Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Hi all!

Well, here we are.

THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

Well…at least that is what it felt like these last couple of days.

I’m convinced that Mother Nature just can’t make up her mind.

If it isn’t frosty, cold temperatures that are happening, it is hot, humid conditions occurring.

Like I can’t have hot cocoa and a frozen slushie in my hand at the same time, Mother Nature!

Get. It. Together.

Like, what season are we in?

I can honestly say that I’ve forgotten.

Can any of you enlighten me?

Kthanks.

Spring.

Got it.

Onward and upward.

Well, here we go.

Another Monday, another post.

Below are just a few of the headlines that I pulled from the news in the past week.

“At least 1 dead and 4 critically wounded in shooting at California church”

“10 dead in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket.”

“At least 2 dead multiple people injured in shooting at a Texas flea market.”

“3 shot outside Milwaukee Bucks game. Two hours later, 17 others are shot a few blocks away.”

Pretty heavy stuff.

It makes it hard to try and find the positive on some days.

Even for the person nicknamed Mr. Sunshine.

Well, let’s shift our perspective quickly to something else for a moment.

Let’s look at the definition of simple.

There are three definitions that come up for this word.

It is defined as:

-Easy to understand, deal with, use, etc: a simple matter; simple tools.

-Not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.

-Not ornate or luxurious; unadorned.

This week, among all the negative news that has been happening around our world, I have been able to find some extreme joy in SIMPLE things.

Here are just a few of those things:

1. The conversations about every topic known to man with my co-workers that I have had the pleasure of working with in-person at the office at Webstaurantstore.
2. The individual who I was matched with two weeks ago when I clicked ‘subscribe’ to Match.com. I’m happy to report that I’m still messaging with that same individual after two weeks with many simple joys throughout the communication.
3. The woman at the theater who had a walker that I met at the end of the show to make sure was all set who said to me, “Thank you so much for taking care of us.”
4. The woman at church who walked up to me during the Communion music to mention how much she enjoyed the music and that she got weepy listening.
5. The magnificent sunsets that have caressed the Lancaster sky.
6. Enjoying some breakfast (made by roomie) along with watching the Our Great National Park series on Netflix that is narrated by Barack Obama.
7. Blowing bubbles with my niece Mackenzie outside in the sunshine on family dinner night.
8. The smiles of approximately 82 middle school and high school students who traveled from a school in New York to see the Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder. Their faces and reactions were ecstatic amazement that just made my heart soar.

I urge all of you to find the simple joys in life as we continue to try and navigate the world around us that continues to throw crazy negativity our way.

Be kind to others.

Always lead with love.

And please do not forget to relish in the simple joys.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

It is currently 7:28pm on Mother’s Day Sunday evening and I’m sitting on the floor of the carpeted church office typing these words for you as the setting sun shines in from the windows while tunes of Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, Shawn Mendes, and Broadway tunes plays quietly in the background.

Oh…and yes, there is a strategically placed cup of coffee in my more self love mug sitting beside me close enough to smell the aroma of French Roast while the hot beverage cools down just a bit before enjoying, but not close enough in case I have an arm spasm and decide to accidentally swing the arm unexpectedly…

…That actually did happen this week at work. My arm went flailing in classic JP fashion, hit the paper cup of coffee, and SPLASH! All over the desk, carpeted floor, and backpack of personal belongings.

Not going to lie–despite the stains on the backpack (until I throw it in the washer this week), I don’t mind the coffee aroma that it is exuding.

Maybe I’ll create a scratch and sniff coffee backpack, present my idea on Shark Tank and become the next world’s entrepreneur billionaire!

Anyhoo…I digress.

Any guesses on what the theme of this week’s blog post might be based off the title?

No…it isn’t about how much I love Domino’s pizza.

But I do LOVE Domino’s pizza even if people say it isn’t “real” pizza.

But that is another story for another day…another blog post for another week so to speak.

Saturday, April 30th, I did something while I was sitting in the lobby of the Ephrata Performing Arts Center that I have not done in a decade.

I joined a dating website.

I hit the subscribe button on Match.com–something I have not completed since 2012.

It was a feeling mixture of anxiety and happiness.

And within 10 minutes, I was matched with an individual.

