Expect miracles.
Anna Akhmatova’s poem: “Everything is Plundered, Betrayed, Sold”
Everything is plundered, betrayed, sold,
Death’s great black wing scrapes the air,
Misery gnaws to the bone.
Why then do we not despair?
By day, from the surrounding woods,
cherries blow summer into town;
at night the deep transparent skies
glitter with new galaxies.
And the miraculous comes so close
to the ruined, dirty houses—
something not known to anyone at all,
but wild in our breast for centuries
By: Gabriela Yareliz
My favorite days are the ones where I wander around with my camera, observing and memorializing fleeting moments of loveliness and detail.
“To photograph is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality.” Henri Cartier-Bresson
Below are some of my snapshots from my neighborhood: Greenwich Village.
Ready?
Here’s some fantastic background music for the tour (the 80s vibes in this song are just perfect):
Get your shoes on, and walk with me.
As you should in life, enjoy the details.
“She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes. She spoke to no one. She spent hours on the riverbank…and had midnight swims.” Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
[Meet the hilarious, intelligent and flirty Farkle Minkus from Girl Meets World. Turns out there is a lot you can do with pen and paper. Some of the things we do with these two simple objects are what makes some of us feel the most alive.]
Goal for the week: Let’s take out the headphones, put away the phone, make some eye contact, and connect with those around us.
“The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.”-Unknown
By: Gabriela Yareliz
A happy crisp morning to you! The sounds of sirens and construction inundate the busy Manhattan life. It’s a fresh new start today to get stuff done. The sky is a perfect shade of blue. And while it will be a long day, it will be a good day.
People here in the lounge are pacing around and shuffling papers. I am here, posting and smiling. A professor just walked by and gave me a look–he is definitely wondering what I am up to. Celebrating Monday, of course. Oh yeah!
1] Hellooooooo first Monday in November (Farkle voice). I am loving this crispy air and fall makeup situation. You can just feel the fact that the holidays are coming at us quick, and I can’t wait. Felicia will laugh at me for this, but I also have to mention that November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Why they pick the month when we eat rich foods is beyond me…
2] Walk your road
“It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.”-Rumi
3]
4] I guess it’s about filling the holes of uncertainty with the things that have proven to be certain in your life.
“Replace what you don’t know about the future, with what you do know about God.” Christine Caine
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers
5] Wonderful things do happen; don’t forget that.
“Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for very wonderful things to happen.” –Francis Hodgson Burnett
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“Oh, darling. You can’t fix yourself by breaking someone else.” -Unknown
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“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip-toe if you must, but take the first step.” -Unknown
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“Worry is poison. Hope is the cure.” Manny Khoshbin
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“The expert in anything was once a beginner.”-Unknown
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14] It may leave you a little out of breath, but it’s worth it because out of breath or in pain, you arrived.
“There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.” -Unknown
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“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them:
A desire,
a dream,
a vision.”
–Muhammad Ali
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“Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction.”
19] Protect your dreams
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“Who, being loved, is poor?” Oscar Wilde
22] Appreciate those who are often overlooked or forgotten.
23] Windex can fix anything, including a Monday. (Wink).
[Images from Tumblr]
Soundtrack:
“In my mind, it’s Sunday all the time.”
By: Gabriela Yareliz
So, my dream of a rainy [omitted: humid] November came true, except for the humid part, which was part of the request. Yesterday, rain drops pelted us like bullets. Cold, stinging rain. I guess you can’t have it all. (Grin). November is here, and it’s making sure we know it. Daylight Savings gave us an extra hour, and the sky got all grey’s anatomy on us.
I wanted to take a moment to remember Hurricane Sandy, which blew our hats off from October 22, 2012 to October 31, 2012. Many people lost everything, and some have not fully recuperated all that they lost. In some cases, there are things you can’t get back. If you have ever wanted to know what it feels like to be in an apocalyptic movie, where all is chaos, trash, anguish and panic–you should of been here in NYC fall of 2012. We survived though. We made it through. Not only did we survive the psychological weirdness of a natural disaster, but we survived all the hours we had to make up (because of the hurricane) in our first semester of law school (another type of psychological test). Almost three hours of Civil Procedure a day, anyone?
