Necessary People

“Some of you were lessons, some of you were poetry, and all of you were necessary. Either way, you gave me a story to tell. No royalties will be issued. Wishing you all the best (but mostly therapy).” Cara Alwill By: Gabriela Yareliz I can hear Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry being blasted by myContinue reading “Necessary People”

Ricky

By: Gabriela Yareliz I typically avoid tourists. Most New Yorkers do. We don’t have time for slow walkers or people who take up the entire walkway with their tour group. Today, I was walking through an area that attracts a high volume of tourists. Central Park. As I was walking, some food cart was blastingContinue reading “Ricky”

Different

“If you want something different, you are going to have to do something different.”Jack Canfield By: Gabriela Yareliz This may be one of the hardest lessons life offers us. Hard because ‘different’ requires courage. It requires risk. It often requires uncertainty and the unknown. It requires sitting down and doing the hard work of tryingContinue reading “Different”

In the Dark

“Ironically, though light can be scarce at night, the darkness can often bring clarity.” Richard Christensen By: Gabriela Yareliz We often talk about the clarity light brings us. We rarely talk about the clarity found in darkness. The truth is, some of the darkest moments in life clarify things for us. We see things notContinue reading “In the Dark”

Cartographer

By: Gabriela Yareliz We often talk about leaving our comfort zone. What does that actually mean? We say it flippantly, but what does it entail on a granular level? Have you ever drawn a map that maps the exit from the comfort zone? Often, making shifts and actual change requires us to become cartographers. It’sContinue reading “Cartographer”

Wisteria

By: Gabriela Yareliz My husband has a green thumb. He is currently planting seeds into trays. I just pop up by the table to sniff the soil (I like the smell of soil), and then, disappear. He plants. I read about plants. I recently read about Wisteria. Apparently, the meaner you are to Wisteria, theContinue reading “Wisteria”

Luck

“Yes. I always tap into a Jim Collins-ism— and you know how obsessed I am with Jim Collins, who wrote Good to Great. He talked about return on luck. It’s not the luck you get, and it’s not about what actually happens. It’s how you use your luck, how you leverage it. So, it’s notContinue reading “Luck”

The Things We Can Do

By: Gabriela Yareliz I have been reflecting on this quote lately. Hmmm. “To hold our tongues when everyone is gossiping, to smile without hostility at people and institutions, to compensate for the shortage of love in the world with more love in small, private matters; to be more faithful in our work, to show greaterContinue reading “The Things We Can Do”

Planting Your Garden

“So plant your own gardens and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” Jorge Luis Borges By: Gabriela Yareliz I heard recently that when people dislike you, it serves as a reminder that if everyone liked you, you would be more reliant on the opinions of others. It’s a humanContinue reading “Planting Your Garden”

Presence

By: Gabriela Yareliz I love when Mosaic is in NYC for worship. Every time I leave the gathering, I know I have been in God’s presence. Here is a rule of thumb for life always— when given the option to be in God’s presence, whether a church gathering or at home with your Bible, neverContinue reading “Presence”