Father

By: Gabriela Yareliz Alex Ikonn asked Asma Khan how she became a confident and secure woman filled with so much love; how she grew to have self-love. Her answer moved me. She said, “I believed my father.” No matter who your father is/was, what I find comforting is we have a Heavenly Father who hasContinue reading “Father”

“I Deserve This”

“I swore to God, make me that person. Make me so powerful that when a woman in her forties walks into a room, and they tell her, ‘Stay in your lane,’ she says my name. Even the ocean will know you arrived. That’s how you die. You die in that way; that the legacy thatContinue reading ““I Deserve This””

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”

Behold the Values You Want to Embody

By: Gabriela Yareliz Below, I am sharing a gem of a podcast. A revisiting of key values. This podcast is perfect for parents, your kids, for anyone who will listen. The podcast version (audio only) is here. Sometimes, as I observe the young people and adults (including myself), I am reminded that we become likeContinue reading “Behold the Values You Want to Embody”

Noise, Despacito

“You need to build a mausoleum in your head with big iron doors so that nobody can get in there except you. You don’t let me in there, you don’t let June in there, you don’t let your manager in there, you don’t let the record company people in there. You have to decide forContinue reading “Noise, Despacito”

One Does Not Hold Truth

By: Gabriela Yareliz In recent times, I have noticed an interesting push for the Catholic Church that wasn’t as evident before. I think it’s important to spot these things and observe them. They are cultural moments of significance. It draws the question— where did this flow from? This post is not so much a criticismContinue reading “One Does Not Hold Truth”