Narrowed

I heard this quote recently that is a profound expression of truth: “Love eliminates options.” Andy Figueroa People make choices. Choosing is the most sacred thing we do. Love rules our choices, if we allow it to. And when it does, it eliminates options. I heard someone discussing this phrase in coaching. “How have youContinue reading “Narrowed”

Transmitting Feeling

By: Gabriela Yareliz I saw The Aviator recently (for the first time). I think the most impressive parts of the film are the details that make the viewer feel what he is feeling. When he focuses on the bright lights; the photographer bulbs exploding; the crunch of the broken glass; the blueprints flashing through hisContinue reading “Transmitting Feeling”

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”

August Mini-Friday Note

By: Gabriela Yareliz I saw somewhere that a company wants to bring landlines back for children. I like it. It reminds me of spending hours on the phone with a friend. It’s a formative time. Screens don’t invite children to live real life. I am sitting on a train (I swear I spend most ofContinue reading “August Mini-Friday Note”

True Love

By: Gabriela Yareliz There is an elderly Asian couple that rides the morning train with me. The man has a walker with wheels that turns into a seat. He moves slowly. His wife always holds him firmly but gently, and sometimes, kisses his face under his baseball cap. Her arm is always around him. IContinue reading “True Love”

Lessons in Matcha

“The true gift of matcha is the ritual: the quiet, deliberate preparation, the grounding presence of whisking, the mindful act of drinking. It is nourishment for body, mind, and spirit alike.” Candice Kumai By: Gabriela Yareliz We went to the best matcha place in NYC. The place is always a vibe. It’s a different levelContinue reading “Lessons in Matcha”

Everything

By: Gabriela Yareliz “I always have everything I need.” Edie Wadsworth I heard this thought during coaching, and it made me think— what if we said this to ourselves every day? It’s a statement of faith and gratitude.

Interference

“I had 35 analog years to develop my taste without interference. I carried quarters for payphones. I wrote directions on napkins. I discovered music through borrowed CDs and late-night television, not through playlists that knew what I wanted before I did. I fell in love with movies before they became content, with art before itContinue reading “Interference”

Goodbye, Tired Braid

By: Gabriela Yareliz I had my oiled dirty hair in a tired braid. I decided I had had enough and wanted to get my hair done before the official end of summer schedule at work. I wandered into this beautiful Chelsea salon, and a petite Asian lady greeted me. The place was empty. I askedContinue reading “Goodbye, Tired Braid”

Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #5

Dear Eric Adams (NYC Mayor), I was sitting on the subway and saw an ad for a City hotline that read “Safety is a Human Right.” It was discussing domestic violence and human trafficking. Apparently, safety is only a human right in these contexts because the City releases violent offenders back onto the streets everyContinue reading “Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #5”