It seemed to good to be true–almost like Match.com toying with my emotions since I had been using the free version for a few weeks, but the minute I gave my credit card to pay, it was like…BOOM…here is your Match!

And of course, with these dating apps, you are asked to complete a number of questions that show off your personality and allow for others to really understand and see who you are through the facet of social media pictures and words.

But I tried my best to answer the questions to convey the Mr. Sunshine persona for the individuals that would be viewing my profile.

And while talking this weekend to a wonderful coworker and colleague of mine, I was reminded that I need to stop being afraid to be unapologetically myself.

I need to not dim my light for anyone or anything because I, too, Mr. Sunshine have needs and wants, especially in the realm of relationships.

Thinking about this sentiment, I quickly realized that writing my profile and having communication with individuals is going to an excellent challenge for me to be unapologetically myself.

What are some things that make me unapologetically myself? What makes me unapologetically Mr. Sunshine?

Well, read on for just a sampling of bullet points!

-I worry about everything.

-I like to The Golden Grils constantly and don’t care that I’ve seen the episodes hundreds of times.

– I like to eat frozen tv dinners sometimes because they are convenient and don’t require much clean up.

-I like to order Dominos pizza and eat the entire pizza by myself.

-I like to sleep on top of my bed wrapped in a blanket.

-I like to put mayo…on everything. Literally everything–bread, salmon, bagels…everything.

-I like Disney movies and romantic comedies.

-I like to listen to Katy Perry’s Firework on repeat…constantly.

-I love legs.

-I love to eat ice cream out of the carton.

-I still get scared during thunderstorms.

-I still very much like to take naps.

-Chewing with your mouth open is a big pet peeve of mine.

-The cereal aisle at the grocery store is incredibly overwhelming.

-I like hot fudge sundaes from Dairy Queen.

-I don’t separate wash–I put everything in all at once.

-I love the beach and getting a tan from the sun.

-Pull ups are still one of my least favorite exercises to do at the gym.

-I enjoy naps.

-I like the sound of rain.

-I like to have a good cry every once in awhile.

These are just a few of the qualities that make me unapologetically myself.

Take me or leave me.

I am Mr. Sunshine…hear me roar!

The communication with this particular individual on Match has been quite positive; however, I will admit that it is still taking me time to get used to it since it has been so long. But on the flipside, there is a flutter and special giddy feeling inside myself as I wait to be notified of the next message they send me.

But it is a good lesson for me to be myself with someone, to be vulnerable, to wear my heart on my sleeve…and be unapologetically myself without any regrets.

To be unapologetically myself without dimming my light.

Dim the light for no one in life!

Be. You.

Be unapologetically yourself with the people around you.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Another week is officially in the books. Can you believe that we are already into May??

The time is seriously just going way too fast.

Anyhoo, let’s get down to business.

It is currently 6:30pm on a Sunday night, which means that it is the ideal and prime time for me to be writing the words that you are currently reading.

And as I sit here writing this week’s post, I’m currently looking outside the windows at the sun shining on the grounds of wet grass because of the torrential downpour that happened a few moments ago whilst wrapped in a blanket on the couch of my parents’ house while I dog sit for Ginger. And in the distance, I hear some slightly calm cracks of thunder in the distance.

And as the candle on the table by the front bay window burns its scent of blue spruce and The Golden Girls play in the background, I think to myself that even in the world of Mr. Sunshine, there are moments that bring a few rumbles of thunder and clouds.

Anyone else have these moments of rumbles in their life?

As we continue to live in a world that is still trying to navigate the aftermath of a global pandemic, I can’t help but think that there is one word that has decided to creep into all of our lives as we grasp with the fact and reality that our world is a scary place.

And that word that I’m talking about is this: anxiety.

That’s right.

Anxiety.

What is anxiety?

We could go around and ask everyone in our lives what they feel the definition of this word is and we could come back with 100 different definitions.

According to Dictionary.com, the word anxiety is defined as the following:

1. Distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune
2. Earnest but tense desire; eagerness
3. A state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder

Anxiety.

According to the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), here are a few quick facts and statistics about anxiety:

• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
• Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
• Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

As someone who has been given the nickname of Mr. Sunshine (that I continue to wear proudly), I tend to believe that people around me think that the actions and word of anxiety are not something that I experience.

And, let me tell you folks, anxiety is real even in the life of Mr. Sunshine.