The weather yesterday and today certainly brought back memories. Yesterday, I was walking to and from church, and it felt like I was walking through a cross between hurricane and blizzard. Rain was pelting down, and the Chicagoesque wind was breaking and flipping out all of our umbrellas. I was fighting with my umbrella; my hair was strewn across my face, wet and sticky– blinding me; and I was getting soaked and laughing at myself. I remembered the week without power in the cold darkness the fall of 2012. Yesterday’s wind was the same bitter cold wind I faced when hiking to midtown during the Hurricane Sandy days for an outlet where I could charge my phone and call my mother to tell her I was still alive.
Here are some throwback posts from the Hurricane Sandy days:
Hurricane Sandy: Waiting for the Tide
Hurricane Sandy Hits and the Days After
Lower East Side: Alphabet City Though My Eyes (Post-Sandy mess documented with photos)
But, all of that is behind us. I think it’s good to think of past events where we encountered struggle to help us be grateful for what we have now.
It’s Sunday Funday, as my boxing instructor likes to say.
Here is some inspiration for the Sunday grind (which will continue into the night):
“Invest in your dream. Grind now. Shine later.”
“Learning is a gift, even when pain is your teacher.”
“The strongest action for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could.”
“The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately.”
“I can’t think of many things more attractive than a beautiful person whose beauty isn’t what actually attracts you.”
“Grind hard and be good; God will pave the way.” Manny Khoshbin
“Don’t pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” Bruce Lee
“The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling.” Fabienne Fredrickson
“…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Nelson Mandela
“Sometimes, what you thought you didn’t want becomes the best thing you ever had. Trust the process, even when you don’t understand it.”
“If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.” Eckhart Tolle
“Believe in what you pray for and who you pray to.”
Enjoy your Sunday!
Belt out a good song,
dream big,
work hard,
slow down,
catch up with family,
stay warm,
and smile.
Tomorrow is another day with its own struggle, as my mom always reminds me, live today.
[Awesome images from http://gilmored.tumblr.com/]
“These are the moments. These are the moments where you realize love is everywhere if you look closely. When you realize happiness isn’t next weekend, and it’s not last week, it’s right now. That was one of the best nights of my life. It felt good to know purpose. I lay in my bunk and I think of all the stories I’m in. I think about all the stories that are in my story. I think about all the stories that are left to be written. And it might be my favorite book yet.” –Camila Cabello for Latina Magazine
And of course, Fifth Harmony’s new single: “Sledgehammer”:
By: Gabriela Yareliz; based on the quotes and message by Dr. Tony Evans, “Let it Work” ; [Sorry for the typos, I shudder when I find them].
It’s harvest season here. Upstate New York has an abundance of produce and crops; some people have apples coming out of their ears– it’s that time of year.
According to the dictionary, harvest is “a process and period of gathering in crops” and “the product or result of an action.”
In life, the concept of planting (sowing) and reaping (harvesting) is very present. We often acquire the results/consequences from our actions (or lack of actions).
If you take a pear seed and plant it, you will not get an apple tree. If you plant a pear seed, you will get a pear tree. Interestingly, “God operates by laws and rules; miracles are an exception,” Dr. Tony Evans explained. God is a God of order [he created order], and He is the moral law giver. Science and religion are not mutually exclusive.
Jesus often spoke in parables. He spoke about things that were analogous to the lives of his listeners. The parables were a way of making each person think of his or her own state. With a parable, the person must confront him or herself. Farmers were among his listeners. Therefore, Jesus used agrarian illustrations often in the Bible. Apostles like Paul used these types of illustrations as well.
So, let’s try to break down this whole planting and harvesting concept…and of course, its application. It’s harvest season; the timing is perfect.
a] What you plant
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38
What is meant by it?
We can only receive what we have planted.
