My 2025 Library

By: Gabriela Yareliz It’s almost time to let go of the year. Before we do, I wanted to say ‘thank you’ to all of you for reading, the comments, and engagement this past year. Whether you are new this year to the site or you have been with me for the 16 (yes, crazy, 16)Continue reading “My 2025 Library”

Virtue

On this July fourth, I leave you with some words from Ryan Holiday: “It’s July 4th, 1776. The Founding Fathers are about to make a very loud statement about freedom and independence. They will, over the next several bloody and bleak years, give nearly everything in order to will it-and a new nation-into existence. ButContinue reading “Virtue”

Wisteria

By: Gabriela Yareliz My husband has a green thumb. He is currently planting seeds into trays. I just pop up by the table to sniff the soil (I like the smell of soil), and then, disappear. He plants. I read about plants. I recently read about Wisteria. Apparently, the meaner you are to Wisteria, theContinue reading “Wisteria”

How To Be Happy In Pain

By: Gabriela Yareliz Reading Jane Austen is upsetting, sometimes. The author had such a sad life, but she made sure to give her characters happy endings. It just isn’t real. I heard recently that one of our greatest sources of unhappiness is when we fight reality. As humans, we do this a lot. We holdContinue reading “How To Be Happy In Pain”

February 2024 Favorites

February was a jam-packed month. We found this beautiful coffee place called Felix’s. I tried Spring Aspen Cafe and Jack’s Wife Freda (loved their salmon burger). We spent a beautiful day out-of-state doing important things. It was incredibly memorable. I loved my flowers that I was gifted that day. We ate good food. It wasContinue reading “February 2024 Favorites”

Destiny

At the age of twelve, the word “destiny” began to fascinate me. I think Billy Shakespeare did that to me. I began thinking about it in a nuanced way, intertwined with the idea that we all have free will and always have a choice. The word “destiny” then sort of was replaced by “purpose.” IContinue reading “Destiny”

April 2023 Favorites

“Keep close to your heart this one simple truth: there is still light, there always is. Embrace the healing hand of grief, bear its weight as long as you need to, but find solace in the knowing that the pain and sorrow you are feeling are proof that you have known something sacred; that theContinue reading “April 2023 Favorites”

Wisdom from Brené Brown’s Wilderness

Quotes from Braving the Wilderness: “All too often our so-called strength comes from fear, not love; instead of having a strong back, many of us have a defended front shielding a weak spine. In other words, we walk around brittle and defensive, trying to conceal our lack of confidence. If we strengthen our backs, metaphoricallyContinue reading “Wisdom from Brené Brown’s Wilderness”

If You Are Going To Shop…

“For you say I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of yourContinue reading “If You Are Going To Shop…”