Expect miracles.
Some autumn quotes that caught my eye this week:
“Beguile us in the way you know; Release one leaf at the break of day.” Robert Frost
“If autumn is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, then October is a month of velvet and champagne and smoke curling into cold air like hope.” Hannah Connolly
By: Gabriela Yareliz
It was one of those mornings where I was in a rush. So much so that I had forgotten to put on deodorant. (I hate those days when this accidentally happens).
I ran out like a lunatic, and as I made my way to the train station, I heard music. It was familiar music. There was a car parked outside of the small hospital office on the main avenue. As I got closer, it registered that I knew the song. It was a worship song that you typically sing in church during a service.
Then, I saw it. There was a woman in scrubs sitting in an SUV on the avenue, her windows down, and her arms outstretched. She sat there with her eyes closed, singing.
Now, this probably sounds weird, but I truly stumbled upon someone deep in worship. Loud worship. It moved me. I imagine she is a doctor or a nurse. And there she was, in prayer and song, worshipping Jesus.
I left in a different vibe. My rush faded, and I thought about how lucky we are that worship is not restricted to any one place. We worship anywhere.
It reminded me of a time I was walking through Times Square and the energy was different. As I emerged from a platform, I heard a woman singing into a karaoke machine, “What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus.”
Our worship and prayers change our spaces, even as we move through busy streets, crowded trains and underground stations. Hospitals, medical offices, courts, classrooms. Wherever you go, bring Jesus with you.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Only Murders in the Buildings is in its best season yet.
Its latest episode reminds us of an important principle for life. Always pay attention to who wants to silence you, then, ask yourself why.
Important life skill.
By: Gabriela Yareliz
The goal is to simplify.
As the seasons turn, I have that urge to clean, as I have mentioned before. It’s a built-in syndrome or something.
This cleaning is not limited to actual closet sweeps, but also, apps, subscriptions, etc. It’s time to take inventory.
I still need to do a comprehensive closet sweep. I have been a bit slow in my cleaning, and the fact that I got stuck in our elevator the other day (the only mechanism to get to our basement for trash disposal and laundry), does not inspire me a bunch. It will happen, though. (More on the elevator story later).
Here are some of the things I think about while trying not to get shanked on a train:
• I have a morning routine that I want to adjust. I want less Bible reading on my phone, and a return to staring at physical pages. I will keep my Duolingo streak alive. Maybe, I will email people a bit later than usual to keep the morning more sacred.
• My exercise platform junkie days are over. I feel privileged to have been able to try many different methods and trainers. For more on that, see my post here. I am streamlining the platforms I actually use that motivate me toward consistency. Aside from my lifetime access platforms, I will only pay for a maximum of two subscriptions.
• The majority of law school stuff in my closet needs to be reduced to the absolutely necessary and emotional memory item. Everything else needs to be cut ruthlessly. Such is the life of limited space in NYC.
• I want to use either old law schools textbooks (the few that remain that didn’t sell) or lesser used cookbooks to build a night table structure by my side of the bed. Sounds weird, but I saw it on Pinterest, and it looks cool. This will also free some shelf space (which is always an issue for a book addict like me).
• The more that can be put away, the better. It clears visual clutter. Minimalism for a space, though, is unrealistic. I am of the opinion a space should look lived in.
• Old bras need to go. Why do we keep this stuff around? What is our attachment to the ratty bra that cuts off our torso circulation? It’s a universal struggle.
• Clear out the old shoes. You know the ones. The ones with holes and thin soles. The sandals that have survived five summers. You know— they are ready to go.
• I need to clear the pantry of expired items. The other day, I saw our nutmeg was way past its expiration date. Also, I have been plotting my return to the kitchen for fall and reading cookbooks like they are scripture. I was surprised to see how many recipes use vinegar. It’s time to clear the old, and stock the new essentials.
Cleaning will continue to unfold soon. My hope is once cleaning is complete, the space will feel more refreshed and cozy. My husband will have more space. And subsequently, we can focus on creative pursuits and inviting rest in. (It’s like winter is nature’s Sabbath, and autumn is preparation day— Friday).
How will you create a little autumn sanctuary? What are you clearing from your life and digital clutter? How can you simplify routines?
My Kindle is out of battery. I am reading a crappy book, but it beats this. We are a captive train audience.
A man in a Knicks hat with tattoos sleeves on each arm is foaming at the mouth and yelling into people’s faces. The devil has found us today.
The disturbed man dishes insults to all of us that range the entire alphabet. He spits at some. He rams his shoulder into others. He tells us all he doesn’t mind going back to prison. I am praying at the velocity of a well known rosary at a Latin funeral. The irony— that I recently heard the Mind Shift Podcast on Demons and Miracles. This scene fit the conversation. Brother is straight up spiritually attacked. There are red scraped circles around his eyes. The energy is unmistakable. A 400 lbs man in a bucket hat is ready to fight him. He raises his hand and tells him to calm down. A tourist is crying quietly on the next bench.
Headphones are in and my fingers are tight around the pepper spray bottle. The man suddenly stops yelling and decides to pee on the train doors. We are finally approaching the first stop in Brooklyn out of the bridge tunnel. We all line up at the furthest door; they don’t open soon enough. I see an elderly man waiting to get in. “Pick another car,” I tell him loudly almost grabbing him. The elderly man follows me into another train car cautiously. A woman screams at the conductor, “I saw his penis for f***s sake.”
Once in the other car, as the doors close, the elderly man makes eye contact with me and whispers, “thank you.”
Another Monday in NYC.
“When you follow a leader, consider what would lead you to withdraw your support.
