Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Well, here we are experiencing yet another Monday of the quarantine months.

And while it doesn’t feel like it, the first day of Fall is officially on Tuesday! That means time for Pumpkin Spice everything.

And by everything…I actually mean…EVERYTHING.

Yes. I pulled out the all caps for that word. To give it the extra emphasis it needed to make my point.

And now that I said Pumpkin Spice and wrote the words, all that I want right now is a PSL in my hand…

So if you want to make me happy and earn extra points with Mr. Sunshine, bring me a PSL…

Please.

Kthanks.

Okies.

Time to officially move on to writing about this week’s blog topic.

Do you have your PSL? Your coffee? Your warm morning beverage and sweatshirt to cuddle with as the brisk breeze comes through the open windows?

Well good! Because, here we go!

The term silver lining is defined as the following:

-A sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation; a bright prospect.

Shootings.

Wildfires.

Natural disasters.

Violence.

Hatred.

Covid.

The list goes on and on.

There are so many things in this world around us that cause incredible fear, darkness, and uncertainty–entities that would definitely fall under the “unfortunate or gloomy situation” portion of the silver lining definition listen above that you just read.

I’m not sure how all of you feel, but I know for me there are days when it feels like a silver lining is out of reach–or frankly doesn’t even exist.

And for Mr. Sunshine, that is a heavy statement to write.

This past weekend, I got to be a part of the official installation service for Angela Hammer, who has become the official Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Penryn.

A monumental moment that hasn’t happened for our faith community in more than a decade–installing an official Pastor.

It was a silver lining.

The silver lining that restored some shine in my soul, light in my life, and faith in humanity.

Since the beginning of March, our faith community has been challenged to find ways to reach out to the surrounding world to uncover needs and to help meet those needs through creative ways of faith, love, kindness, and outreach.

This has been proven through our free food pantry outside the church building, homebuilt libraries at the church and surrounding community areas to encourage reading, discussions about social-challenging topics relevant to our daily lives, outdoor worship services, and multiple facets of educational resources for all ages via Zoom.

While I realize that religion is not everyone’s thing and that the church has gotten a “bad wrap” in the world–I promise you the community of faith at St. Paul Penryn is different.

We welcome ALL. We support ALL. And we find ways to meet the needs and be a beacon of hope to anyone regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or social status.

We are a safe place.

A silver lining for those who may have lost their faith in the church.

There is no doubt that the times we are living in are dark and challenging for every single human on this Earth.

Our faith community could be just the type of silver lining you are looking for in your life.

The silver lining YOU need.

Or the silver lining that someone else in your life needs.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve struggled with the fact that the Christmas Eve service this year (my favorite one to plan) will not look the same as year’s past.

It is something that I start to plan in the early months of Summer as I listen to music samples for the choir, play through piano solo pieces, and come up with a theme that brings it all together.

It has been a tough emotional journey to grasp the reality that all of that will look different on December 24, 2020.

But, on the flip side, it also presents the silver lining and opportunity to think outside the box in respect to making a meaningful worship experience for the entire community to enjoy on Christmas Eve–one early service that will take place indoors and one later service that will take place outdoors.

How can you be a part of this silver lining?

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be looking for individuals who are willing to be a part of the service (one or both) in regards to special music whether it be via an instrument or voice.

Want to be a part of this experience? Please, please, PLEASE reach out to me and let me know. There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved even if you are not musical.

Our faith community has an opportunity to create a silver lining with our Christmas Eve traditions this year for a world that is in great need of hope and light.

With the Fall season happening this week (tomorrow if you are reading this on Monday), the phrase and motto “turn over a new leaf” often gets thrown around.

So, please turn over that new leaf in your life and help our faith community meet the needs of the surrounding world by creating a silver lining that can be experienced and enjoyed by ALL.

Helping to create a silver lining for others could be silver lining you need.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks.

It’s funny because the title of this week’s blog post came to me randomly after watching a remake of Cinderella on Disney+—and the remake I’m talking about is the one with Lily James and Cate Blanchett…the costumes in that version are STUNNING. To die for, actually. Gorg.

And now, as I sit here on my couch after returning from a week on vacation at the beach, I struggle trying to find the right words to type.

While a vacation during the times of Covid definitely had a different look to them this year, there was one thing that still remained the same.

Time away while being accompanied by sand, water, and sunshine always allows me a chance to relax, renew, rejuvenate, and RESET.

I don’t know what it is about the atmosphere, but it always allows me to put so much into perspective while being tanned by the Vitamin D of sunshine.

And I mean tanned. I wear tanning lotion (an SPF of 15 and different from sunscreen), which I know is not healthy or good for my skin, but that’s a debate for another day. Mmmbyeee.

There is no agenda, no panic to answer emails within a 24 hour period, and no alarm to wake you up from the deep slumber under the covers.

But a week without all of these above things and pressures flooding your life, also comes the flipside of it too—the extra time for your mind to wander.

A wandering mind is not a new concept to me. It happens multiple times throughout the week and quite often, it results in me waking up and not being able to fall back to sleep.

So, what do I do?

Well, BREAKING NEWS—I take to the crutch known as social media.

Shocker.

This damn crutch glues me to scrolling for what feels like hours through multiple profiles of people (some I don’t even know) staring at filtered photo perfection of the latest and greatest in terms of the engagements, bodies, and homes.

