The Violence of Growth

“Growth is violent like that. It doesn’t happen without endings. Without death. Without the parts of you that are clinging to control finally being ripped away. So I’ll ask you: how many times have you already died? And maybe… the next chapter of your growth is waiting for you on the other side of theContinue reading “The Violence of Growth”

Pain, The Gift

Pain has a way of breaking us open, allowing space for us to see through the veneer at who we truly are. We grow numb to the world; cold like porcelain— but then, suddenly, pain reminds us we are alive. Pain strikes the nerve; its force and imposition felt like a live wire. Pain remindsContinue reading “Pain, The Gift”

Reflecting on Courage and Rising

By: Gabriela Yareliz We near the end of this year. This morning, I came across the words, “Courage, dear heart,” written by C.S. Lewis. Those words came to mean something so much more profound to me this year. I read and held onto them before one of the darkest seasons of my own personal experience.Continue reading “Reflecting on Courage and Rising”

A Lesson on Father’s Day

By: Gabriela Yareliz Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are often avoided by people who have experienced childhood trauma. Some people have experienced pain caused by one or both parents, so they distance themselves from the holiday and deeper yet, from the person it celebrates. Father’s Day isn’t a holiday I like to embrace. Sometimes, itContinue reading “A Lesson on Father’s Day”

This Past Season

“And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 By: Gabriela Yareliz I always do enjoy putting my thoughts out into letters. It sort of shifts things in timeContinue reading “This Past Season”

Liberation

By: Gabriela Yareliz Sometimes, life feels like some weird social experiment. Have you noticed? People seem to get less caring and crazier, by the minute. And by crazy, I don’t mean funny-cute-wild, but reckless-not appreciating-consequences-and-mental-health-issue crazy. Life on this sinful planet can make us a bit crazy. Life’s pain and unpredictability can leave us likeContinue reading “Liberation”

This is what life is like

By: Gabriela Yareliz This isn’t a profound discourse, today. In fact, I was going to do my whole spiel on fertility, biological clocks (our damnation), and the OB-GYN, but I figured that could wait (you’re welcome). We can talk about that after a fun pelvic exam. The emotions will be a lot more raw, then.Continue reading “This is what life is like”

Sunday Girl: October 23, 2016

By: Gabriela Yareliz Friday came to a close as I sat down to eat a stale piece of leftover pizza after making my apartment look like Monica Geller had come to visit. As I chewed on the pizza, I perused an article about the shelf life of pizza in a refrigerator, on BuzzFeed. Halfway throughContinue reading “Sunday Girl: October 23, 2016”

Scars

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” Khalil Gibran By: Gabriela Yareliz Have you ever had a dream where everything you fear may never come true becomes reality? When we sit back and look at the things we are afraid of, or the things we hardenContinue reading “Scars”