The year is 2022 and I have a stronger conviction and passion now more than ever to make sure that we are taking time in our lives to talk about this very word.

It is a real thing.

And it is a real thing that real people around us are experiencing.

And it is something that Mr. Sunshine has experienced, even more so in the past couple of months. I recently found myself being nominated to take on the role of Church Council President, which is a position that doesn’t sound like it would be difficult but involves some very intense back-end work involving difficult decisions that affect the livelihood of a church faith community that feels like home to me.

And the past month and weeks have proved to me that it is not always easy and that there are difficult moments to come which involve conversations that no one likes to have and also trying to get others to buy in to the decision that you feel is best for the longevity of the faith community.

It’s a lot. And will continue to be a lot for me in the coming months.

And top this off with other daily stressors of work, customer interactions, and just whatever other world crapola happens to be occurring around us.

Anxiety is a real thing.

And it is a real thing that can cause even more serious issues if it is not talked about.

So, how does one deal with anxiety, especially when they are nicknamed Mr. Sunshine?

Well, here are my personal tips and tricks.

1. Make sure to set aside time during each day to do something that brings you joy. This can be anything. For me, one of those things is running. It is a time where I get to release toxins, decompress, and clear my mind.
2. Start a journal. Being vulnerable and writing out our thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper can be an exercise of such great therapeutic relief. Try it.
3. Take time to laugh every single day. Laughter is the best medicine. It can relax us, reduce our stress, and even boost our immune system.
4. Use the support system of friends and family when you need some extra love, support, guidance, or encouragement. Reach out when needed and don’t be embarrassed if you are struggling. And, if you need to seek professional help for additional support, so be it. There is nothing wrong with that and the people that think it is a problem are wrong.
5. Talk about it. You will never be able to foster a healthy environment for you (or anyone around you) if you aren’t willing to share and talk about your struggles. Be vulnerable. Be real. Be genuine.

These 5 things are just a few of the biggest entities that help me get through and cope with any anxiety that I might be feeling in life at any given moment.

And while these tips will not work for everyone since we are all created with beautiful, different unique qualities, the most important thing above all to remember is to seek professional help if you are struggling on a deep level.

Anxiety is a real word.

It is a real thing that many of us have experienced, are currently experiencing, or will experience in the future.

It is called being human.

And it’s ok if you are dealing with it.

You are not alone.

Let’s talk about it.

Together.

And let’s say it loud and proud.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Not sure about where you are in the world, but here in Lancaster, PA, we were able to experience some glorious and beautiful sunshine yesterday!

Thank you, Mother Nature.

FINALLY.

But I guess I should bite my tongue because later this week, I feel like I saw that the weather reports are showing those damn higher 40’s and lower 50’s.

I. WANT. THE. SUNSHINE.

Alright, let’s get down to business.

I won’t keep you long this week.

On Thursday, I inked my body.

That’s right.

Believe it.

Mr. Sunshine INKED his body.

It has been something that I’ve wanted to do since 2020, but with all of the life and world events of that year and 2021, it just kind of kept getting pushed back.

But Marissa finally got me to honker down and get it on the books…

…or in my case, the planner.

So, it happened.

HUGE thanks to Cory Fodor at Adorned Tattoos in Ephrata for taking my idea and making it a reality.

A beautiful establishment that was incredibly welcoming, especially for someone who has never gotten a tattoo before.

I mean…I definitely got nervous pee twice before lying down on the table.

The million dollar question…was it painful?!

I mean…I’m not going to say it was a walk in the park, but it wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be.

How would I describe it?

I mean…a hot prickly, ballpoint pen vibrating profusely on my skin.

I actually think having my back exposed for almost 1 hour was the worse because I’m always cold…and the air was definitely on.

But the zebra pillow I got to lay on was very nice…except for the feather that were making my nose itch–which I thought would make me sneeze–which would ruin everything Cory was trying to ink on me.

Will I get another one?

Possibly…maybe something Betty White related?

Thank you, Marissa for getting me to finally get the courage to make this happen.

And thank you, Cory for making it perfect.