Which means as I scroll, the emotions of not feeling good enough and comparison start to flood in as well.

Like, as I sit here writing this, I’m literally looking at area rugs for the living room because I feel like the one I have right now is outdated and just isn’t cool or stylish.

Like, why?

Why am I subjecting myself to these kinds of thoughts and pressure?

Having the latest and greatest is not me nor will it ever be.

I go in and out with feeling these emotions and while I’m still learning on how to not let these thoughts overtake me and react personally to things, there are still moments when I feel like the waves are crashing and pulling me in with the strong current.

And now that I’m back from vacation, life for me until the end of the year will be go, go GO.

Which means that it will be super critical for me to focus and not let my mind wander or let these emotions creep in while also continuing to give myself grace in the fact that I’m not perfect.

Right before I left for vacation, I had a very negative interaction with an individual in my life that I took personally and used emotion of great proportion in my reaction.

It was the icing on the cake to notify me that it was time to RESET.

And with how busy the next couple of months are going to be, especially with the finalization of material and details for my January 4th reveal, a time of reset for Mr. Sunshine will be an even more critical component in my daily life.

And how do I reset/what are my go to entities in doing so?

Well, I’m SO glad you asked because I’m going to share 5 of them right now with you.

1. Dance party in my living room. I put on a playlist of my favorite songs and literally dance in the living room to them while lip syncing the lyrics or singing out loud depending on how much of a happy energy I need. Some of the songs on this list include: Firework by Katy Perry, Shut Up And Dance With Me by Walk The Moon, and You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray. Do you have any go to songs to dance out to when you need that extra jolt of energy? Let’s have a dance party without a care in the world!
2. Adult coloring books. While at the beach, I was reconnected with how much I enjoy coloring. It is such a therapeutic action that brings out the creative juices in my soul. Blocking out some time in each day for coloring is something that will be happening in the near future.
3. Hallmark movies. Yes, seriously. Hallmark movies. While we know that the plot line for them is always the same—(beautiful girl moves to new town, hot man swoops in to save the day, they fall in love and get married…etc, etc)—I can’t stop watching them. I watched several on vacation that I absolutely loved and I will be figuring out how I can access them since I do not have cable because I need them in my life. NEED THEM.
4. Running/working out. We all know how much I love running and for me, there isn’t anything quite like the feeling I get when I’m taking the Carrie legs out for some pounding pavement miles. When I run, nothing else exists and all the toxins (physical and emotional) are just released from my body into the air to start anew. And working out with my personal trainer, Zach, is just another aspect that makes me feel so good both physically and mentally because it helps me knock out the negative energy that I’m feeling in the moment. And leg day is still my FAVE day.
5. Ice cream. All of us have a guilty pleasure junk food item that we go to when we need that time to reset and just hug a carton of Ben & Jerry’s. And while society tells us that guilty pleasure eating is not something we should do, I say SCREW them! If I want to eat some ice cream straight from the carton because it makes me feel good and helps me to reset myself, I’m going to do it. They do in the rom coms, so that makes it ok. Duh.

As we continue to move forward with living out quarantine in an isolation status more than we normally would, it is so important that we keep checks and balances on our mental health while also allowing ourselves time to relax, renew, rejuvenate, and RESET.

Listen to your body and find the ways that help you to RESET. And don’t be embarrassed to ask for help if you need it. Sometimes, an extra shoulder to lean and cry on or talk to is just what we need to feel better and cope with what is happening in life.

The world continues to be a scary place and one that brings up constant emotions of uncertainty, fear, and panic.

But please, don’t forget…

Have courage, be kind, and reset.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, folks.

Here we are.

Yet another Monday during this quarantine pandemic.

I think we are in month 6? But I can’t confirm.

Can anyone out there tell me?

All the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes–even seconds–just seem to muddle all together anymore.

Is muddle even a word? Did I use it correctly?

I just went online to look up the definition and it would appear that I did use it properly, so yay me! This is why English was always my favorite subject I guess.

Muddle:

VERB

–Bring into a disordered or confusing state.

I would say that the pandemic has done a great job of muddling everything in our lives.

Wouldn’t you agree?

But amidst all of the muddling, I also believe that the pandemic has put several things into a very clear perspective as well.

I’m not sure if it was the fact that I celebrated my 33rd year of life on Earth this past week, but something really got me emotional receiving all of the love via social media posts and messages, phone calls, texts, and photos of past times.

It was overwhelming and beautiful.

Also…fun fact side note…I’m not a huge fan of celebrating my birthday–I enjoy more of the low key celebrations with people I love.

Regardless, all of the love and support was beautiful.

And one of the things that this year’s love and support received on my special day put into perspective for me is how humbled and grateful I am to have such amazing people in my life (both family and friends) supporting me through thick and thin with undying and overflowing love no matter what the circumstance.

I wear the title and nickname of “Mr. Sunshine” very proudly throughout my daily life. I take it seriously and work advocate for advocate for things that emulate the entities of love and kindness. I thrive on wanting to help others and will often whatever in my power to make that happen. It’s how I was raised and how I will continue to live out all the remaining years of my life.

If I can work to make positive change around me and spread just a small glimmer of hope and light to another person, than I’ve accomplished my ultimate goal.

And if I can encourage others around me to do the same, well then…that’s just the icing on the cake!

Speaking or cake, I could REALLY go for a piece right now. YUM!

But I digress.

