“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare.
They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. But that’s where the transformation occurs.
Once we stop wishing it were summer, winter can be a glorious season in which the world takes on a sparse beauty and even the pavements sparkle. It’s a time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.” Katherine May, Wintering
Tomorrow, I will be putting my house in order! A bit of winter prep and clean never hurt anyone.
It’s cold and gray out here in NYC. Feels like 12F outside. It’s sick, but this is the price we pay for all seasons. Some slushy mountains of snow remain. The truth is, there are days when I can close my eyes and see the sunset at Cedar Key, salty air hitting my face. Metal hooks on the metal pier floor and abandoned fishing rods leaning on the pier rail. Moments we absorbed from the past are never far. The key is to always make new ones. Look around and spot the dreams come true and glimmers. Behind me, the sun is setting with the Verrazzano sparkling in the distance. Someday, I’ll close my eyes and still see this, too.
Periods are a b*tch in January. If you are a woman, you know this is true. (Apparently, this is partially because of all the holiday season disregulation and disordered eating and sleeping). I especially know it to be true, because, mine, like clockwork, sees Times Square filling up with people awaiting confetti, and this uterus starts plotting its sabotage. (Every damn year).
On a day that most people stay awake for 24 hrs+, all an achy woman wants to do is take a hot shower and curl up in fetal position; the night is a long one. My strategy this year to work around the shredding of the sleep schedule is one of slow preparation. I have my emergency pouch, I slept in later, I did a workout that left me both energized and tired, took a hot slow, steaming shower before getting dressed, drank a little matcha, listened to a “best of” podcast, watched some Paul Maurice press conferences (these are my super bowl), gathered gifts by the door to not forget, and did my light makeup in three shifts. We are being strategic today. Borrow from me if you are also feeling the familiar uterus ache, the January energy drain ahead, or if you simply are terrible at staying up past 11pm (also me).
In the midst of all of this, we are taking some time to reflect on the year.
These were some of the top posts, this year– thank you for your support! It means so much that you make me a part of your routine, your commute entertainment, your life. I am grateful for the community of thinkers and feelers, here. (Hello to all of you– most of you here are reading from Germany, the good ‘ole US of A, India, the United Kingdom and Canada).
Top Posts:
Don’t Be Good: Be unf*cukable with. I stand by this.
Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #2: Public transport and the Code of Conduct Card idea. Soon, I will have a new NYC Mayor to write to.
Affirmation: Lessons from another morning commute gone bust.
To My Brothers: A reflection to my bros during their birthday week.
A Book I am Taking with Me into 2026:A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
Best Win of 2025: Florida Panthers (2nd) Stanley Cup
Still a Personal Hero: Paul Maurice
For me, it was a steady year, with its normal ups and downs. God granted us some family health miracles and life. Collectively, He granted us safety (especially through the LA fires), new jobs, old jobs stayed, He provided continually, chapters closed, some actual summer Fridays, many chiro adjustments, Jenny and her blessed hands giving wellness, a visit from a childhood friend, an epic Brooklyn street fair (a few actually), a wild mayoral campaign, and so much more.
There is so much that awaits us. I pray each of our journeys is long and blessed. May it be a year of creative blooming.
As we enter a new chapter, I leave you with some words from the icon Paul Maurice: “If you do it right, all your adversity makes you better in the end.” Keep moving forward.
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) years we have been here– you know one thing– I love to read.
As I have done in the past years, I beat my Goodreads Annual Reading Challenge goal. My goal was smaller, this year– 50 books. I surpassed it. My average book length was 304 pages.
It’s time to set next year’s goal. If you are an avid reader, definitely sign up for the challenge. It sparks joy.
If you need a place to start, here are some of my top picks from my 2025 reading (with one of my highlighted quotes, where applicable):
For Learning About the World (the light side):
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: I loved looking at different industries and how the best become the best. My favorite sections were the discussions on hockey and attorneys.
Quote: “It’s not knowledge for its own sake. It’s knowledge that helps you read situations correctly and get what you want.”
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant: I am a big Adam Grant fan. This is a must-read for those interested in expanding knowledge. For the forever learners.
Quote: “Skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.”
Originals: How Non-Conformists More the World by Adam Grant: Adam Grant strikes again. I am always seeking to learn from the non-conformist.
Quote: “The hallmark of originality is rejecting the default and exploring whether a better option exists.”
For Learning About the World (the dark side):
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O’Neill: Few books have altered the way I see the world as much as this daring journalist’s quest for truth when facts weren’t adding up. It’s a wild ride, and the biggest discoveries are what is left to be read between the lines.
Quote: “I really thought that, with enough tenacity, I could get to the truth under all this.”
My Boss is a Moron by Ben Askins: This was not one of those books that acts like bad management and lack of accountability are all in your head. It’s a practical, respectful and right-on-the-money survival guide. It was written by someone who knows a lot about management and the mediocrity that exists in the workforce.
Quote: “Finally, there’s the top-down issues. Specifically, company leaders and those who are the most senior thinking they can get away with not doing the things that juniors are expected to do.”