So, in conclusion…

I did the thing. I have always worn the nickname of Mr. Sunshine proudly. And being has always–and will always be something I strive to embrace on the daily while encouraging others to do the same. The world is really shitty right now. I don’t see that changing anytime soon, but if I can continue to be kind and hope that others will follow in my footsteps to do the same, I’ll consider that a win to do the same, I’ll consider that a win for the world as we strive to keep love alive amongst humanity.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday and day after Easter, folks!

After what felt like Summer-like weather this past week for a few days, Mother Nature decided to once again give us the ugly entities of cold, rainy temperatures.

BOO.

Like double and triple BOO.

Let’s hope that sunshine and warm weather is right around the corner with those Spring flowers.

Eliminate and elevate.

The last 40 days have been a journey that I was both successful and not successful with—eliminating some elements of my life in order to elevate some elements of my life at the same time.

SUCCESSES:

-Not watching The Golden Girls.

-Not watching Encanto.

-Not eating any candy (minus the three or four M&M’s that were part of raw cookie dough I got from work). My coworkers can attest to how upset I was when I took those couple of bites. I also enjoyed ONE dark chocolate peanut butter egg the night before Easter.

-Not drinking any Dr. Pepper and soda.

-Starting each day with a positive affirmation.

FAILURES:

-Scrolling on social media after 10:30pm…definitely still did that. It can be a toxic habit!

-Reading at least three times a week. I did get a few pages in here and there, but definitely not as much as I wanted.

Just goes to show that wr all have successes and failures.

And we all could benefit from a little eliminating from our lives in order to elevate them.

Today’s post is a reminder of all 40 positive affirmations I used during this journey.

My hope is that you will continue to use them when you need them most or just want to get your day started with that extra jolt of positivity.

1. I am beautiful.

2. I am enough.

3. You can do anything.

4. You are loved.

5. You’re in the right place.

6. Today is going to be a great day.

7. I am unaffected by the judgment of others.

8. I breathe in confidence and exhale fear.

9. I trust in divine timing. The universe always has my back.

10. Love yourself.

11. Let your colors burst.

12. I can go the distance.

13. Trust your heart.

14. I am worthy.

15. I am fierce.

16. I am brave.

17. Anything is possible.

18. Don’t worry about things you can’t control.

19. We are who we are on the inside.

20. Be kind to all kinds.

21. I am me.

22. I am needed.

23. I am joyful.

24. I believe in me.

25. I am valuable.

26. I am passionate.

27. I am whole.

28. Be different.

29. Be unique.

30. I am here.

31. I am courageous.

32. My thoughts matter.

33. I am determined.

34. It is not selfish to do what is best for you.

35. Don’t limit yourself.

36. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

37. Nothing is impossible; the word itself says I’m possible.

38. Everything is going to be alright.

39. I am resilient.

40. Baby, you’re a firework.

Take time to eliminate and elevate.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, folks!

It appears to be that time again. The time when I get to wish you another good morning along with Monday well wishes too!

We are officially now celebrating the 11th day of April…CRAZY!

Remember last week how I said we would reconvene in regards to Mother Nature and her weather?

Well, all I have to say is…

Mmmbyeee.

Still waiting for those continuous days of sunshine and blue skies…

NOT harsh winds and coldness which is what was served up this week.

Well, at least in Lancaster, PA that was what was served up.

Anyhoo, I digress…are you surprised?

Let’s get down to business.

This week, I was asked a few different questions from different friends in my life that led me to writing a blog post about it.

Imagine that.

Are you OK?

How are you?

How are you doing mentally?

The National Alliance on Mental Health has published the below statistics on their website that gives just a little taste behind the curtain in regards to the mental struggles that we see as humans.

-1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

-1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.

-1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.

-50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

-Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34.

While I want to write that these statistics are shocking, I can’t. I know that mental health is such a struggle for so many and it is something that will only get worse.

So…that leads me to ask you…

Are you OK?

How are you?

How are you doing mentally?

And to these questions, I give you this answer:

I am doing well, thank you. I get stressed out about things beyond my control at times—which is something that I’m constantly working on in regards to myself, but I know how to participate in activities that recharge me and also know how to listen to my body when I need rest–physically and mentally.

It will come as no surprise that I like to stay busy.

And I mean…BUSY.

Shocker, I know.

I love when that old fashioned planner of mine is filled in to max capacity.

I have a full-time job filling 40 hours per week, a part-time job that fills approximately 10-12 hours per week, hold the hats of Music Director and Church Council President at St. Paul Penryn, and also house manage/bartend at EPAC during shows.