This pandemic has certainly taken a toll on all of us in multiple areas and perspectives of our lives. For me personally, it has challenged me mentally, especially with the task of working from home for both my full time and part time jobs. There are moments when I get so sick of starting at the same walls that I just scream out loud. There are times when I get so frustrated that I just close my eyes and wish for a magic wand to appear that can just take us back to the days when none of this existed.

However, on the flip side, this pandemic has also put into perspective how thankful I am for my health, my career, and the fact that I still have the opportunity to continue working when so many are without work or still trying to pick up the pieces and figure it all out.

33 is going to be one of my biggest years yet and when January 4th, 2021 arrives, you will know why. It will be challenging to the max. It will test me emotionally, physically, and mentally.

But I couldn’t be more excited to share my passion with you all while also working to try and accomplish the task of creative positive change and bringing some much needed sunshine and light into the the world as well, especially in these troubling times that we are experiencing. I’m hoping that the release of my newest “mission” will be a refreshing reprieve from the negative news that seems to consume our lives on the daily.

I hope you are as excited as I am.

The world needs sunshine, hope, love, and kindness.

And while we continue to be consumed with the negative energy of the world events around us, remember to step back and take a few moments to put things into perspective.

Think about the things you are grateful for. Writem them down. Make a list where you can see it. Make a note on your phone. Put the list wherever you find it easily.

In times of chaos, look to them as a reminder to bring you back to Earth. To reset yourself. To recharge and move forward without missing a beat.

Think about the people in your life who mean the most to you. The ones you crave connection with and appreciate spending time with. And take a moment or two to let them know that.

Give the world the love, sunshine, light, and kindness it needs.

And circle your calendar for January 4th, 2021.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been labeled as the “eternal optimist.” The one who tries to see the positive in any situation no matter what. Oh, and I’m gay. Yes, I like men. I am loud, proud, and always ready to show off my true colors to the world. And even though we are living in the 21st century, the year 2018, there are still people that are bothered by the fact that individuals can have feelings for those of the same sex. Of course, being a homosexual is not the only thing that defines me…by any means. I love Disney princess movies and romantic comedies that can make me cry. I have seen every episode of The Golden Girls at least 10 times and can recite almost every single line. I’ve been playing the piano since the first grade and still hate playing chopsticks as much as I did 20 years ago. I have a mom, dad, and older brother who have always taught me to put others first and to be kind to all. I love to color, wear tanning lotion when I go running outside in the sun, and can listen to Katy Perry’s Firework on repeat for hours on end.

Cause’ baby you’re a firework, come on let your colors burst…YAHS…sing it with me. Sorry…I just love that song. I digress. Let me tell you how I let my colors burst. I came out of the closet in the spring of my junior year of high school in 2005. At that time, it was not something socially accepted, especially in a community that was very conservative. I remember telling several of my friends who were extremely supportive, but not surprised in the least–they were just waiting for me to express my true colors. I also remember coming out to the boy in show choir/concert choir/the school musicals that I had a huge crush on. He was playing the piano in the school hallway before rehearsal one afternoon and I went to sit with him on the bench. I told him that I was gay and that I had a huge crush on him. He gave me the biggest hug and literally pulled me up off the piano bench. I’ll never forget that moment. Needless to say, that never turned into anything and I have not heard from that individual in more than 10 years.

I wanted to keep my sexuality a secret from my family until college because I just wasn’t sure how they would react. They ended up finding out in a way that I never dreamed would occur (an email communication I had with a fellow classmate) and it presented me with some very difficult struggles during my senior year and final summer before moving to college. I remember Freshman year of college being a bit rough at first because of the dis-connect that I had with my parents before leaving that summer; however, I will always be forever grateful to The Singing Lions show choir group that allowed me to be myself and fully supported and loved me through all 4 years. Ultimately, my parents and I had a sit down conversation the summer after my first year of college that involved watching a documentary called, For The Bible Tells Me So. This was an eye opening exploration of the intersection between religion and homosexuality in the U.S. and how the religious right has used its interpretation of the Bible to stigmatize the gay community. After watching it, my parents and I had a mini Q&A session to understand each other’s perspectives and feelings. Today, my parents are fully supportive and I couldn’t love them more. They have provided me with such guidance, support, and love that I try to pass along to others I meet in community. There are still days that I get stared at, judged, or called faggot. Through it all, I come out even more loud and proud than before.

It pains me to think how many individuals in this world are afraid to be themselves because of the social stigmas that are present in society. One thing I learned is that you are NEVER alone and that your true tribe of friends, family, and supporters will love you through it all. Follow me on Instagram @mrsunshine827 Check back every Monday for new blog posts! Sprinkle sunshine always, JP!

It is currently Sunday morning around 11am and I’m sitting in a comfy recliner at my parents’ house with the windows open and the feeling of the fresh, cool breeze flowing over my body as I sip the coffee from the McDonald’s drive-thru I had purchased prior to our 10am church service.

It felt weird because the night before would’ve been our annual church community picnic, which has been one of my favorite Summer traditions for more than a decade. So, the dipping of ice cream, indulging in home-made baked goods, eating multiple hot dogs and hamburgers, relishing in the classic music from The Malta Band, and enjoying the fellowship of community as we reminisce about Summer memories past, present, and future will just have to wait until next year.

Or, so we can hope.

And while this is one thing that made me very sad, there are multiple entities happening in my life that I’m super excited about and can’t wait to share with you all! But some of those will have to wait.

