Does it mean someone has to care about what you write? I am lucky enough to have people who do. Today, I saw someone ask a fairly popular person on social media a question–he/she wanted to do something, but he/she stated he/she didn’t have enough followers. The question was whether he/she should persist. The response was that following doesn’t equal a job title. I couldn’t agree more. One can be something in obscurity.
Half of the writers we celebrate today weren’t celebrated or followed by a soul. Emily Dickinson’s poems were found and published by her sister after the writer passed away. I mean, can you imagine? For Emily, it was just her, her pen, her window and thoughts of death. It’s wild to think about.
These thoughts reminded me of what a privilege and gift it is to connect to other writers on the platform. I love following people like CandidKay who publish posts of substance and offer excellent writing full of heart. You know, when you read something and your heart feels a bit more full than it was before because it has been touched by truth.
I hope you find rays of truth that warm your heart here.
I was doing a mini-course this week on the Commune platform by Koya Webb. She talks a lot about freedom, healing and she just seems so sweet and full of good energy.
She said something during the course that I loved, which is the fact that we are each “creators not victims.”
This is very much in line with Erwin McManus’ view of the creativity endowed to every child of God, just by virtue of being created in God’s image. We were all created to create, just as the ultimate Creator. I mean, look at the world around you. So much is man-made and pretty magical. God works through us in our creativity. It’s all for His glory.
I thought of how true her words are, especially if we take Christ as our example. Jesus was someone who sacrificed Himself for the salvation of the world. He was not a victim, but someone who gave Himself up, as the writers of the Gospels and Paul so specifically point out. Jesus was in control and making each choice along the way. What a reminder to us who want to follow in His footsteps. We are not victims but creators, as Ms. Webb has said. A thought to carry with us as we walk to meet every trial, every opportunity and every joy.
We often think of movement as something we need for our physical well-being, and while that is true, we often miss the deeper mind-body connection that occurs when we move. In 2014, I published a post called A Philosophy of Walking: Living Deeply, where I quoted philosopher and writer Gros stating that “to walk is to experience the real.”
Our bodies experience.
Julia Cameron writes in her book The Right to Write:
“We store memories in our bodies. We store passion and heartache. We store joy, moments of transcendent peace.”
Our bodies store.
As we move, as we experience the real, our bodies store up so much more than we can fathom. I truly believe that through movement, we are given the key to access that which we store in our miraculous broken vessels.
#GifleMacron est tendance en ce moment. Ça a été la gifle entendue autour du monde. Quand j’ai regardé le vidéo de l’homme qui a giflé Macron, j’étais choquée. L’ironie— Macron était en tournée pour voir où il se situe dans l’avis des citoyens avant la prochaine élection présidentielle.
Mission accomplie? Twitter est inondé des « memes » et il faut dire que nous avons perdus la civilité dans tous les façons (et ça inclut Macron. Je ne justifie pas Macron et ses politiques et commente elles leurs impacts sur la vie des français).
L’extrême droit de Marine Le Pen gagne (constamment) en popularité et en force. J’ai vu (depuis mes années au lycée) comment sa platforms grandit. Elle est toujours sous le feu des projecteurs et prend de l’ampleur… De plus, mon préféré de tous les politiciens — Sarkozy, est à moins de six secondes de prison. *gros soupir*
[Photo via New York Daily News]
La civilité — est-elle morte? Est-ce que la gifle de Macron change quelque chose, vraiment? (Je vois qu’il n’est pas apprécié par une grande majorité du public, c’est évident dans les commentaires de YouTube et Twitter). Est-ce qu’une victoire d’extrême droite du dynastie Le Pen serait l’ultime revanche sur la Macronie? Et si Le Pen est président, les français, seront-ils enfin satisfaits? Existe-t-il satisfaction dans la politique ?
À chaque élection, on a l’impression que la France n’est qu’à quelques centimètres d’une présidence Le Pen. C’est comme s’ils le voulaient mais ils ne sont pas vendus a 100% avec l’idée.