If the answer is nothing, your integrity is in jeopardy. Our highest loyalty belongs to principles, not people.
No leader deserves unconditional love.
Commitment is earned through character.” Adam Grant
Few people are as inspiring as Steve Harvey. No matter where you are in life— there is something for you in this montage of Steve Harvey talks.
He is relentless, and he shares his light.
“Becoming holy
Now even the trees speak more slowly.”
Elena Brower, “Holy”, Softening Time
By: Gabriela Yareliz
It’s officially autumn. The express train is weirdly emptier than usual, though I spot some of my regular commuting buddies.
It was a warm last week, and temperatures are dropping again into the sixties. Bliss.
I have yet to get to seasonal cleaning, but I will. This week, I am feeling the darker mornings and moodier weather, and reflecting it with a lot more eyeliner.
I am more than halfway through my fitness challenge for fall. It has been so good. If you have been thinking about exercise for a while but you haven’t taken the next step, this is your PSA to do it. Work on weights, your grip, your posture, your core.
You know what they say— it’s not cold and flu season, it’s simply the season where we slack— we are inside more, eat more sugar and are more sedentary.
I am always doing some sort of routine. I have talked about workouts here before. The struggles of finding something that survives my need for novelty. I feel like I have tried almost every platform at least once. (Except Pvolve, Alo and Peloton). Here are some of my thoughts on the platforms I have tried in the past five years. Note that this is my opinion. Everyone is different— so try what you want to try! That is what 14-day trials are for!
Evlo: This is a platform by a doctor. There is a big emphasis on weights. I found it to be boring. The workouts tend to be on the longer side. If you are someone who really needs variety— this was just not it for me. If I remember correctly, there were many exercises that required a chair or spacious wall (which is hard in NYC apartments). Nice site design, though. It lacked personality for me. (Subscription)
The Sculpt Society: I know a lot of people who use it and get great results. The question here is whether you mesh with the vibe and energy of the instructor. I found myself avoiding this one. They just rebranded. Wish them well. Maybe I will try it again. (Subscription; I used the free trial)
Melissa Wood Health: Speaking of vibes— I love Melissa’s energy. She now has other instructors on the app, which adds variety. Neeti’s yoga classes are some of my favorites. They have a great selection of shorter workouts (10-20 min) you can squeeze in, stack or do on the go. Been using her for years. Almost a decade, on and off. The off years are when I feel a plateau. I feel my body stops responding to these workouts after a while. (Subscription)
BtheMethod: Lia, the founder, is a great follow on IG. I like that her classes have some discussion where you can ask questions about form or modifications. This workout uses her weighted ball. If you are a fan of routine, this is a good one. I sometimes get bored, but when I am in it, I am in it! I have learned a lot from her form discussions. (Subscription)
Form: Speaking of form— I am a big fan of their recipes and additions to their app. The Samis (the founders, both named Samantha) have good energy. This is great for strength building and circuits. Good music. They just added some new instructors (Grace is awesome). I come and go from this one. (Subscription)
Bruno Strong: I love Bruno’s app. The focus is on strength training and weights. It’s simple; you get a video demo, and then, there is a timer for the reps. The only downside is that you need gym equipment to take full advantage of the app. I don’t have a bench or other items, so I improvise. Unlike others, this one is one you buy lifetime access to, and it’s worth it. (Lifetime access)
Femme Nativa: This is a neat workout program. Probably one of the most effective I have ever tried. Rachael Attard is a genius. You can either buy a membership or buy lifetime access. I have lifetime access. Before you start on Femme Nativa, you take a quiz that shows you your body type, and then, you do the workouts for that specific body composition. They have many types of programs— a Busy Girl Program, ones for core, and their most popular, Lean Legs. There are many testimonials. The pictures are dramatic, and they don’t lie. When I want sure results and feel off— this is the one I start with. The workouts are often set up in 8-week challenges. Love a challenge. (Lifetime access)
Yoga with Adrienne: I love her calm demeanor. I did her YouTube and app workouts during the pandemic. They are calming and great for pain in certain parts of the body (neck, lower back, etc.) Her dog Benji is a cutie. This never made me ripped, but it did make me calm and flexible. (Free on YouTube)
Pilates by Bryony: This is one I have had for four years. It’s a classical Pilates app. I really love it and love the branding, too. It’s effective and very pretty. My favorite part is they do monthly challenges. I always crave variety and a challenge, so this works with my brain structure. (Subscription)
T-F Studio by Tasha Franken: This is a simple Pilates app with great shorter workouts. It definitely feels like you are witnessing the growth of something new and less established. Her branding is very cool. A great option for Pilates without breaking the bank. (Subscription)
Tracy Anderson Method: This one is a time and money commitment. (But so far, worth it). There are some long classes but also some shorter ones (30-40 min). This one is pricier than the others, but Tracy is basically a body scientist, and she choreographs each week’s routine. You get one routine you work on per week. This is the workout of choice for JLo and Gwyneth Paltrow. I like Tracy’s energy and her philosophy. I love her “chats” where she discusses form and mind-body connection. Hers is a somatic workout that is more lifestyle than just workout. You can do it live, if you live in a studio city, or do the online studio (I do online). (Subscription)
Obé: I tried it briefly and was not my thing. Felt similar to Evlo and the Alo catalogue. (Subscription, but I used a voucher trial)
There are so many options. There is so much that is free on YouTube and Instagram. Walking and running are free. Buying weights and building a routine is low-cost. There are magazines and websites with diagrams and workout routines. There are DVDs. (Remember those?) I have tried a lot but have not tried it all. Do you have a favorite workout platform?
Whatever you love— make sure that as the days get darker and shorter, you stay moving.