Anyhoo, I digress.

There are days where it is really hard to stay positive, especially with all the negativity, hatred, violence, and everything in between that brings about clouds of darkness to our lives that loom over our head.

So, this week I promise you some fun, smiles, and positive energy!

This is my 93rd blog post since I started this endeavor two years ago and I’m currently in my last two weeks of being 32. So, take 93 minus 32 and you get 61…which means…

…This week is going to be 61 random, run facts about myself that you may or may not already know!

Are you ready?!

Buckle up, keep your arms and legs in the car at all times, and prepare for some rapid fire fun fact bullet points!

61 of them to be exact!

HERE. WE. GO.

1. I have 35 pairs of shoes that does not include flip flops or slippers.
2. During quarantine, I continue to put foundation on my face and non workout clothes even though I’m working from home.
3. My favorite childhood game was Candy Land. I own it now as an adult and my favorite character is still Queen Frostine.
4. I prefer Dairy Queen ice cream cakes over any other type of ice cream cake because there is fudge in the middle with the cookie crumble.
5. My favorite episode of I Love Lucy is “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” with her crazy antics trying out Vitameatavegamin as a medicine. “Are you unpoopular? Do you pop out at parties?” Classic.
6. Breakfast is a meal that is a struggle for me to eat everyday, but I love breakfast foods for lunch and dinner.
7. I get a kick out of watching TV news bloopers on YouTube if I need something random to laugh at and de-stress.
8. I had a car accident at age 16 right after getting my license because I thought the intersection had a four way stop.
9. My favorite episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show is “Chuckles Bites The Dust” and even though it is from the 70’s, it still cracks me up to tears. It is brilliant acting at its best.
10. I love Mayo so much that sometimes I will just spread it on bread and eat it.
11. Dusting is a chore that I find frustrating because it gets dirty seconds after you do it. LITERALLY SECONDS.
12. I love washing dishes by hand. I find it therapeutic.
13. I don’t like sleeping in sheets…or in my bed. I like the couch.
14. My favorite movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz.
15. The aisles that give me the most anxiety at the grocery store are the toothpaste and cereal aisle because there are too many choices.
16. I’ve been involved with 27 different productions both on and off the stage at The Ephrata Performing Arts Center. I can’t pick a favorite because all of them have a special place in my heart for specific reasons.
17. My favorite game show is Wheel of Fortune and I have submitted multiple applications to be a contestant. Still waiting for my big break.
18. My favorite hymn to sing in church is “How Great Thou Art.”
19. Katy Perry’s “Firework” is still my favorite song. I love singing to it and dancing to it. It can always bring me out of a funk.
20. My favorite White Claw and Truly flavor is black cherry.
21. Speaking of cherries, I do not like them, so I never want them on top of my sundaes.
22. I like to have spoonfuls of Cool Whip some nights without any ice cream.
23. My favorite Bath & Body Works scent in a candle, a lotion, and a wallflower is Sweater Weather.
24. I prefer Wawa hot coffee over Sheetz hot coffee.
25. I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee over any other kind of iced coffee.
26. My favorite soda is Dr. Pepper and I currently have an unopened 12 pack in my kitchen.
27. I do not like thunderstorms. They terrify me.
28. I do not have a green thumb…like, at all. But I will water your flowers if needed.
29. I have watched The Golden Girls so many times, but I never get sick of them. They make me laugh uncontrollably. I’m also Rose to a T.
30. My favorite roller coaster at HersheyPark is The Great Bear.
31. One of my favorite meals to eat is meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
32. Growing up, I used to get Barney the Dinosaur on my birthday cakes.
33. I can’t wait for the new Katy Perry album to be released on August 28th.
34. I can’t wait for Carrie Underwood’s FIRST EVER Christmas album on September 25th.
35. Betty White is one of my role models to continue being an eternal optimist.
36. My favorite school subject growing up was English.
37. My least favorite school subject growing up was a tie between math and science.
38. I want to play in the pit for a musical at a theater some day since I still have not yet done that.
39. One of my favorite spots to run is the Warwick Middle School because it is peaceful, has hurdles that I can put out to jump, and pretty sunsets that I can witness during the evening.
40. When I make macaroni and cheese, I want it made with a cheese sauce as opposed to a cheese powder.
41. One of my favorite songs to play on the piano is “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman.
42. My favorite candy to eat is Sour Patch Kids.
43. I love legs and want legs like Carrie Underwood. #carrielegs
44. I shave my legs during the Summer months.
45. I drink about a gallon of chocolate milk every week.
46. I like sweet wine, not dry.
47. I still write paper checks for my mortgage on a monthly basis.
48. My favorite ice cream flavor is Black Raspberry.
49. My dream job is being a game show or talk show host or sitcom star.
50. I’m terrified of alligators/crocodiles.
51. When I started training with my personal trainer, Zach back in 2017, I weighed 135 lbs and 3 years later, I weigh 158lbs.
52. My favorite Disney princesses are a tie between Belle, Rapunzel, and Mulan.
53. I keep an old-fashioned planner where I write everything down and color code every single thing.
54. One of my favorite acceptance speeches is Sandra Bullock’s 2010 Best Actress at The Oscars.
55. I have to start everyday with shaving my face; otherwise, my day ends up being out of whack.
56. I don’t like riding in elevators, flying in planes, or being in a Ferris wheel.
57. I really miss Push Up pops. They were one of my favorite ice cream treats growing up as a kid. The packaging always had one of the characters from The Flintstones on it. Does anyone else remember these?
58. One of my favorite traditions at Christmas is to watch the Christmas episode of Alf on VHS. My parents have it taped from years ago and it still is one to this day that warms my heart and even makes me cry.
59. My favorite game on The Price is Right is Plinko.
60. My favorite flavor of Pop Tarts is blueberry.