[Photo via Marianne]
La scène politique française m’a fascinée depuis ma jeunesse. Je me souviens de la première fois où Sarkozy s’est présenté à la présidence (car il a occupé d’autres fonctions politiques), et j’avais imprimé une comparaison côte à côte (d’Elle.fr) de lui et de Ségolène Royal (qui était avec François Hollande, à cette époque). Je l’avais enregistré dans mon cahier, et j’ai suivi les élections de près. J’ai vraiment aimée Royal. Ensuite, au collège, j’ai suivi un cours entier sur la politique française avant les élections, alors que nous lisions 18 Mois Chrono. Dans ce cours, nous devions chacun faire des présentations sur les principaux acteurs pour les cinq principaux partis à l’époque. Je me suis retrouvé avec un groupe de politiciens de Les Verts. Je me souviens qu’il avait un qui a nagé dans la Seine pour prouver un point. #memorable
Et donc, maintenant je pense que la France est dans une crise d’identité on pourrait dire, et elle a un désir ardent de ce qui était dans le passé (de la nostalgie) et des libertés perdues (merci à Covid). Ça serra intéressant de suivre comment la politique continuera à se dérouler. Est-ce que le public sera enfin vendu sur la philosophie et la plateforme de Le Pen ? Peut-elle vraiment livrer la France qu’elle a promis? Cette France de Le Pen— sera-t-elle une restauration d’identité ou la perte totale de cette identité ? (Note : je n’ai jamais aimée Le Pen ou sa plateforme).
Ici à New York, nous avons été « giflés » par une série de vagues de chaleur interrompues par des orages. Les tempêtes ont provoqué des inondations. Cette inondation est arrivée à notre sous-sol. Notre ascenseur bloqué quelques heures. Et comme on dit en espagnol, con el mismo amor (« avec le même amour ») j’ai retourné à mon appartement avec mon sac de vêtements sales (et des boîtes à recycler) car la lessive n’allait pas arriver ce soir. La chaleur intense et les gouttes de sueur qui coulent sur mon front pendant que j’ai essayé de trouver la direction avec mon drap de lit m’a donné pure joie.
J’ai pu laver mes vêtements ce matin, à mon grand soulagement et satisfaction. Pendant que je regardais dans mes propres yeux dans la porte de la laveuse pendant que les vêtements filaient, je me suis demandé si c’était exactement ce qui se passait dans la société mondiale. Nous filons et filons, mais la question reste si nous sortirons de ce cycle d’essorage aussi propres.
Macron being pulled away post-slap. Image via forexnewspk.com
#GifleMacron is trending. It was the slap heard around the world. My jaw almost hit the floor, last night, when I saw the video of the French President being slapped on his tour to “take the pulse” of the nation before next year’s presidential election. Mission accomplished? Twitter in on fire with memes, though I have to say this is the most recent confirmation that we have lost all civility in every way (This includes Macron. I am not excusing Macron policies and how they have impacted people’s lives).
Jean-Marie Le Pen and daughter Marine Le Pen have had a tight grip on far-right French politics for decades.
Ever growing in popularity and seizing every opportunity has been far-right Marine Le Pen. I have seen her platform grow since my high school days. She is still in the spotlight and gaining momentum… In the meantime, my forever favorite Sarkozy is negative six seconds away from jail. *heavy sigh*
Image via New York Daily News
Is civility dead? What does slapping Macron actually change? (He is not well-liked by a huge majority… you can see it in the YouTube and Twitter comments from France.) Will the ultimate revenge on la Macronie be a far-right win by the Le Pen dynasty? And if this happens, will the French finally be satisfied? In every election, it feels like France is just shy of a Le Pen presidency. It’s like they want it but aren’t 100% sold.
Image via Marianne of Royal and Sarkozy campaign posters
The French political scene is one that has enthralled me since my youth. I remember the first time Sarkozy ran for President (as he has held other political office), and I had printed a side-by-side comparison from Elle.fr of him and Ségolène Royal (who at that time was with François Hollande). I had it taped in my journal, and I followed this very closely. Surprisingly, I really liked Royal. Then in college, I took an entire class on French politics leading up to the subsequent election, as we read 18 Mois Chrono. We each had to do presentations on main actors for the main five parties at the time. I ended up with a bunch of Green Party politicians, including one that swam in the Seine to prove a point.
Image via Livre.fnac.com
As France struggles with what feels like an identity crisis and a yearning for what was and freedoms lost, it will be interesting to follow how the politics continue to unfold. Will the public finally be sold on Le Pen’s philosophy and platform? Can she really deliver the France she has promised? Will that France be a restoration of identity or the loss of it completely? (Note: I have never like Le Pen or her platform).
Here in NYC, we have been slapped by a series of heat waves interrupted by severe thunderstorms. The storms have caused flooding. This flooding caused our elevator entrance to the basement to be covered in literally red tape while water was being swept out. I had to, as we say in Spanish, con el mismo amor (“with the same love”) return to my apartment with my sack of dirty clothes (and boxes for recycling) because laundry was not going to happen. Nothing like summer heat and beads of sweat running down your forehead as you try to figure out a fitted sheet.