Best Biographies and Memoirs:
Govt Cheese by Steven Pressfield: This book is made up of many short, tiny chapters. It is a collection of snapshots of people and many unlikely places along Pressfield’s path to his dreams. I always say people who have held many different types of jobs are the most interesting. Pressfield proves me right.
Quote: “It’ll be hard, but what’s the point of doing anything if you’re not trying to get better?”
Gwyneth by Amy Odell: This was well-researched. It’s a great book to learn more about Gwynnie, but let me tell you– Amy Odell hates her. That is the only unfortunate part of this book. Odell’s hot steaming hate for the Goop founder and CEO bleeds off of every page and tries to stain you. Joke is on her– I am a solid Gwyneth fan. If you are too, you can learn a thing or two while navigating the unadulterated loathing.
Quote: “Love her or hate her, we haven’t been able to look away.” (It is evident Odell is in the “hate her” camp. We love her and Goop, here).
Best in Self-Development:
Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster: This was the first book I read by Schuster at the beginning of this year, and I became a full-on fan. I subscribe to her Substack and love that woman. She is so vulnerable and hilarious. You will laugh and also cry. She has that talent. If you know trauma by name and are walking along the healing journey– this one is for you. I know it healed a piece of me.
Quote: “I thought it was my job to fix my parents’ lives, which, even to an eight-year-old, were clearly unraveling.”
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins: I remember I was reading this book with a young colleague, and she stopped reading it halfway through. I finished it. I thought it was profound. The thing is, a lot about setting boundaries and protecting your sanity is elementary in a theoretical sense, but it isn’t at the execution level. Robbins gets this, and vulnerably shares her experiences in life that led her here. There is a lot to learn from this one.
Quote: “The truth is, other people hold no real power over you unless you give it to them.”
The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom: I am always seeking Sahil’s wisdom. His newsletter is one of my favorites. It is one that is always filled with original wisdom, and I never delete it when scanning my inbox to clean it. His first book did not disappoint, and it’s a must-read. Hopefully, there is more coming?
Quote: “Anything asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.“
Best in Adventure:
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard: Roosevelt’s last wild adventure. You’ll feel like you are wandering the Amazon slowly by boat and that death lurks in every corner. A look at one of our greatest Presidents and the grit and courage that made the man.
Quote: “‘I love peace, but it is because I love justice and not because I am afraid of war,’ Roosevelt told the spellbound crowd.”
Best Fiction:
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen: Reading this and then watching the series on Apple TV+ was quite fun. Hiaasen is so Florida. So funny. And so original. Andrew Yancy is the perfect (Florida Man) hero.
Quote: “Deep space was what it seemed like, weightless and slow motion.”
Best Non-Fiction:
How to Break up with Your Phone by Catherine Price: It’s a 30-day detox plan for the person seeking less screen time. We all know it’s next to impossible hard, but that is why we need the tools and data to understand why we need it.
Quote: “The point is also that revolutionary technologies don’t just ‘come along,’ as Jobs put it; they’re designed.”
The Guide to Becoming Alive by Richard Christiansen: This book is magical. It inspires one to dream again. Christiansen, creator of Flamingo Estate, is an artist in every sense of the word.
(I was going to an include a section here called “Not Worth the Hype,” but I decided to keep this positive, so we proceed)–>
Best in Creativity:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: I have had a used version of this book that I have picked up and put down many times over the years. I finally committed to it and read it the whole way through and did the exercises. It works. It’s a book I will read many more times. A book everyone should read because everyone is a creator.
Best in Health:
Your Body Already Knows by Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya: This book on ayurvedic wisdom was enlightening. I adopted some practices from it, and I am better for it.
Quote: “If we spent the same amount of time we spend talking and reading about health in our kitchens actually cooking, we would soon resolve most of our health concerns.”
Best in Self-Discovery:
Glow in the F*cking Dark: Simple Practices to Heal Your Soul by Tara Schuster: My obsession with Tara Schuster continued throughout the year. This was almost like a hilarious, vulnerable manual following her first book. I hope to one day meet her at one of the retreats she hosts.
Quote: “It’s the pressure, the process, all of the bullshit the star has endured, that gives it its resiliency.“
Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection by Tiffany Moon: I don’t think I understood perfectionism until I read this book. Moon’s vulnerability will crack you right open. I read this book early on, and the main thing I remember is I felt seen.
Quote: “If I had my own perfume, I’d call it Responsibility by Tiffany Moon. What does that smell like, you ask? It smells like always paying your bills on time, being everyone’s ‘in case of emergency’ contact, and remembering to bring a fresh stool sample to the dog’s vet appointment.”
Best Cookbook:
Cuentos de Cocina by Mandoka: A cookbook that looks like a fairytale book. It’s gorgeous and creative. A feast.
These are my top picks. I hope you read some and read a bunch in 2026. What were your top reads of 2025? I am always looking for recs.
We continue to inch toward the new year. A whole new chapter, but also, just another day, another week, another month to begin again. My wish for you is what Tara Schuster wrote, “Take whatever weird little opportunity you have and maximize the f*ck out of it.” Do it. Dream, every day. Learn, every day. Act, every day. Do the work, every day. Move, every day. Heal, every day. Shine, every day.