AND…

…last but not least…

…It is time for number 61!

61. 2021 is gearing up to be my BIGGEST year for efforts to change the world and I CAN’T WAIT to share it with you all.

Well, folks. There you have it.

61 rapid fire fun fact bullet points about me.

Hope you enjoyed this 93rd blog post as I get set to enjoy the last two weeks of being a 32 year-old.

Until next week, be kind to all.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, friends!

Yet another week of quarantine has come to an end and another one is beginning.

And how crazy for the fact that we are entering the month of August?! Like, is that even possible?

I always thought that the Summer months went quickly; however, during a pandemic, it seems that they go even faster.

I would assume I’m not in the minority on this feeling, right?

Well, it’s time to get to this week’s post. Have you grabbed your favorite morning beverage to keep you company while you read?!

How many of you have ever had a dream so vivid during the night that when you wake up, you have to do a double take to make sure it didn’t actually happen.

Show of hands…yes?

These types of dreams are usually the ones that force me to wake up in a cold sweat, ready to scream, and panting because my heart is pounding.

I had one of those dreams this past week and it was so vivid and real that when I woke up, I had to walk around the house to clear my head and tell myself that it hadn’t actually happened.

In the dream, I was standing outside the back building of Bomberger’s, which is a hardware store that is located off of 501 about a mile down from my parents’ house in Lititz.

As I was standing there, I saw a red Ford Mustang drive by at a very high rate of speed passing cars as it made its way up the hill past High Sports and United Zion Retirement Community.

Suddenly, my eyes were glued on the same red Ford Mustang, but this time it was not speeding. It had gone airborne and was in the sky doing a 360 as it took flight before crashing back to the ground in what ended as a fiery blast of smoke similar to the that of the Wicked Witch of the West when she makes her first appearance in Munchkinland during The Wizard of Oz.

The ground shook due to the explosion and my eyes were glued to the fire ball that had erupted into the sky.

And then, just like the chain reaction of a domino hitting another domino, buildings started to fall and huge billows of smoke and debri started to fill the sky and make its way toward me as I stood at the back wall by Bomberger’s.

I tried to run as fast as I could to find cover before the clouds engulfed me, but I kept falling and for some reason, I was not able to move fast. It was almost as if I was stuck in a field of molasses.

In just seconds, the clouds of smoke engulfed me and I was swept away in the strong wind and debris–just like an astronaut floating aimlessly in Outer Space.

And then…

BOOM.

I shot up on the couch in a cold sweat (because I love sleeping there and not in a bed), threw off my blanket, and tried to catch my breath from the pounding heartbeat I was experiencing.

It seemed all too real.

I walked to the kitchen where I poured myself a glass of water and just stood there for a few minutes trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Any dream interpreters out there want to tackle this one?

As I made my way back to the couch, I laid quietly and stared at the ceiling.

I was wide awake and did not see myself falling back asleep anytime soon.

Regardless of what the dream books and online details tell me about what this dream meant, here is what I took away from it.

The world is a mess. The red mustang symbolized how out of control everything seems to be right now and the chaos that it created with its crash, fire burst, and clouds of smoke were symbolizing (to me) that the world is trying to engulf us all with its chaos and darkness.

I view the fact that I woke up once the clouds of smoke surrounded me as a sign that I want to fight.

I want to fight the darkness with light. I do not want to be engulfed by the world and its chaos.

I’m tired of seeing all the negative energy overtake our lives and want to combat it with the rays of Mr. Sunshine.

And…

FLASHBACK.

2019 was a crazy year. I embarked on a 1000 mile running journey to raise $10,000 for pediatric cancer research. And, and the end of the year, I finished with 1001 miles clocked and $18,295.37 raised.

It was an insanely emotional and powerful undertaking that pushed me beyond boundaries and challenges that I never experienced before.

2020 has been pretty crappy.

Well, let’s just say it.

It’s been shitty.

While I’ve taken a majority of the year to rest my legs from the world of running, I’ve discovered that I have moments of not feeling like myself if I’m not doing something to help others. I don’t feel as fulfilled if there isn’t an end goal of trying to achieve something that assists in changing the world.

This past weekend, I got to spend time with a local family at their home. This family suffered a huge trauma back in 2011 that still leaves a string of heartache in their lives. I enjoyed getting to know more about the family and just delighted being in their company, especially their children, Julia and Matthew. The smiles that I saw on their faces during the few hours I got to be with them was perfection. Not only did it bring joy to my soul, but it was the icing on the cake.

The icing on the cake to solidify and start the final preparation for my latest and greatest challenge to take on changing the world to bring some positive energy, love, kindness, and sunshine to all.

So, the let the countdown begin to 2021 and another year of sunshine.

ARE. YOU. READY.

All will be revealed on Monday, January 4th, so circle the date on your calendar now because in true Mr. Sunshine fashion like previous years, I’ll reveal via social media all the details of the project.