“But this I say, He that soweth [plants] sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
You can’t expect blessings and needs to be met if you never address them in the first place. You can’t sit at your computer all day and expect an orchard to be making itself outside. To harvest, there must first be an action, as the definition of harvest indicates. The harvest is the result.
So, to receive, you must first “plant.” What is meant by this? How does one plant a seed. It’s action and faith. It’s taking the actions and risks necessary to prepare yourself for what it is that you want or need.
b] How much you plant
“A farmer can’t plant one seed and look for 15 acres of produce,” Dr. Tony Evans said.
There is a quote that says: “If you are unwilling to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
What are you willing to work for and hope for? If you want 15 acres of produce, Dr. Tony Evans said, you better get out there and break 15 acres of land and sweat planting those 15 acres. How much you plant determines the measure you will receive.
c] Where you plant
Dr. Tony Evans gave an illustration that he can’t take seeds and sprinkle them on the church carpet because he can wait for the rest of his life, but a plant is not going to grow in there. You can’t plant a seed in ground [soil] that will not respond.
Are you investing in things that will give no return or investing in relationships with people who simply do not care? Are you hoping for a sunshine plant but planting in the shade? It’s time to look at where you are trying to plant your seed, and how you are trying to prepare to receive your blessing.
d] When you plant
Timing is everything, right?
You can’t drop a seed today, and look for a plant tomorrow, Dr. Tony Evans stressed. There is always a time gap. Just because you don’t see a plant for a while, doesn’t mean something is not happening beneath the soil, where your eye can’t see.
When we plant something, there is no instantaneous reward. Before a seed can grow, it must die. It dies, and then it begins its life. To have a healthy plant grow, you care for it, water it, protect it–so it is with our dreams of growth in life and the things we hope for. We must let the bad, the pride, all of that needs to die and be replaced by faith and a reflection of God’s character: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. We must protect that treasured goal and hope with a shield of faith.
It may seem like growth is a long process, and harvest is a long way off, but God’s timing is perfect.
“God is after long-term benefit, not short-term pleasure,” Dr. Tony Evans said.
Galatians 6: 7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
e] Why you plant
As with many things in life, we have our own motivations for doing things, and sometimes those motivations change. We may be motivated by selfishness and pride without realizing it.
God meets your needs and blesses you in a way that will increase your righteousness; he doesn’t bless you just for blessings sake, Dr. Tony Evans said. God often blesses and provides for us in a way that will help us grow and bless others.
God told Abraham He would bless him so that Abraham could be a blessing to others. Dr. Evans makes the point that, essentially: “Reaping isn’t always about keeping.”
d] Food for thought
What is your need? What blessing are you praying for? What actions can you take to show your faith and plant a seed? Where are you planting? How are you planting? How much are you planting? What are you planting? Why are you planting? And finally, who can you bless with the fruit from your plant?
It’s time to prepare the field for rain because the harvest will surely come.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
That’s it. October is out with a bang! And November is being swept in by a cold gust of wind (and not the weird Pharrell ‘you-remind-me-of-the-air’-“Gust of wind” song).
Here is my compilation of fun things I found throughout the month, as usual. There are a few of my favorite things sprinkled below: some Friends, an Italian icon, a Spanish legend-in-the-making, funny people, handsome soccer players, a rugged man who wears flannel, Bollywood, music, inspiration, Mumford & Sons lyrics, thought-provoking articles and Sarko.
1] “Don’t make your fear more powerful than your dreams.” -Unknown
“Behind every fear is a person you want to be.” -Unknown
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3] Grow up 😉
4] Can we see the highlights of the Real Madrid v. Barcelona game, again? REAL MADRID!!!! It was glorious. My man, Karim Benzema, scored the last goal. I could watch that man run up and down the field, all day.
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7] “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” – Epictetus
8] Expect Miracles’ post of the month: Be the Baker
9] Lillie McCloud blew my mind.
10] Louis Vuitton celebrates the Monogram with a boxing inspired ad (which I loved).