This all gets bundled into trying to see a trainer twice a week (or hit up the gym), spend time with family on Tuesday evenings for dinner, and also make plans with friends.

Oh, and don’t forget those other “daily” chores of needing to clean the house, do wash, cook, and grocery shop.

Not to mention trying to organize finances, handling any unexpected entities that might come up, and balancing the negative news of the word that gets thrown into the shuffle on the daily too.

Is it time for a nap, yet?

Exhausting.

Am I right?

I know I’m not in the minority on this because I have a feeling many individuals…including you reading these very words have felt frazzled, disorganized, and on the brink of screaming at least once or twice in this past week alone.

Many people always get worried because I do a lot in my life; however, I will tell you that I’m a rare breed–an outlier or unique individual so to speak.

Being busy helps me thrive and there are things that I do in my busy life that also help me to recharge my mental health.

The house managing and bartending that I’m currently involving myself with at EPAC is a huge mental health rejuvenation for me because it allows me to have conversations with people of all shapes and sizes and to have that human-to-human interaction in person that I’m not able to always get from my full-time and part-time jobs.

Some people rejuvenate with traveling.

That is not my speed.

Give me some sand, water, and adult beverages at the beach and I’m good to go.

That is rejuvenating to me.

It could even be as simple as some hard seltzers and cornhole.

It could simply be a game night of competitive fun and laughs.

All of these are rejuvenating to me.

I rejuvenate with my watching of The Golden Girls (which I have been without for the last 34 days because of the Lent season). Only 7 more days to go!

TV is not always something that rejuvenates others, but it is for me. I especially find comfort and warm fuzzy feelings especially in the TV shows that I know line-for-line.

I rejuvenate when texting with friends.

I rejuvenate when having conversations over dinner about life with friends.

On the contrary, I can rejuvenate with friends over just a movie without speaking any words too.

I rejuvenate when spending time with family. So important.

I rejuvenate with reading before bed.

I rejuvenate when coloring between the lines.

I rejuvenate when washing dishes.

I rejuvenate when I get to nap.

I rejuvenate with playing music on the piano.

I rejuvenate when I simply get to lay in bed, put my phone on DND and do nothing. (It might be a rare happening, but it happens).

I don’t deny the fact that I get anxious about the happenings of the world or the stress of my jobs, but I assure each and every one of you that I am OK mentally.

On the flip side, I also want to re-iterate the fact that is OK to not be OK.

If you are feeling not OK, I urge you to reach out to a professional or someone you trust and love for help.

Find the support system that will help you to rejuvenate, love you unconditionally, and never judge.

Are you OK?

How are you?

How are you doing mentally?

Ask yourself these three questions this week.

Write down the answers.

And once you’ve done that for yourself, do it for the others in your life that you appreciate.

We are all in this together.

As the simple phrase goes…

“We rise by lifting others up.”

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, hello there once again!

It is time for yet another Monday of the calendar of 2022 as we go through this fourth month of April inching closer to the Easter holiday and what will hopefully mean some more sunshine and Spring-like weather.

As I sit here writing these words to you, I’m currently looking through a singular window watching the trees blow as Mother Nature’s wind harshly howls choruses of high-pitched whistles of sound.

Send the sunshine.

Please.

PRETTY PLEASE with a cherry on top?

We’ll reconvene next week to see how she does with that request.

Anyhoo, let us get on to the this week’s post.

Grab your blanket, umbrella, sun shades–basically any accessory possible for all weather types because you never know what you are going to get these days.

For the readers who are detail oriented, I’m sure you already saw the title of this week’s post.

And if you didn’t…well then, shame on you.

KIDDING!

You can either scroll up to read it now or scroll on to read it in the next 2 seconds.

Get I get a drum roll please?!

::DRUM ROLL::

This week’s post is about…wrinkles.

That’s right.

You read it right.

Wrinkles.

Since I love getting literal with the meaning of words, I looked up the official definition, which I have included below:

Noun

-A small furrow or crease in the skin, especially of the face, as from aging or frowning.

-A temporary slight ridge or furrow on a surface, due to contraction, folding, crushing, or the like.

So, why am I talking about wrinkles? How did this blog post come about?