“Traditions carry hidden powers. They shape us, steady us, and teach us who we are. They’re worth maintaining. And when they eventually fade, they’re worth rebuilding.” Michael Easter
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I saw the funniest video of David Grutman on his stories the other day. I mean, “funny” and Grutman often go hand-in-hand. I have no doubt that his success in hospitality is deeply rooted in his personality (in addition to his hustle). Grutman is married to the lovely Brazilian Isabela Grutman. They were in Brazil recently visiting her family, and he was sitting at a long table where her family was chatting into the evening. Grutman, a Miami Jewish man who does not speak Portuguese, was leaning on the table snacking on Brazilian cheesy breads.
Via the Grutman’s Instagram.
He cracked me up when he was like, “They just keep talking. No one is talking to me. I don’t know what they are saying, and my body is starting to shut down.” I know the feeling. My body, too, starts shutting down after like hour four or five with no translation or context. There are only so many hours your little ears can squint to understand.
What is hilarious is when these gatherings happen, they are also usually at night. So that may also be a factor for the body shutdown. What helps avoid a shutdown is inclusion. I find the same is true with traditions, generally (even beyond family gatherings). And this cute cross-cultural family moment made me reflect on moments I have failed to provide context or inclusion when welcoming others into different spaces.
Traditions are important. I agree with Michael Easter (quoted above) that they reveal a lot about us, and it’s important to keep traditions alive. They are anchors of hope and memory. Like lamp posts along a pathway.
Whether you are actually in a different environment or you are bringing someone new into something familiar to you— inclusion is a gift. Keep the rituals strong and adapt them as the participants change. This time of year reminds us why traditions matter, the gifts they grant us, and also, why the people we do them with matter more.
“The world is full of people with agendas, trying to persuade us to act on their behalf (spend on their behalf, fight and die on their behalf, oppress others on their behalf). But inside us is what Hemingway called a ‘built-in, shock-proof, shit detector.’ How do we know something is shit? We watch the way the deep, honest part of our mind reacts to it.” George Saunders
“This is not the time you stop believing. You simply can’t afford the luxury of skepticism.” Sarah Ban Breathnach
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I have enlisted the help of ChatGPT to come up with a nice adjustment to my morning routine. I am not going to lie— I am excited to try it. Might as well use this stuff for non-privacy invading optimization.
Last night, the sky turned a lime green, sleet fell, and now, the sky is a blurred fluorescent white, and the world looks like Narnia and rests under a blanket of snow. It’s quiet. No one is out.
I continue to read my wintering books next to the hum of the radiator. It’s a quiet Sabbath morning, and I feel warmth and gratitude. I keep plotting my little adjustments in mindset and routine. The rest has been a blessing after running ragged for months.
ChatGPT told me to “do less”. ChatGPT is right. Changes are not waiting to the new year, they are happening now, slowly, in this time of stillness and quiet.
What is something you want to adjust, change or believe in? Make a plan today!
Snow is falling softly outside. We are under winter advisory. None of us knows which day of the week it is. We are in the in-between days that lead us to a new chapter.
This new iPhone update is trippy. I read a while and spent too much time on Pinterest.
I walked for miles, wondered about the secret to Amanda Mccants’ hair, and got Saint James tea and a jar of sea moss. I also reflected on the fact that if I lived anywhere near an Erewhon, I would be there three times a day. Thank God we have a whole country in between us. I sprayed hair perfume in my hair and went nowhere important.
What has been swirling in your head as we prep for the new year? For me, a lot centers on wellness.
“It’s Christmas Eve, the night of miracles.” Sarah Ban Breathnach
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Merry Christmas Eve! Our advent calendars end tonight. (Mine has been a source of so much excitement this season).
This break time has been a much-needed tension detox for me. What have I been up to? Some longs walks, cleaning and laundry, Aggie’s biohacking course, actually having the time to do Tracy Anderson workouts, doing some Pvolve (doing about 2-3 workouts a day), reading, listening to great podcasts like Real AF (Andy Frisella), Mel Robbins (family and healing generational wounds), and Adam Grant (courageous leadership), running errands, working on a new project (which involved building a mini island).
So good!Adam Grant and Brené Brown. Doesn’t get better than that.
More than anything, working out unrushed and being in my body has been the greatest medicine of all. I feel human.
Daphne Oz being fabulous in her stories.
I love seeing festive stories on IG. Daphne Oz is a favorite. She makes the most beautiful food and busts out the cutest cups. A fabulous host.
I love greens on a light fixture. Pinterest
I had a hot chocolate yesterday that reminded me how good a hot chocolate is. It has been a minute. This is your reminder to have one today.
PinterestPinterest PinterestPinterest
I hope that tonight you revisit the story we celebrate. Do something that makes you pause and be human. Sing some Christmas hymns. Drink a hot chocolate. Move your body in a way that is connecting. Love and show generosity. Cherish nostalgia and tradition. Sit in the glow of the light.
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GABRIELA YARELIZ 