GABRIELA YARELIZ

This Month’s Picks: March 2014

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

March was an action-packed month, where a crazy schedule became the new normal. Exams are coming quickly (they are that dark cloud hovering over us); I am still springbreakless; I am still slightly sleep deprived, but nonetheless joyful. I think April will be an exciting month filled with a lot of focus, pressure, yet filled with more rest than the preceding months gave us. We’ll see. I know it’s only March 30th. I do realize that March has 31 days (the 31st is a Monday), but hey– who has time for that? I am excited about April; so, we start celebrating today.

March, you’ve been good
–ciao amore

1] I can’t wait for spring!!

2] Songs of the Month: (ft. Tal) Génération Goldman, vol. 2, C’est ta Chance

3] Sonam Kapoor for Conde Nast Traveler

5] Oscar Wilde, you witty, witty man.

6] New PSA from India, “Komal”–regarding child sexual abuse. So necessary for all children of the world.
I found this through BuzzFeed’s Rega Jha’s piece: This PSA About Child Sexual Abuse Is Dark, Beautiful and Very Necessary
This is the English version:

7] On Kidd Kraddick in the Morning (radio morning show):
Jenna Owens has been having a rough time in her romantic life. Every time she talks about it, J-si plays the Titanic violin song (when the ship is sinking). She continues to joke that she is drowning (romantically).
On March 25, 2014:
(Violin plays)
Jenna: I already drowned.
(pause and transition)
Kellie Rasberry: He’s the one that’s supposed to drown.

Got to love the romantic commentary on Kidd Kraddick in the Morning.

9] MEN vs. BOYS

MINDY KALING on the difference between dating men and boys, from Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

“Men know what they want. Men make concrete plans. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on a mattress that isn’t on the floor. Men tip generously. Men buy new shampoo instead of adding water to a nearly empty bottle of shampoo. Men go to the dentist. Men make reservations. Men go in for a kiss without giving you some long preamble about how they’re thinking of kissing you.[…] Men know what they want, and they don’t let you in on their inner monologue, and that is scary.” (pg. 307)

“Boys are adorable. Boys trail off on their sentences in an appealing way. Boys bring a knapsack to work. Boys get haircuts from their roommate, who ‘totally knows how to cut hair.’ Boys can pack up their whole life in a duffle bag and move to Brooklyn for a gig if they need to. Boys have ‘gigs.’ Boys are broke. And when they do have money they spend it on a trip to Colorado to see a music festival. Boys don’t know how to adjust their conversation when they’re talking to their friends or to your parents. They put your parents on the same level as their peers and roll their eyes when your dad makes a terrible pun. Boys let your parents pay for dinner when you all go out. It’s assumed.” (pg. 307-308)

I loved the way she finished the chapter:
“So I’m into men now, even though they can be frightening. I want a schedule-keeping, waking-up-early, wallet carrying, non-Velcro-shoe-wearing man. I don’t care if he has more traditionally ‘men problems’ like having to take prescription drugs for cholesterol or hair loss. I can handle it. I’m grown-up too.” (pg.312)

I like Mindy Kaling’s perspective. She is on point with her analysis and humor.

10]

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12] Guess who got the spring cover? Kimye does it again.

13] Quote of the month (from the masterful Nicholas Sparks):

14] Shraddha Kapoor for Vogue India–stunning.

15] Welcome April!

Thoughts for today: March 26, 2014

From Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, by Ellen G. White

“If you go from the truth you will never know real happiness; you will be miserable indeed. Heaven is worth making any and every sacrifice for.” – {2T 225.2}

“Dedicate yourself unreservedly to the Lord, and it will not then be difficult to serve Him.” {2T 225.1}

“I wish to entreat of you to seek God while He invites you to come to Him that you may have life.”– {2T 222.3}

All-Important Business

From Ellen G. White’s Testimonies for the Church, vol.2

“Seek the Lord with all your hearts. Make this the all-important business of your lives.” – {2T 178.2}

It’s All About His Glory

Taken from Destiny, by Dr. Tony Evans, pg. 171

“There’s something romantic about a full moon against the backdrop of a darkened sky. But if you recall from your science classes, the moon has no light of its own. […] When we look at the moon, we see the brilliant reflection of the even more brilliant sun. The radiant moon does no work on its own.[…] Whenever only part of the moon is lit up, Earth is blocking the sun’s glory. Friend, what are you allowing to get in the way of God’s glory and reduce your ability to be a full reflection of Him?”

All About Your Heart

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I thought I would actually write something; a short note perhaps. The semester is ending. Time is just running like sand between our fingers. It feels like we are on a car that is on fire heading toward a finish line that is actually made of caution tape.

Life has been very blessed. I have been so blessed by those around me. Spring has kind of arrived (we have snow in the forecast for Tues. & Wed.). Now that it’s sunny outside, I need to shut my curtains and pretend it’s still nasty out, so I won’t just start walking around the city like a crazy wanderer. I will seriously say, “I will go out and walk for 15 minutes.” Those 15 min. turn into a nice turn on Hudson street, and a two hour walk down to Battery Park or something.

The weather is making it hard to stay indoors, so maybe I should enjoy the last snow flurries and get over myself.
Floating around in my head are flowers, page numbers to read, colorful skirts, sunshine, that Safe Haven movie by Nicholas Sparks that I saw over Christmas break (This is what happens when you watch one movie a year [especially if it’s a Nicholas Sparks production]), clients and their stories, my friendly pigeons living by my window who have mysteriously gone on vacation now that it’s warmer, etc.

Anyway, the week begins. Time to get busy. Once I start, there is no stopping until next Sabbath.

Don’t forget to look up at the blue skies (and sometimes you will see a cool building top or something you never noticed before); if it snows, do a little dance (in the snow, of course); if you spot a flower, thank God for its beauty; if you meet someone broken, let them hold your hand; if you come across your reflection, make sure you see who you want to be.

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” Khalil Gibran

Here is a beautiful song, I randomly came across. I thought it was simply lovely.
MINDY GLEDHILL -ALL ABOUT YOUR HEART

/My imagination sees you
Like a painting by Van Gogh
Starry nights and bright sunflowers
Follow you where you may go

Oh, I’ve loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day
You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It’s not about your scars
It’s all about your heart

You’re a butterfly held captive
Small and safe in your cocoon
Go on you can take your time
Time is said to heal all wounds/

Defined

“Maybe I don’t want to be defined by what I do. Maybe I would like to be defined by what I am.” Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven

About your nickel–

From Destiny, by Dr. Tony Evans, pg. 140

“A little girl came to her father one day and said, ‘Daddy, you promised to give me a nickel.’ Her father had promised her. So he reached in his pocket, but he couldn’t find a nickel. Instead, all he had were dollar bills. In fact, the smallest bill he had was a $20.

He said, ‘You’ve been a really good girl lately, so here is a twenty-dollar bill instead.’
The little girl started to cry. ‘But Daddy,’ she said, ‘you promised me a nickel.’
‘But sweetie,’ he replied, ‘this is a whole bunch of nickels.’
Yet because she could not understand, tears streamed down her face.”

This is not to say that only when we are good God gives us good things. No, His grace is always present with us, and His purposes for us are always greater that what we envision ourselves.

Tony Evans continues, “We tell God what we want to do with our lives. We tell Him what we desire. But God says that if you will simply commit all of you to Him, He has so much more to give you than just what you want…Even if God’s purposes include a cross on Friday, remember–there will be resurrection on Sunday. Trust Him.”