I was able to do the wash and dry cycle this morning, to my relief and satisfaction. As I looked into my own eyes in the washer door as clothes spun, I wondered if this was exactly what is happening to global society. We are spinning and spinning, but the question remains whether we will emerge from this spin cycle as clean.
Summer is near. You can just feel it in the air, despite the 40F Memorial Day weekend we had. The baby hairs that frame my face are doing their (much-dreaded) humidity curl. *Side-eye to the baby hairs* What do we need for summer? (Better said, what do we want for summer?) Hmm… starting my own list of the fun things I’ve been using (some for years; others are more recent discoveries). Share what is on your list. (Note: None of this is sponsored, just sharing). Sharing is caring.
Photo by Javi Lopez for Elle.es
A good oil
Some of my favs are:
Detox Market’s Detox Mode’s: Altogether Oil. I use it on and off (been using it for about three years). It gets absorbed and leaves you moisturized. It’s not greasy. You can use this on your body, face or hair (clean product).
Image from Detox Market
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or. I like the one with the fun shimmer. Looks pretty on the legs in the summer, but it also smells like summer in France. There is a non-shimmer option. To me, glittery bed sheets are a bonus.
A light skincover
On the topic of skin, the Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow is magic. I tried it in a sample, and it was so so pretty. Where I can find a full-sized bottle is a mystery. I’m on it. Will report back.
Image by reallyree.com
A good radio station
My favorite radio station in the world is Cadena Dial from Spain. It plays the very best jams. Something about summer makes me gravitate toward the station (Alejandro Sanz’s voice in “Un Beso en Madrid,” maybe). In English, I like anything with oldies or recent country hits.
A good book
I will be revisiting an Isabel Allende classic that stole my heart in high school, Eva Luna. I got my boyfriend the English translation because no one should live life without Isabel Allende. Few books have made me feel like I touched magic like Eva Luna. I will also read Patricia Benito’s latest poetry book, Cada Noche Te Escribo. Benito makes these amazing trailers for her poetry. Her creativity astounds me. She inspires me.
A good hat
Image from Anine Bing
Currently loving the Anine Bing cap to keep the skin safe from the sun on walks and errands. (Note: I did not pay full price on this; I had a discount code (they pop up once in a while)). I like logoless stuff, but I got to say, this cap just looks chic.
A comfortable pair of slides
These are in the style of the Balenciaga puffy leather slides making the rounds or like the Lizzie slides from Anine Bing, but at a Target price. They are comfortable but a bit squeaky, but the squeak comes with the style, I suppose.
A solid lip stain
I first tried lip stains/tints in law school through the Benefit and Tarte brands. Now, Elaluz, a clean Brazilian beauty brand by queen Camila Coelho, is a recent fav. (Been following her for more than a decade and so proud of this woman. I remember when she was in Mass. making YouTube videos in her house). This stain also works for the cheeks and works marvelously with face masks.
Image from Elaluz
Ok, what have been your discoveries and go-to items for summer fun? What can I add to my list? xx
I am writing from a local bagel shop/deli one block over that is open 24 hrs. Weirdly, I find myself hoping that the 24-hr. promise means the food is excellent. (No correlation). I ordered breakfast for dinner. Breakfast is truly my favorite meal (this is why Jerry Seinfeld and I would bond over breakfast cereals).
It was a hectic week. I got new cases and spent a lot of time staring past the judge into her mountain and river Microsoft Teams background while we waited for my opposing attorney to finally show up. (Me in my ribbed yoga onesie covered by a black blazer, leaving me looking chic and profesh).
Spent a half hour at FedEx behind a man who wasn’t sure if his whole lease printed. The printer was spitting the pages out, and they would float into the air and musically dance into his confused frantic hands.
I started to feel tired and resisted the temptation to ask if I could print out my one page ahead of his going back and forth. I decide to be patient and as Marianne Williamson says, to find out the best way to reflect the love of God to this confused stranger. Part of my weariness is the fact that I couldn’t fall asleep, and I was buying three-dollar books for my Kindle at midnight. I also saw an eyeshadow palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills that details which shades should not be used in the “immediate eye area.” If an eyeshadow can’t be used in the immediate eye area, what exactly is it for?
Behold the interesting warning on the Sephora website.
