Cultivating Identity

By: Gabriela Yareliz I know someone (who I admire) who is almost 80 and refuses to retire. Now, I do think this person has a sense of calling and vocation. They love what they do. But this brought me to thinking— how many of us are on track to do the same because we failContinue reading “Cultivating Identity”

Dreamer DNA

“Keepers of private notebooks are a different breed altogether, lonely and resistant rearrangers of things, anxious malcontents, children afflicted apparently at birth with some presentiment of loss.” Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem By: Gabriela Yareliz I saw this Didion quote, and I know there is truth to it. As a kid, I would write 15Continue reading “Dreamer DNA”

Words for the Silence

By: Gabriela Yareliz Two out of my three trains are on time. I am overcoming my shock. As I do that, I continue to reflect on a passage in scripture that deeply moved me this week. You know, sometimes, you are in a weird season. You feel surrounded by an environment you could do without.Continue reading “Words for the Silence”

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”

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”

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”

The Feminine

“In the ’70s, my mother gave me a print that read: A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. After 25 years of marriage, I couldn’t disagree more.” Larissa Phillips By: Gabriela Yareliz I read Larissa Phillips’ The Free Press piece with intrigue, as I am sure many of us did. IfContinue reading “The Feminine”

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”

Don’t Be Good

By: Gabriela Yareliz Have you noticed that people use other’s desire to be perceived as “good” as a manipulation tactic? People choose groupthink, their likes and dislikes (and sometimes their vaccinations and medical procedures) based on optics, oftentimes. ‘What will people think?’ is often the undercurrent. The craving for acceptance can be so exploited. PeopleContinue reading “Don’t Be Good”