The Essential for the Pilgrimage

“Chronos is time at her worst. Chronos keeps track. Chronos is delusion of grandeur…. Kairos is intimacy with the real. Kairos is time at her best. Kairos lets go.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

Via Pinterest

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Time and growth. There has been an insistent pattern in my reading about both lately. The theme has been about “letting go.”

I had the craziest dream the other night about being stabbed in my left thigh. When you look up interpretations of this, a hurt leg often means you are not letting go of something impeding your journey. If you have ever walked with a limp, you understand this well. (Reminds me of when I broke my toe… I digress).

Recently, Tara Schuster wrote from the Tao Te Ching:

“Those who seek knowledge, collect something every day.

Those who seek the Way, let go of something every day.”

These thoughts reminded me of Jesus’ words about letting go of our burdens, handing them over and taking His yoke. Scripture tells us to let go of the past and see the new thing, anger, malice, bitterness— all that weighs us down.

The concept of letting go is pronounced. It seems to be key to our wellbeing.

Tara Schuster is currently on the Camino de Santiago. On a pilgrimage, you must go on your way, lighter than usual. If you bring thirty suitcases, you won’t make it. I suppose life is a pilgrimage of sorts. To make it to the end, even if it means with bleeding feet and exhaustion, we must let go of that which makes the journey impossible; that which weighs us down or causes us to veer off and make stops that may halt the journey all together.

I have been reflecting on this and journaling about it. What does this letting go look like for you?

Never Squander

“I pray just as fervently that we never squander or surrender another precious day for whatever reason, and that we never wait until something dire occurs to feel justified in setting boundaries.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

Staying Engaged

“Do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die.” Tove Jansson, Fair Play

What if we determined to do a new thing every day? I promise you, we would feel more alive.

Reminder

By: Gabriela Yareliz

My old executive coach wrote to me the other day to check in. It was sweet. When she texted, I was feeling annoying, exhausted and in some weird raging PMS state. Something about that woman inspires me to set boundaries. Her sweet text jolted me (positively). When she texted to say hi, I remembered how poor my boundaries with work have been in the past months. Brutal. I remembered our sessions and the tools she always repeated to me (I need repetition). I decided it was time to take the marker out and draw lines. (My rage should have been a sign that this is what I needed). Sometimes, we forget to live a little.

Speaking of annoying and realizations— the other day, I was listening to a podcaster twist herself in knots to act like she is right about everything. It made me wonder— why are we so determined to be perfect? I find it refreshing when someone doesn’t mind being wrong. I mean, we will be wrong sometimes. It’s part of being human.

Today’s PSA: Don’t forget to live a little. Let us not forget to be human.

Analog

Image via Pinterest

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I read a piece on Substack about having an “analog fall.” To live life like a 90s sitcom adult. Imagine that. I smiled and thought back at this past weekend where we took photos of some neat antique cars with disposable film cameras. I had been organically inching toward analog before I saw this piece. The idea of reading physical books and media, taking photos with a film camera, painting on a page with a brush and playing board games sounds refreshing. Our hands need to touch more than a screen.

Weather-wise— this is the last day of summer. It’s our (allegedly) last day of hot weather before things take a turn. We are ready to bust out our jackets. Decided to bust out some loafers. I have this mustard quilted jacket that I had in mind, and yesterday, I plucked it out of closet obscurity. It is ready.

The Pilates by Bryony challenge with Refy’s Jess Hunt kicked off yesterday, and it’s spicy! Hoping to continue my seasonal cleaning today. Also hoping to do something analog after I get off the mat.

What analog thing can you bring back and practice this autumn?

To the Unseen Words

Via Hannah Bay‘s Substack

By: Gabriela Yareliz

This one goes out to all the morning pages, journal pages and brain dumps where we process all of the words that jam into our brain channels. Where we let it all out and then, feel free. The great unclogging.

I ended last week with a ton of pent up energy and work tension. Four pages later, I felt like I let it go.

Do you have a bunch of emotion you need to let out? The foolproof release is writing it all out without judgment, and then, moving the body. Through process and all the unseen words, we let go.

Isn’t that what autumn is all about? Letting go? Allowing different colors to show through? Allowing what is heavy to fall?

Harvest Moon Anticipation

Image via Pinterest

“A guilty pleasure of mine is Waspy country club culture. It’s so camp. Adults wearing matching white outfits, playing sports, eating chicken salad and drinking vodka at noon? Incredible.” The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Last night, we went to the napkin ring part of the neighborhood. The large houses that spend an entire budget to decorate for Halloween and Christmas. There was less decor than expected, but there were two houses that went all out. I love walking through those streets. They sort of invite you to dream. The night felt darker than usual despite the fact that the moon is almost full. The neighborhood felt dormant and dark.

Image via Tuckernuck

The moon was peering through my window, and I kept thinking about my almanac. According to my almanac, the full Harvest Moon is on Oct. 7. It’s the supermoon. The moon will appear bigger in the sky, and will likely show itself orange. It appears bigger because it is closer to us. It’s so interesting to me that the way God made creation is that as the nights get darker, we are not left without light. He sends us a brighter and bigger moon instead. Diwali, this year, falls on Oct. 21 (new moon phase), so those of Hindu faith will put out their oil lamps on the darkest night of the month. No matter the darkness, as humans, we celebrate and seek the light.

Image via Carolyn Williams

Tuckernuck sent the cutest email on how to coordinate for family portraits— the guide is below:

Via Tuckernuck

I love this world of matching outfits, napkin rings and a wreath on the door. I love that some people live in a Martha Stewart world. It comforts me. With each passing season, I see the importance of building a home. Of capturing snippets in time.

Image via Pinterest

As the world gets darker like a fall night, we all need a house with the light on to come home to. And the moon is that guiding friend, that just like the lamps on Diwali burn, it tells us, “You are not alone, and I will guide you home. The darker it gets, I am leaning in closer.”

Image by Neil Young

Craft Heaven

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I was on the train (naturally— when am I not?), and I saw an ad for a new Hobby Lobby in Tribeca. This is not a drill! We have a Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby reminds me of my days in Gainesville. I love the smell in there.

We love Hobby Lobby in the South. *Cue Hobby Lobby Bobby by Bobby Bones* We write songs about this place.

You know I am going to need to visit. Can you imagine this winter wonderland in the midst of abandoned and vacant storefronts?

Hmmm. This sounds like it sparks joy— the kind of joy that comes through Toby Robbins breath work.

I have a growing obsession with all things making-a-home. It’s a growing internal vibe I need to externalize. I blame Pinterest and healing my hormones (a day-to-day maintenance, as one has never arrived). A weird juxtaposition to my Fight Club/Sopranos persona on the trains.

I do just want to walk down aisles of crafts, ribbons, wrapping paper and art that belongs in a 2006 home. That sounds like fun. It sounds peaceful. A perfect pastime for an exhausted person.

Part of me is a little scared to go to this new store. I am scared it will be ransacked and look like a war zone like most NYC stores and pharmacies. No inventory. No beauty. No inspiration. Just padlocks and bare shelves. Hoping that is not the case, and it at least looks like Michael’s. That’s the thing— Hobby Lobby attracts a certain type of person. Crafty. Think Jessica Day from New Girl. Maybe the thugs aren’t into jacking garlands yet…

Call me Hobby Lobby Gabby because Hobby Lobby, I am coming for you. Going to plan my field trip.