But until then, it is HUSH, HUSH.

Which means, you can’t and won’t get it out of me.

But for now, I leave you with this.

I’m ready to see the world SMILE again. (See below for the song that will end up being the theme song for this project).

And I’m going to do just that.

So, get ready.

Bring on January 4, 2021.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Another week is in the books! And we are now officially starting the last full week of July! Where is the time going?!

That means that the dogs days of Summer in August are right around the corner!

Anyone else have an air conditioner system that has gotten no break since the 1st of this month?!

Can’t wait to get the bill for that one in the mail. Anyone want to place The Price is Right to guess on how much that one is going to be?!

Mmmbyeee.

Anyhoo, it’s time to get to this week’s post!

So, grab your favorite beverage and get cozy!

Dictionary.com defines the word ‘faith’ as the below:

Noun
1. Confidence or trust in a person or thing.
2. Belief that is not based on proof.
3. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.
4. Belief in anything.
5. A system of religious belief.
6. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.
7.The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one’s promise, oath, etc.
8. Christian theology. The trust in God and His promises as made through Christ and the scriptures by which humans are justified and saved.

So many definitions.

So many different ways to describe faith.

So many ways to have and experience faith.

I know faith for me personally has been something tested quite heavily, especially throughout this pandemic.

Anyone else?

For as long as I can remember, the church was a place that has always been important to me. I grew up with my family taking my brother and I to Sunday morning services and participating in Sunday school classes as well as youth group activities.

It was a big part of my childhood and continues to be a big part of my adulthood.

In fact, it is an integral part of my life that I would be lost without.

And while I know that religion might not be everyone’s thing and that there are entities out there that give it bad publicity, I intend to share a special moment of faith that I got to witness last evening.

I started attending St. Paul Lutheran Church in Penryn back in 1994. It is crazy to think that I’ve been there for 26 years and filled the position of Music Director for more than a decade.

I’ve witnessed the church go through it’s roller coaster ride of emotions, membership, and leadership since attending.

However, in a time when everything around us seems to be uncertain, faltering, and testing our faith, there is one thing that I’m 100% sure about.

And that is the fact that Angela Hammer was called to us at St. Paul Penryn for a very specific reason.

I first got to meet Angela (or should I say Angie) back in 2017 and as the phrase goes–as cliche as it might sound–the rest is history. I connected with her instantly and could see the passion and faith that was in her soul given to her by the Spirit.

I’ve had many emotional moments during my time since 1994–some of which involved crying for the fact that I thought we might have to close our doors. The church is like a second home to me and I can’t imagine what I would do without it’s support, love, and connection.

Angie has gotten us to look inside ourselves and deepend our faith as we continue our journey as a faith community to show that small church can in fact make BIG differences.

So, watch out because St. Paul Penryn isn’t going anywhere and if you were one of the doubters who thought we wouldn’t be standing here today, shame on you.

In a time when everything around us seems to be uncertain, faltering, and testing our faith, there is one thing that I’m 100% sure about.

And that is the fact that Angela Hammer is to be here at St. Paul Penryn as we continue to make a difference and stand tall amongst a world full of darkness.

We are the light and we are ready to let it shine.

I had the amazing opportunity last evening to be a witness to Angela’s official ordination service while also presiding as the lead musician.

It was hot, emotional, and full of faith.

As I watched her walk in with all the official church Synod leaders after I finished playing through Rainbow Connection, I could see the tears in her eyes streaming from her face behind the mask she was wearing.

We locked eyes and I also began to cry. It was another defining moment for me. Another defining moment in my heart telling me Angela is here to guide and lead us for a reason. It has been more than a decade (almost two decades if not more) since we’ve called an official Pastor at St. Paul Penryn!

And I for one couldn’t more excited for the future and possibilities that await.

I might not know what the future holds and while my faith may continue to be tested on the daily as we live out this pandemic, I can tell you that I have 100% faith in Pastor Angela Hammer for guiding the congregation of Penryn to exciting new possibilities of ministry for the surrounding community.

All are welcome. Come as you are.

I hope to see you in some way, shape, or form with our family faith community in the very near future as Pastor Angela Hammer leads us with her knowledge, passion, and faith!

I encourage you to the check out our Facebook page and our website to learn more!

https://www.stpaulpenryn.org/

Sprinkle sunshine always.

JP!

Well, here we are. Yet another week of July is starting. How is it possible that we are already looking at the month of August beginning in just 12 days?

I’ve always been someone who has believed that the season of Summer just flies by; however, it seems like it flies by even faster amidst a pandemic.

Anyone else feeling this or is it just me?

Well, regardless of how fast it seems to be going, it’s time to get to this week’s post.

So, grab your favorite morning side-kick beverage and get comfy because we are going to delve deep into the word of joy.

When looking up the definition of joy, I found the following:

NOUN:
-a feeling of great pleasure and happiness

While I will be the first to admit that experiencing this definition has been difficult throughout the pandemic of COVID-19, I will also be the first to admit that I’ll be DAMNED if I let it take away my joy.

Kathie Lee Gifford once said the following, which is a quote that I find resonating with me deep down recently:

“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”

Stop.

Pause.

Think about that quote.

Let me write it again, so that you can really let it sink in.

“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”

Now, more than ever, it is so important for us all to step back, examine our lives, and figure out what our joy is.

As the title of this blog says, my joy is NONNEGIOTAIBLE.

