Well, folks. We made it to another Monday.
It certainly has been a crazy week to say the least. I sincerely hope that you, your family, and everyone in your life is staying safe and healthy. Also, before I write more, a huge thank you and sense of gratitude to all the healthcare workers (and any other genre of workers) who are working their tails off during this pandemic. In addition, my thoughts are with those who have passed away from COVID19 as well as those who are currently fighting it. We will overcome this even amidst the bumpy road ahead.
As the days linger on, we continue to find the terms “social distancing” and “quarantine” as part of our day-in, day-out vocabulary.
In addition to the vocabulary that we are becoming all too familiar with, it seems that our new favorite past-time is hand washing every chance we get. I’ve learned that singing Happy Birthday or the chorus of my favorite Katy Perry song, Firework are ideal for making sure there is ample time under the hot water as I lather my hands with my favorite Bath & Body Works foaming soaps.
Right now, if I wash my hands in the kitchen sink, I’m enjoying the scent of Winter Spruce while the upstairs bathroom treats me to Vanilla Bean Snowflake.
Anyway, I digress.
Shocker.
It is currently 11:40pm and I’m sitting on my couch with a blanket wrapped around myself, Cran Apple juice in my Wheel of Fortune goblet, The Golden Girls playing in the background, and the stress of trying to get this all done before the clock strikes 12…
…Because at 12 midnight I turn into a pumpkin. Well, actually, I turn into a night owl if we want to get politically correct. There is no such thing as a pumpkin when you’re working with Mr. Sunshine.
Unless it is a Pumpkin Spice Latte…or milkshake.
Oh my goodness…digression again. I’m so sorry. Just trying to keep the mood light and fluffy.
Today, as I did my daily reading from Hoda Kotb’s I Really Needed This Today book, I realized the quote being offered for today (March 23rd) was exactly what I wanted to write about as we all continue to live out the uncertain times amidst confusion and fear.
“Change your thoughts and you can change the world.”
~Norman Vincent Peale
How true these words are to us, especially with everything that is currently happening.
Each day, we have a million different thoughts racing through our head–how will we pay our monthly bills, how much time we need to leave for our morning commute to work in case we hit traffic, if we should buy the half gallon of ice cream at the grocery store…
…that last question should not be a question actually because you should ALWAYS buy the half gallon of ice cream. DUH!
…But the most important question we must answer is the question of how we are going to combat the negative thoughts that pop up in our head and thrown in our path.
Are you going to be the person who chases down the negative thoughts and lets them overtake your life?
OR
Are you going to be the person who changes the way you look at them and spins it into something positive to make the world a better place?
There is no doubt that the world we are living in right now is scary and challenging. Our normal way of life has been broken and some days, it can be confusing or difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
But that light is at the end of the tunnel and I refuse to let the negative thoughts and energy that is around us take over my life.
Take a look at some of the positives that have come out of this pandemic that we are currently experiencing together. Here are just a few:
- People have come together to support local businesses that have shut down or are struggling.
- People have learned how to reach out to one another via different media to check-in and make sure they are okay.
- People around the world have used their creative minds to come up with ways on how to keep social interaction going while working from home, creating cyber, online church services to keep faith alive, and helping people stay fit and healthy with live-streaming fitness workouts that can be done in the comfort of home while the gyms are closed.
There are SO many other positives that are too numerous to mention, but I guarantee if you open your eyes just a little, you will find them.
I’m sick of opening the news and only seeing the negatice stories. It’s like a frenzy of chaotic multitude that just sucks you in and strangles you of breath.
Which is why I’ll continue to channel the positive to change the world, to better the lives of those around me, and share some love and sunshine when it is needed most.
During this time of fear, let us push forward with courage.
Let us push forward with learning how to be human to ALL of humanity.
Let us push forward to change our thoughts to change the world.
Sprinkle sunshine always,
JP!
Mr. Sunshine Smiles 