Regular Blog Posts
(Photos by Iris Derke)
The Tattoo I Wasn’t Supposed to Read
Hot yoga, a stranger’s tattoo in a place she could never see, and a quote that landed exactly when I needed it. On Godwinks, the ripple effect, and the quiet…
Read More
The Day Before Tomorrow
A 90-something neighbor named Sunny, a Christmas Eve elevator ride, and a perfectly timed reminder to stay present.
Read More
The Stage Before the Stage
Thirty years producing concerts in New York City, and a 16-year-old about to take the stage at Lincoln Center just stopped me in my tracks. On the magic of the…
Read More
Sober-Minded Living: What I’ve Learned Since Alcohol Left the Building
I stopped drinking in the Fall of 2024. This is not a recovery post. It’s about what actually showed up once the noise cleared and what I wish someone had…
Read More
The Eternal Knot: A Story About Beauty, Mongolia, and Finally Seeing Yourself
Two tattoos. Two very different women. Same body. A reflection on where we place our beauty, and who we’re placing it for.
Read More
From Dark Places to Joy: Embracing Change and Support
A dream about a motorcycle showed me exactly what white-knuckling looks like. On the grip, the grind, and what happens when you finally find the start button.
Read More
Overcoming Life’s SNAGS: A Journey Through Obstacles
On the stubborn, immovable, take-up-the-whole-road kind of obstacle. Iris Derke on SNAGS, what they teach us, and how to navigate around them without losing your mind.
Read More
Navigating Life Lessons on a NYC Subway
A stranger named Brendan on a Brooklyn subway platform said exactly the right thing at exactly the right moment. On NYC connections, Mercury in retrograde, and the people who show…
Read More
Crushed Velvet: Lenny’s Suit
It was 1997. Sotheby’s was auctioning Leonard Bernstein’s estate, and Iris Derke found herself alone in a private room with his crushed velvet suit. On genius, memory, and what we…
Read MoreSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Iris DERKE 