Regaining the Funny Plot

“Every episode of Seinfeld could have been solved with a cell phone […] We used to have miscommunications that couldn’t be corrected instantly. We lived in that chaos and it was funny and we were happier.” Kelly Oxford By: Gabriela Yareliz The wellness online world is fantasizing about going analog. Back in the day, theContinue reading “Regaining the Funny Plot”

Keeping Calm

“Calm isn’t a personality trait. It’s preparation.” Natalie Dawson By: Gabriela Yareliz A lot of our own stress can be manufactured. The next time we feel calm depart, we should ask ourselves how adequately we prepared. More often than not, therein lies the answer.

A Lesson from The Abolition of Man

“Did you know C.S. Lewis predicted the modern obsession with “being nice” would destroy the soul? In The Abolition of Man, Lewis argues that when a society stops believing in objective virtue, it doesn’t become tolerant… it becomes manipulable. He calls the result “men without chests.” People with appetites and intellects, but no courage, noContinue reading “A Lesson from The Abolition of Man”

Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math

By: Gabriela Yareliz Words I have heard often tied to 2026: “subtraction”, “restraint”, “frugal”— it’s everywhere. Open a Substack, and play a game of bingo for every time one of these words pops up. #trending Allegedly, we need less so we can run with the horse (year of the horse)— whatever the hell that means.Continue reading “Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math”

The Toxic Mom Group

By: Gabriela Yareliz In the pop culture news this week was Ashley Tisdale French’s The Cut article, Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group. She doesn’t name the members of the group but simply explains the dynamics of it and why it was time to make her exit. She must have known people would digContinue reading “The Toxic Mom Group”

Shadows

“We’re literally paying subscription fees to watch characters who represent the worst versions of ourselves.” Kelly Oxford By: Gabriela Yareliz Erwin McManus, the creator and author of The Seven Frequencies of Communication, has often said that when we watch modern TV shows such as Succession, what we are watching are people expressing shadow communication frequencies.Continue reading “Shadows”

Waldorf Glamour

By: Gabriela Yareliz Night fell on the Upper East Side. After a delicious raclette sandwich, we navigated the pockets of sidewalk ice and dark residential buildings. We passed the new JP Morgan Chase building, which is stunning (like a monument to capitalism— it stands there with the biggest Christmas wreaths I have ever seen, ‘HappyContinue reading “Waldorf Glamour”

Traditions

“Traditions carry hidden powers. They shape us, steady us, and teach us who we are. They’re worth maintaining. And when they eventually fade, they’re worth rebuilding.” Michael Easter By: Gabriela Yareliz I saw the funniest video of David Grutman on his stories the other day. I mean, “funny” and Grutman often go hand-in-hand. I haveContinue reading “Traditions”

Detector

“The world is full of people with agendas, trying to persuade us to act on their behalf (spend on their behalf, fight and die on their behalf, oppress others on their behalf). But inside us is what Hemingway called a ‘built-in, shock-proof, shit detector.’ How do we know something is shit? We watch the wayContinue reading “Detector”

For the In-Between Days

By: Gabriela Yareliz Snow is falling softly outside. We are under winter advisory. None of us knows which day of the week it is. We are in the in-between days that lead us to a new chapter. This new iPhone update is trippy. I read a while and spent too much time on Pinterest. IContinue reading “For the In-Between Days”