And here we are, not even at Friday yet, but I am warmed by the satisfaction that comes from a fulfilling job and a job well-done. I am carrying my piping hot breakfast home. Dinner is served.
I visited a magical bookstore today. Every book inside was either old and familiar from past readings, like that one version of the Odyssey I read before freshman year, or unknown and new books to the eye and mind.
On the walls were old cartoons, old covers with dedications and little handwritten notes to old book owners. The floor boards creaked, and there was a certain stillness to the place despite the oldies on the speakers. Every inch of the store was covered in something. It was a detail overwhelm.
On one of the shelves, I found a sticker of a café we had been searching for. A clue.
Being there made me want to have my own bookstore or at least my own typewriter. I miss having one of those. The visit made me wonder how much of life we squander on a screen or waiting when there is so much left to be known. When there is no right timing other than when we have breath.
It made me wonder how many clues surround us, sort of like that little café sticker that just happened to be there when we were literally walking to find it. It made me wonder how many places in the world have Steve Martin comedy records and Francoise Hardy records under the same roof.
Part of me wanted to buy the whole store. Another part of me recognized that the more I have, the less free I feel.
Pages and pages fill that space. Words filling up inches and inches— on the paper, on the walls, through the speakers, in our minds, on our hearts.
I am cleaning up the hundreds of drafts I have in archive here. I found some gems.
Quotes
“If you take the long view, you realize it was a speed bump, not a dead end. What life teaches us over time is that if you wait long enough, lots of things that look like dead ends are really just speed bumps.” Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines
“Mercy is not something God has, but something God is.” A.W. Tozer
“It’s a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind.” Nagulb Mahfouz
“Nothing can wear you out like caring about people.” SE Hinton
“Write beautifully what people don’t want to hear.” Fredrick Seidel
“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Nathaniel Hawthorne
“No one can mark the moment at which friendship becomes love.” C.S. Lewis // Letters to an American Lady
“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday, you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, your favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.” Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
“I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.” Carrie Bradshaw
Stuff I Read
Lydia Elise Millen on being a proud difficult woman. (“These days I’m trying to use the word ‘sorry’ far less and instead try to use the word ‘no’ a little more. Utilising my confidence and honing my expertise in an industry that I’ve spent more than a decade studying and working in to advise, perfect and innovate.”)
An account on how Catherine de Medici‘s marriage into French royalty changed the nation and how she was misunderstood.
I am sitting on the couch surrounded by beautiful clothes, and I’m thinking… hear me out… when did we decide that the pandemic was a good excuse to not wear clothes? Are we really that desperate to save on laundry? We in NYC have been living in our yoga pants for years now (yes, it’s plural). I mean, seriously.
We celebrate shows like Sex and the City for their fashion. And the fashion is FABULOUS. But let’s get real for a second. What did Carrie actually do? She ran around the city looking fab, flirted with Mr. Big, got filled with angst because of Mr. Big, ate brunch with the girls and then came back home to write about it. Aren’t we basically doing the same thing?
The only one who had a serious job on that show was Miranda (the attorney). The rest had fab jobs with max flexibility, even PR Samantha. Everyone else might as well have been living the pandemic life, and yet, they still managed to look fabulous. So, I have stuffed my sweaters formerly on rotation into storage. (Unlike Bradshaw, I do not store my sweaters in my oven– I actually use my oven for cooking). I am gonna make this effort. You should, too, fellow city dweller. We are Carrie Bradshaw. We sit at our laptops, question life, talk to our friends and run around the city. Let’s do this. Below are some of my favorite Carrie outfits. (Her style is the one I like the most. It always has some funk, and she just does her own thing).
Image via Pinterest
It’s the skirt for me. I found one like it (but a bit longer) and have yet to wear it.
Image via Pinterest
A comfy dress with a handbag making the statement. This is doable.
Image via Pinterest
I had a skirt like this when I was 11. The print and ruffles are not modern, but that’s part of the appeal. #nostalgic
Image via Pinterest
Take a white shirt, wear a black bra and open the front down to the bra band. Make it office chic.
Image via Pinterest
This is my favorite dress in the whole series. I love a short in the front and long in the back situation.
Image via Pinterest
Plain tank and sheer midi skirt. Very Kate Moss. #Mossyvibes
Image via Pinterest
This makes me feel like I am in a 2003 Delia*s catalog. Cargo pant vibes, please.
Image via Pinterest
Jacket sleeves. Enough said. Major 2001 Olsen twin vibes.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 