Well, I am so glad that you asked.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…a flashback so to speak…to exactly one week ago…on Monday evening, March 28th around 6:30pm.

I had just finished an approximatr 9 hour day at my part-time job when, out of nowhere, I had a moment of panic when I randomly thought about all of the wrinkles on the shirts in my closet.

I walked to my closet, opened the door, and started pulling out shirt after shirt and lying it on my bed in panic as they kept piling up.

So. Many. Shirts.

So. Many. Wrinkles.

Call me crazy, I know.

I honestly had no idea what possessed me to have this random moment of panic, but it felt very real to me.

Also…secret side note…I’m not very good at ironing.

With that being said, I got out my mini ironing board and typed into the search bar of Google, “How To Iron A Shirt.”

Of course, there were about 1,564,670 videos that came up showing results ranging in length from 1 minute to 5 minutes.

Could ironing a shirt really be that difficult?

I started to watch a video and proceeded with trying to iron the first of what looked like 15 shirts on my bed.

I was not very successful and after only the second shirt, I gave up in a feeling of frustration and defeat as I moved the shirts off their hangers into the dryer where I placed them on the cycle entitled, “dewrinkle.”

So, why am I sharing this story with you?

I share this story with you because as we continue to live out our lives, there are very real moments that we as individuals experience that involve feelings of exhaustion, defeat, panic, and stress over what might seem like the simplest of entities.

But while I felt defeat in the moment after attempting to iron, I also had a moment of clarity.

To me, a shirt that is wrinkled resembles imperfections about ourselves and life that are beautiful pieces who make up who we are.

The perfectly pressed shirt (to me) resembles the societal expectation that everyone must be perfectly crisp and clean 100% of the time which is not a reality.

The shirts with wrinkles in my closet display my true colors as a human who works hard to get through life, tries to make the right choices, and does their best to stand on two feet amongst the constant battles in life that try to knock us down.

Let the wrinkles show.

Embrace the imperfections.

Open the closet door of non perfectly pressed shirts that display your genuine human realness to those around you.

Stop finding yourself in the tide of waters that flow full of society’s expectations.

Go AGAINST the current and embrace YOU.

Wrinkles and all.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Isn’t it crazy how we are already coming to the end of March?!

That means that April…and hopefully Spring-like weather is right around the corner.

Currently, I’m wrapped in two blankets with a sniffy nose trying to breathe through my nostrils.

Mother Nature’s wrath is very real.

And I’m going to need her to send us some sunshine.

Now.

Like.

Right.

Now.

Kthanks.

So…Mother Nature…this cold.

Stop. It.

And that’s the theme of this week’s blog post.

Stop. It.

Buckle up.

Here we go.

I’m sure we have all had a moment in our lives where we had to travel through a thick, dense fog.

Your eyes squint to see what is ahead, you hit the brakes to slow down your car, and you turn your lights to a level in hopes of trying to create a path ahead of you that can be navigated safely.

It can be intense and scary.

Fog can cause intimidation…

Fog can cause anxiety…

For can cause fear…

Fog can cause confusion…

Fog can cause us to second guess ourselves…

Fog can cause things to change in the matter of seconds.

I’ve been experiencing what feels like a lot of fog lately, but not the kind that Mother Nature presents to us.

And while it may not be the fog that dictionary.com defines as “a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth’s surface which obscures or restricts visibility”–it is still a kind that can restrict the visibility.

It is still a kind that can cause the anxiety, the fear, the confusion, the second guessing.

The fog of negative self-talk.

STOP. IT.

The fog of feeling jealousy toward others.

STOP. IT.

The fog of comparing yourself to someone else in your life or that you see on social media.

STOP. IT.

The fog of thinking you are not enough.

STOP. IT.

The of thinking you are not beautiful enough.

STOP. IT.

The fog of thinking you are not rich enough.

STOP. IT.

The fog of thinking you are not popular enough.

STOP. IT.

The fog of thinking you need to fit society’s expectations and mold perfectly.

STOP. IT.

You ARE enough.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE unique.

You ARE special.

You ARE perfect in your own way.

Don’t let the fog of life obscure or restrict your own visibility of how truly amazing you are.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Here we are celebrating third week of March and also coming off the celebration of the first day of Spring!