My joy is…

-Helping customers across the United States navigate a pandemic in regards to restaurant equipment and supplies needed to sustain their business and safety of all. These business are the livelihood and in some cases, helping them to save money and figure out new ways to survive in a world of unknown is priceless.

-Giving customer service representatives feedback in regards to their work to help them give service that exceeds the expectations of all customers.

-Sharing music on social media that allows people to identify emotions, feel emotions, and experience emotions.

-Eating lunch with my parents after virtual church on Sunday mornings and being able to catch up on the happenings of our lives, talk about anything and everything, and to laugh.

-Spending a night alone with some wine and episodes of The Golden Girls.

-Spending quality time with friends whom I love to enjoy each other’s company and love life despite the circumstances.

-Spending time planning the next “change the world” task for Mr. Sunshine to undertake in the new year. Why yes, that IS happening in 2021. Any guesses?

What is joy to you?

Do you know when to say “no” to people or tasks in your life because you are fully aware of the entities that you want to spend time on because they are the ones that bring you joy?

Being in this quarantine state for the past 5 months has really made me reflect on lots of different aspects of my life.

But one thing that I’m 110% sure about with no doubt in my mind are the aspects that bring me joy.

And what’s even more clear to me is the action of saying “no” to the aspects of life that don’t bring about that feeling of joy in my soul.

My joy is nonnegotiable.

So, don’t try to take it away from me.

Because you won’t.

You can’t.

It lives in my soul like a fire that ignites the passion of change in the entire world around me. The entire community of individuals who make up our families, our friends, our community, and our world.

My joy is nonnegotiable.

How does the definition of joy fill your soul?

Stop.

Pause.

Think.

“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, friends!

I do believe it is a Monday? Are you able to confirm? It still boggles my mind that we are now entering the second week of July.

To me, it doesn’t feel like half the Summer is already gone. It doesn’t even feel like Summer has started.

Are any of you able to confirm this too?

To be 100% honest, it doesn’t even feel like 2020 has been real. There are still moments where I feel like I’m in a dream and that I will eventually wake up and everything will be back to normal.

This past Friday, Katy Perry released a new song entitled Smile. I will share the link to the song on YouTube at the end of this post, but the lyrics and tune are so catchy…and relevant to how we ourselves might be feeling with all that is happening. It is definitely a song that will earn a spot on the Mr. Sunshine playlist of songs that bring out the best in me.

And it is one that reminds us that we need to find the light and smile.

Anyhoo, I’m getting a bit sidetracked, which should not be breaking news to any of you reading this.

About 5 months ago, a lot of us entered into unchartered waters with an intense pandemic that is more commonly known as COVID-19.

For me, it has made staring at walls 6 or 7 days a week become the new norm, late-night grocery trips with my headphones and store list non-existent, and emotions of mental exhaustion more common.

It has changed several entities of life for me, for you, and for our world.

More recently, I’ve seen feelings of anxiety rise in my life because of the fact that it’s hard to know what to believe and who to trust with all of the information that gets thrown into our faces on the daily.

I’ve found that saying something or sharing my beliefs can cause anger in others, but on the flip side of that, I’ve also found that not saying anything can cause anger in others too. It seems to be a no-win situation no matter what way the cake is sliced.

But one thing that has not changed for me throughout all of this craziness is the passion I have for the moral of being kind to one another that I was so strongly raised upon growing up.

It is a moral that I strive to live out on the daily and display through different facets of my life, especially with the persona of Mr. Sunshine that I wear proudly on my sleeve.

This week, the goal of this post is to share 3 things that I have done during this quarantine to display being kind to one another. They are super simple, cost very few dollars (if any at all), and are something that I hope and pray all of you will try at some point in the near future because kindness and love are entities that our world could really use right now.

#1: Pay For The Person Behind You
-With the fact that more and more people are utilizing drive-thru service right now, this act is easy to undertake and always brings about a smile that beams from side to side on my face…and often times the beneficiary behind me. Seeing able to witness the joy and elation in the side-view mirror of that unsuspecting individual behind me is always something that makes me beam from ear to ear without fail. I can’t wait for you to try it!

#2: Take Your Favorite Quote, Write It In A Card, & Send To Someone Special
-This is one that has proven to be very rewarding, especially with getting the chance to be creative with the quotes that I find. Having connection with others, especially now is so important and being able to do this with those that are special to us can bring out some of the most rewarding feelings in our soul, so don’t waste another moment and start writing! Get your favorite quotes and make the note personalized and fun. The sky is the limit!

#3: Send A Text, Email, Message, or Small Token/Trinket To Let Someone Know You Appreciate Them And Are Thinking About Them
-While this one might seem super obvious, it is something that I think we often let slip through the cracks because we become bogged down with what is happening in our lives that we forget to reach out to those who really mean the most to us in life. Trust me, the feeling of joy that this will bring you is like none other. Go through your phone contacts and pick out a few people for each day, week, or month to send some special thoughts too.

Our world needs kindness. Our world needs love. Our world is in a scary place right now and it is up to each and every one of us to be the beacons of light that shine on for each other.

We need connection from each other now more than ever.

We need the love from each other now more than ever.

If there is one thing that I hope you will do after reading this post, it’s this:

Sit down and take action on some of the three things that I’ve just written about and mentioned to you above. Or, come up with your own creative ways to display the moral of being kind to one another.

I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t scared for our world.

