to live an epic life.” Yes. God wants us to live epic lives.
5] Power
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“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly… to listen to stars and buds, to babes and sages; with open heart; await occasions, hurry never. This is my symphony.” William Henry Channing
7] Rules to live by:
“Don’t be so preoccupied with making a living that you forget to live.”
8] Kandee Johnson is hilarious. The truth about hair drama.
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10] BO$$
11] Kylie Jenner for Byrdie– Her hair looks fantastic.
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Praising other body types should not involve body shaming others. Certain song lyrics have been particularly hurtful recently, and this piece was interesting while analyzing them.
13] From the ABA Student Lawyer Magazine, Oct. 2014, Vol. 43, No. 2
“Legal education is a powerful drug; but if you are not careful, it can drown out your instincts, stifle your emotions, and numb your heart. Law school molds and enhances the intellect, but frequently neglects to enlighten and illuminate your soul. The damage is predictable.” pg. 8, Dare to Be a Compassionate Lawyer by Jordan Furlong
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Does anyone remember building forts? I was a pro. Now that it is getting cooler, it reminds me of those days. Time for lots of blankets and coziness. DTBBF.
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18] The weddings!
Sona Gasparian (makeup artist) and Kas. Congrats guys! [From @makeupbysona]19]
jennysserendipity.wordpress.com
This month, when change looms on the horizon, when something unexpected happens, when decisions have to be made, don’t let your stomach twist itself into a knot. Don’t be nervous. Don’t hold your breath. Don’t imagine the worst scenarios.
Believe that good can happen. Believe the impossible can happen. Be at peace. Sometimes in life, there are things working in our favor, waiting for us to allow them– yet we doubt and do not allow things to grow in their beauty and unfold. Dare to have faith. Dare to hope. Dare to let life surprise you; maybe if we allowed it, it would happen more often.
I just realized that I thought I had some days off this week, but I was wrong. (Typical). Oh, Monday! Why so cruel? (Grin). All right, people; we are going to celebrate Monday.
This is a new thing (at least in my world). Monday sets the tone for the rest of the week–and hey, we are starting a new month this week. Ironically, most weeks feel like a month long. 🙂
We got this, guys; we got this.
How do I know it’s all going to be ok? I wear glasses.
Let’s do this:
1] First, HELLO OCTOBER! (You charming, charming and seductive month)
2] Risk curiosity, wonder and spontaneous delight
3] Make sure there’s alone time
4] Leave a sparkle wherever you go–always
4] Focus on personal growth
5] Have at least one adventure this week
6] From the heart speaks the mouth. It’s good to remember for ourselves, and as Maya Angelou once said, when people show you who they are, believe them.
Belongs to Gabriela YarelizBelongs to Gabriela Yareliz
“The eternal child is one who has never seen anything so beautiful, because he doesn’t compare. […] But the walker who marvels while walking (the blue of the rocks in a July evening light, the silvery green of olive leaves at noon, the violet morning hills) has no past, no plans, no experience. He has within him the eternal child.” A Philosophy of Walking, pg. 84, Frederic Gros
Chinatown; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizNoHo; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizEast Village; Belongs to Gabriela Yareliz
“Living in the deepest sense, is something no one else can do for us.” A Philosophy of Walking, pg. 90, Frederic Gros
East Village; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizTribeca; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizCity Hall; Belongs to Gabriela Yareliz
“To walk is to experience the real.” A Philosophy of Walking, pg. 94, Frederic Gros
South Street Seaport; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizSouth Street Seaport Museum; Belongs to Gabriela YarelizSouth Street Seaport Museum; Belongs to Gabriela Yareliz
The first man to write a treatise on walking, Henry David Thoreau, said:
“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”
These two bosses got married today. Congrats to the newlyweds!
I hope their lives are filled with happiness, joy and love. Most of all, I hope they continue to use their power and influence to help those around them. May they continue being excellent humanitarians, together forever.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the past. I am doing this thinking it might help someone because it’s slightly mortifying for me. I really believe that when God blesses you, you should pass it on, and share the blessing with others. So, I thought I would share a bit of my skin journey. I hope this will be short. I am not a doctor or dermatologist. I just wanted to share what healed my face. I am so grateful every day for the things I discovered and learned that helped me.
