Optional

By: Gabriela Yareliz I was on a coaching call this week, and I heard something that hit me, deep. On these coaching calls, people share things they are struggling with to be coached live. I don’t remember what was being shared, but I do remember the coach’s response: “Shame is optional.” I found that toContinue reading “Optional”

The Gift

By: Gabriela Yareliz Today, I got in an Uber with a driver who was probably on FaceTime with someone because as I got into the car and buckled up, I heard a woman cough. He then coughed seconds later to cover it up. He wasn’t fooling anyone. I am not sure why he needed to.Continue reading “The Gift”

Fixated on Hope

This holy silent Sabbath on Easter weekend has a powerful message for us all. This morning, I heard a priest say, “We must look at the cross and dare to find beauty in it.” Not only should we look at Christ’s cross and find beauty in it, but we should look at our own crossContinue reading “Fixated on Hope”

Seen on the Train

I am on the train today. It is actually moving. Yesterday morning was a whole different story. I literally had to walk through a train tunnel and climb out and find a way to get to court. Today, the train is moving. There is a man taking up almost the whole bench, and he isContinue reading “Seen on the Train”

The Choice of Rest

Jane Austen wrote in Persuasion (my favorite book of hers) that “None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” The truth is, while this may be true for some, some of us are desperately seeking calm waters because it feels like we have been in that boat the disciples find themselvesContinue reading “The Choice of Rest”

December 2022 Favorites

Hello! We are at the end of another month, and more importantly, another year. December was an eventful month. Winter slammed into us. States were affected by major snow storms. I saw a meme that accurately summed it up, saying: “Winter is coming. The entire thing. All at once. In one weekend.” The month feltContinue reading “December 2022 Favorites”

American Wealth: Hope, Opportunity & Resilience

[Image via englishspeecheschannel.com] “Always do what you are afraid to do.” Ralph Waldo Emerson By: Gabriela Yareliz There was a JFK essay contest in high school. We learned about it through a newspaper we would read in English class. Those cute papers that had poems and featured other peer writing. I wanted in, and IContinue reading “American Wealth: Hope, Opportunity & Resilience”

How to Shake Off the Week

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:5 Today was a rough day. I won’t go into the details. I will pick up where I left off on Monday. But as I felt the overwhelm and edginess that comes with the feeling of being chewed and spit out, I satContinue reading “How to Shake Off the Week”

Overheard in the Courthouse

By: Gabriela Yareliz It’s rainy. The kind of rain that makes all of my baby hair curl up. I am sitting in front of a judge I had stood next to at an intersection this morning. We both had the unpleasant realization that we were standing in the splash zone. A car went by thatContinue reading “Overheard in the Courthouse”