231.

Good morning and happy Monday greetings to all of you!

It feels good to be writing words for y’all again after taking the past four weeks off from blogging. Welcome to post number 231!

And before I forget and move on, I was just like to say that I hope each and every one of you takes a moment today to have a moment of silence in memory of the horrific events that happened this day back in 2001 when so many lives were lost, and the landscape of our Country changed forever.

Well, let’s get down to business.

For those of you enjoy pumpkin spice, I am ashamed to admit that I still have yet to have my first PSL (pumpkin spice latte) of the season.

Please don’t judge me.

This past week, I got to enjoy my annual September vacation with my parents in the North Wildwoods! I was also thankful for the fact that my bestie Devin was able to join us as well.

It was a beautiful week full of sunshine, fun, laughs, good food, seltzers, and lots of love.

It’s amazing what a week away from reality can do for you, especially when you are by the sound of waves and sensation of sand in between your toes.

Your mind seems to become so much clearer.

Kind of like the feeling your nostrils get when your stuffy noise experiences the smell of menthol.

Here are just a few things I learned and experienced from this past week in the North Wildwoods.

-Post vacation depression is REAL. Like, no matter how many vacations I go on, the feelings after it is all over are always the same.

-Hot dogs taste 1000% times better when your toes are in the sand.

-Waves crashing is a sound I could listen to 24/7, but white noise is something that I don’t need to sleep.

–Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty was an excellent read. Honestly, a 10/10 that I highly recommend.

-I didn’t burn like a lobster this year. I had SPF 30 and 50 lotions and sprays!

-I have yet to enjoy my first PSL (pumpkin spice latte for you non abbreviated peeps) of the season. What is your favorite place to get one? I would LOVE to hear your favorite pumpkin coffee creations and recipes.

-While Halloween is not a holiday I enjoy, I could use some costume suggestions for my work party. That means send those details my way for consideration! Please and thank you.

-The search for Christmas Eve music for this year’s church service has officially begun. This means I could use YOUR help. How? I would LOVE to have some additional voices for either solos or small group ensembles with this year’s service. Or instrument playing. So…if you would be interested, please reach out. I am fun to work with…like, I play Lady Gaga in church and our church is pretty forward-thinking and awesome.

-I need to stop chasing and giving energy, compliments, and praise to others who don’t deserve it. It is draining and stupid. It is exhausting. It’s a hard trap of a habit I find myself getting caught in that can be oh so difficult to break and not continue repeating.

-I am worthy.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you this week.

So, go get a PSL, send me your Halloween work party costume suggestions, help me out with this year’s Christmas Eve service, and make sure you are giving energy to people in your life who deserve it. STOP CHASING.

Until next week.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!