But the fire of passion in my soul to try and light your souls to do good still burns.

And I’ll be damned if anyone tries to put that fire out and keep it from burning.

Be kind to one another.

Love each other.

Hard.

110%.

No exceptions.

Please.

That’s all.

Amen.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Exhausted.

Drained.

Lost.

Defeated.

Fearful.

What do all these words have in common?

They are all words that have creeped into my vocabulary since the beginning of the pandemic, but have found their way into my brain more frequently over the past couple of weeks.

Anyone else? Or am I in the minority on this?

Did anyone else feel like this past weekend was not really the 4th of July? I don’t know about you, but there was just something missing that didn’t feel the same as years past when I got to witness the fireworks bursting in the sky around me.

As we continue to move through 2020…which by the way is now at the halfway point…it saddens me greatly that the people of this country continue to get more and more polarized. No matter what political affiliation you identify with, what religious background you come from, whom you love in your life, the color of your skin, or social status and amount of money you have access to, it seems that we keep getting further away from working together to find common ground and work toward solutions for the issues that face us both now in the present and also the future.

There are days when I think that this is all a dream and that if I open my eyes, and click my heels three times, it will all be normal again. If I could travel down the Yellow Brick Road, through the haunted forest, defeat the Wicked Witch of The West (which fun fact still scares me at 32) to see the great and powerful Oz, I would ask him to take us back to the days where we were free from a pandemic. I would ask for the days where it seemed like we were more open to loving others and displaying kindness through random acts on the daily.

For someone whom is nicknamed Mr. Sunshine, the current times and state of the world can be difficult. There are moments where I want to shut down completely, scream, cry, and take the optimism attitude and kick it as far away as possible.

I’m tested and challenged on the daily with these above feelings.

And these days, it is not uncommon for me to be asked the questions of “how do you stay so optimistic and positive” or “how do you keep a smile on your face?”

While I will be the first to admit that some days recently have been incredibly hard to keep that smile alive, there are a few, simple secrets that I will share with you now on how I personally keep the sunshine alive and the laughter flowing.

Are you ready? Do you have your morning beverage sidekick with you?

Well, read on!

#1: Betty White Is My Spirit Animal

About three and a half years ago, Katie Couric interviewed my spirit animal, Betty White in regards to the current state of the Country. It is a piece of material that I still find relevant today and I would encourage you to stop reading my blog for just two minutes and watch the below clip. You can pick up reading my blog on the other side…

If, after watching this clip, you can’t figure out why Betty White is my spirit animal, then I might ask you to get your noggin checked out…just kidding…kind of…sort of…not really.

Are you guilty of saying “I hate this” and “I hate that?” Those of you who know me and read my “About Me” section on this blog know that I do my best to not say “I hate” and always try to replace it with “I dislike very much.” As you go about your daily lives, I would like to challenge you to be a LOVER and not a HATER. Show LOVE by sharing a smile with a stranger on the street. Show LOVE by sending a note of appreciation to someone in your life. Show LOVE by seeking to understand someone else’s view point about a controversial topic by truly listening without judgment and open ears.

#2: Ellen DeGeneres And Playing Speak Out

I’m not sure if any of you have ever played this game, but it is super fun…unless you have sensitive gums…because then it can really hurt…like a lot. But it brings out so many laughs and we all know that laughter IS the best medicine. The below clip is one that I watch when I need a good chuckle, so I hope you can find that same level of laughter as well.

#3: 22 Musicals In 12 Minutes

We all know that I love Broadway musicals and knowing all of my artist friends and arts community are going through some of the toughest times of their lives makes me deeply saddened. This clip is one that gives me hope and really displays how creative some of my favorite celebrities can be with just a few props. And it makes me beam from ear to ear!

#4: You Will Be Found

This clip came out about 3 months ago when the pandemic started and to this day, it still fills me up with hope that we will come out of this stronger and that we are NEVER alone no matter how alone we might feel. Don’t ever forget to reach out when you need that extra support during the toughest times because there will always be someone in this world to wrap you in warmth when the world feels cold.

#5: The Golden Girls

This is a no brainer. But like, DUH! Ending each night with an episode, two, or three with my girls always helps me reset to a place of laughter and happiness. Picture it: The World. 2020. Quarantine lockdown. (You will only understand this reference if you are a true fan). If you’ve never watched an episode of these girls, now is your time to do it. They will not disappoint. I promise. And if they do disappoint, then we can’t be friends…JUST KIDDING…kind of…sort of…not really.

#6: Firework

This is again a no brainer for anyone who knows me. This is and will always be MY JAM. It never ceases to make me feel immediately better. I don’t care how cheesy the lyrics are. There is just something about belting this song to myself in the car or hearing it ring in my ears during a workout or run that makes me feel empowered.

There is no doubt that the world is a scary place and continues to become even more scary and violent with each passing day.

I can only hope that we will be able to continue moving forward together as a Country to share love, kindness, and work toward solutions to the very tough issues that face our World.

It can be hard somedays to live our the Mr. Sunshine persona that is very near and dear to my heart.

But I will always be here attempting to keep the smiles alive with some positive energy.

So, take the leap of faith and rejuvenate with me in experiencing some of the above entities I’ve shared with you to be the cockeyed optimist…just like Betty White described in her interview with Katie Couric.

The world needs our light. It needs our sunshine. It needs our love. It needs our kindness.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!