My first breakouts in life were in middle school. As any average kid that age, I had breakouts. Eventually, I found Proactiv, and my problems went away. In high school, I had normal skin; not too problematic, but at times there were some breakouts. My weight changed a lot during that time–you know, normal high school stuff. In college, my skin cleared up completely, and I had issue-free skin basically.
When I moved to NYC for professional school, everything changed. I figured it was due to the water, maybe the polluted air, school stress–it had to be something. My skin was terrible. I had acne running down my cheeks, on my chin–it was a mess. I think my skin was the protagonist of many of my conversations with my mother. Thanks to my terrible breakouts, I began experimenting with concealers of all types, which would leave my skin dry, flaky and scary. There was a time when I kind of gave up on covering anything up. Then, if and when things would clear-up, it would leave a shadow or scar behind. So even if that particular breakout had healed, I still had something on my face. I was a mess (maybe emotionally more than in actuality).
I changed all of my makeup, my brushes (and kept them super clean), and I started using only natural products. Nothing happened. I went to Sephora and bought face kits from many major and expensive skincare brands, starting with natural stuff and then going into salicylic acid and more powerful chemicals and minerals. Even the Peter Thomas Roth products would leave my face burning and red, but no results. I disliked events and special times when most people looked fabulous, and I felt like a mess and gross because of my skin situation. Not my best times.
I didn’t understand why I was breaking out so much. I was vegan, exercising, and I didn’t feel abnormally stressed. Also, I was an adult. Why was my skin regressing? Turns out that in adulthood, we keep changing.
Below, you can see my face in 2013 (and this was on a mild day with makeup).
July 2013August 2013 Makeup free and at Manhattan Beach.
Everything changed when I went home December of 2013. At this point, I was angry and resigned all at once. I was just trying to master the art of makeup and do the best I could with what I had. My mother told me that a friend of ours at church had great skin, and my mother asked her for her secret. Turns out, she juices a lot. Then, we started doing some research. I watched a video that talked about gluten and wheat. The video encouraged a 30-day, gluten-free challenge. I decided to do it and see how I felt, even though I was skeptical (what was I going to eat? I was already vegan!).
My mother bought me a juicer for Christmas (yay!), and the journey began in 2014. My New Year’s resolution was to juice and be gluten free. The worse that could happen was my face would continue to be a mess, and I would have more nutrients in my system. I couldn’t lose anything. Of course, my life became an eternal lent. I am pretty sure Gandhi ate more things than I do. But that’s ok; he needed it. He was waaaay skinnier than I will ever be. 🙂
Being gluten free was harder than juicing. My first juices were disgusting, but things got better. With the blender, when I would try to juice, it turned into a vomit-looking substance. With the juicer, it was juice. Kale juice, but juice. As I was gluten free, I started doing more research about the difference between having celiac and simply having a wheat allergy. Turns out wheat allergies cause serious skin and acne problems and even eczema.
After a month, I was already seeing a difference. I ordered some Proactiv and added it to the mix (if it worked once, why wouldn’t it work again?) My skin continued to clear. Eventually, even most of my scars faded. I have been mocked and been called a fad-dieter; there are times I have been hungry because I couldn’t eat what was around; I learned to bring my own food to events–but it has been worth it.
I also met people who were really understanding and would help me hunt for gluten-free food (my colleague this summer was great about that). The point is– it worked. I think the biggest factor in my situation was the wheat. When I cut out the wheat, things changed DRAMATICALLY.
So, if you are having skin issues, or know someone who is having acne or skin problems… all hope is not lost. Turns out there are natural ways to reverse the skin damage. This will not work for everyone. Obviously, every person is different. Some need to go to a dermatologist and get a prescription. But, if you have a mild or new and random skin situation, and you are trying things out, why not give the gluten-free thing a try?
There are times when I catch a glimpse of my face, and I remember the way it used to be. It was horrible. I definitely learned about how our appearances and the absence of things that are often taken for granted (like good skin) can affect how we feel in dramatic ways. It was not an easy road; it still isn’t. Some people say they would never give up eating something to look or feel better.
We all make choices. Some choices mean sacrifice and inconvenience. I made my choice though, and it works for me. So, I’ll be stickin’ to it.
“I see health as a journey, not a destination. It’s ever-changing because if you’re not growing you’re dying–in every area of your life. My goal is to always move toward being better.” Maria Menounos for Shape Magazine, October 2014.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 