11] Gael Garcia Bernal is in Jon Stewart’s upcoming film Rosewater. I still remember a University of Florida poster sale, when I asked for a Motorcycle Diaries poster, and the guy was like, “We have a Che poster.” I was like, “No, I want Gael Garcia Bernal’s face on it.”
12] These two are hilarious: Leila and Geraldine
13] Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman Spent an Afternoon Together. I saw this on a classmate’s screen during a class, and it left me intensely curious.
14] Belated Birthdays
a) Monica Bellucci turned 50 at the end of September. She continues to be, for me, a symbol of: power, beauty, femininity, motherhood and intelligence.
b) Fran Drescher, one of the most brilliant comedians out there. She turned 50 at the end of September! We learned many lessons from Fran, including: You can never go wrong with big hair.
c) And happy birthday (Oct. 21) to Blanca Suarez!
15] Will Friedle joined Twitter in a Feeny-call kind of way.
16]
Lust is violent, love is gentle. Lust is cowardly, love is courageous. Lust enslaves, love liberates.
Benjamin Nolot
17] Penelope Cruz in Elle France (Oct. 16, 2014)
18] Sonam Kapoor
“Women of worth are those who want positive change for themselves, their families, community or society, which I think is important. For me, a woman of worth is someone who has self respect, who believes that she can change things in society.” SK
19] Nobody does it like Colbert
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21] Nicolas Sarkozy says, “Je reviens”
22] Luke Danes
21 Reasons Luke Danes Is the Absolute Perfect Man on BuzzFeed was great. Who doesn’t love Luke Danes? The flannel, the cap, the cooking and the honesty.
[Images from BuzzFeed]
23] Seven Characteristics of the Best Thinkers, According to Harvard here.
24] Gala Gonzalez de verde para Pronovias. A lovely dress on my favorite Galician.
25] I still dream in Hindi sometimes. Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez in Kick.
26] This song and video (it features a young man’s story) is absolutely beautiful. I love One Republic, and this is definitely one of their best.
May November bring us all: some slow days to recuperate from October’s speed, some warm apple cider and eggnog too, some humid rainy days, interesting new people, intriguing places, some cozy evenings filled with blankets, and more awareness of our blessings.
Yours truly.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I saw this video, and I had to share. I was super inspired by it. I love the fact that boxing is a huge theme in the video. Boxing is analogous to life; there is struggle; there is pain; there is discipline; there are choices, and there is potential victory. So, if you are down for motivation and fantastic honesty, check it out:
“The only one who can tell you ‘You can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.”
“Le persone belle sono rare, non si distinguono dal viso ma dall’anima.”
“Beautiful people are rare, [they are] not known by face but by the soul.”
“Un giorno realizzerai che c’e una ragione per ogni persona che hai incontrato. Qualcuno ti mettera alla prova, qualcun altro ti usera e qualcun altro ti insegnera qualcosa e qualcuno tirera fuori il meglio di te.”
“One day you will realize that there is a reason for every person you met. Someone will put you to the test; someone else will use you; and someone else will teach you something; and someone will pull out the best in you.”
Here are some random and shameless mobile device snapshots and selfies from this busy, busy month.
Here is some music to serve as soundtrack 😉
/And I’m doing just fine
I’m always landing on my feet
In the nick of time
And by the skin of my teeth;
I ain’t gonna stress
‘Cause the worst ain’t happened yet;
Something is watching over me
Like Sweet Serendipity/
One of my favorite places in the city and a glorious sunset.
Autumn arriving to Massachusetts.
This photo is ridiculous but here. Driving back from Massachusetts. I never chew gum, but we stopped at a Target, and I saw that gum that kids chewed in elementary school, Bubble Yum. Who can resist a large block of rubber that loses its flavor quickly but gives you super bubble power?
Inspired by the Altuzarra fashion week runway makeup. I did my own wild eyeliner, Mod-60s inspired look.
Going to eat lunch with a judge from the European Court of Human Rights!
Enjoy the view.
Simply me in October.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 