And before I write more for you to read this week, I need to first say that my thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in Ukraine as they continue to fight for their Country in hopes of uniting in peace. I honestly can’t even begin to imagine having to fear for my life and safety every day, every minute, every second. I will continue to hope and pray that peace will be found.

Please continue to send prayers and love to all the people of Ukraine.

As I continue to wake up each day and roll out of bed…literally…roll out of bed, I continue to struggle with the images that I continue to see on my news feed.

Mostly, the pictures that I see of innocent civilians getting bombarded by violence, crying, and screaming for safety.

It hits me hard.

I said it for several weeks, but I honestly can’t imagine walking into my home and cuddling up in my blankets living in a fear of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

I don’t think anyone would deny that the world is currently in turmoil.

It is evident now–more than ever–that we need to reset and come back to feelings and stories of positive energy, kindness, good vibes, and love.

Humanity in the world among us is struggling, but it will never become any better if we don’t learn how to be HUMAN with each other.

How can YOU be more human in the coming days ahead?

Instead of leading with hate, lead with love.

Instead of asking the question, “How are you” to someone in your life, ask instead the question of “What is a way that I can support you in life right now?”

Share a smile with a stranger.

Strike up a conversation with a stranger at the grocery store.

Open the door for others.

Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru.

Donate to your favorite charity.

Offer to carry grocery bags for someone to their car.

Share appreciation with the workers around you who keep things moving.

Show sensitivity and empathy when engaging in conversation.

Listen to others.

Let somebody through in traffic.

Keep the elderly company.

Say please and thank you.

Admit when you’re wrong.

Celebrate the wins of others.

Plant a tree or some other form of greenery.

Honestly, the possibilities are endless.

Our world is struggling.

Our world is falling.

And we need to be there to catch it.

Be human with each other, please.

It doesn’t take much, but it effects will last a lifetime.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, hello there folks!

A very good Monday morning to you!

And welcome to official blog post #160!

But before I write more words, I need to first say that my thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in Ukraine as they continue to fight for their Country in hopes of uniting in peace. I honestly can’t even begin to imagine having to fear for my life and safety every day, every minute, every second. I will continue to hope and pray that peace will be found. Please continue to send prayers and love to all the people of Ukraine.

Well, time for this week’s words!

Cuddle up and get those eyes ready to read.

We are all a work in progress.

It’s the truth.

No one is perfect.

And I’m tired of the societal images trying to tell us that we need to be 100% every day, every minute, every second.

I call bullshit.

Because that ain’t realistic.

And it’s what gets us each in trouble because we forget how to be human, vulnerable, and honest with ourselves.

We forget to put ourselves first.

When was the last time you scrolled on social media and compared yourself to someone else’s pictures of perfection?

When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and let the negative talk take over?

When was the last time you had thoughts of not being perfect enough?

If you’re like me, you’ve answered “yes” to all of these questions at some point in life.

It’s time to take charge.

It’s time to stop the negative talk.

It’s time to start being honest with ourselves.

It’s time to enjoy another cup of self-love.

What exactly is self-love?

The dictionary defines it as:

-(Noun)-regard for one’s own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).

And on this 14th day of the month, I share with you 14 ways to embrace self-love with yourself today, tomorrow, and all the days after.

1. Take a moment each night before bed to write in a gratitude journal about something you are grateful for.
2. Be of service to someone in the community and volunteer.
3. Snuggle up with a blanket.
4. Watch your favorite Disney movie.
5. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and repeat the phrase, “I am enough.”
6. Hug yourself when you get out of bed.
7. Make yourself a hot fudge sundae or extra special sweet treat.
8. Smile.
9. Give someone a compliment.
10. Meditate and take deep breaths for 10-15 minutes each day.
11. Let go of comparison to others.
12. Dress up in your favorite outfit and put makeup on.
13. Turn your phone and email off for one hour each day.
14. Go for a walk, run, or do a workout with your favorite jams blasting in your ears.

And this is only just a little taste of practices that can help us embrace self-love.

Find your favorites and practice them daily.

Make it a ritual with yourself.

And share your rituals with those around you.

In a world that will continue to be draining, exhausting, and defeating at times, it is even more important than ever to be honest with ourselves, open our hearts, and be vulnerable with our souls as to what we need.

Don’t sell yourself short.

You are enough.

We could all use another cup of self-love.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!