Well, hi there!
It’s been a little while since I last wrote to you, hasn’t it? I have to admit — I’ve really been enjoying blogging monthly instead of weekly.
Maybe that’s a trend I’ll continue into the fall. Or maybe I’ll switch to every other week. Who knows?
I’m fickle like that.
But one thing I am certain of? I’m so thankful you’re here, reading my words again.
I just wrapped up a two-week hiatus from my full-time job — two whole weeks of PTO to celebrate the milestone of hitting 10 years with the company!
And those two weeks? They were filled with some of my very favorite things:
- 🌊 My first-ever solo trip to the beach!
- 🏖️ My first-ever stay at the Madison Resort in Wildwood Crest — which did not disappoint!
- 🌆 My first-ever Market Days experience in Chicago with my bestie Devin!
- 🎶 A night of love and belting out teenage-dream bops at the Katy Perry Lifetimes Tour with Karey and Devin!
It was two weeks full of connection and community.
A few of the extra special moments of connections and community that I get to experience included:
-Singing Over The Rainbow/Defying Gravity at the Sidetrack bar in Chicago surrounded by a bunch of LGTBQ+ community. I got tears in my eyes a few times.
-Catching up with one of my former roommates, Jolie from our Penn State days.
-Singing and belting the words to the song Firework amongst a crowd of energetic individuals at the Katy Perry concert in Baltimore.
-Meeting Cooper Wilson from Austin, Texas and Landon McCoy from Missouri at Market Days in Chicago. They are two individuals that I connected with on Instagram over the last couple of years and finally meeting them in person was so special.
-Connecting with my old theater friend Darren while also at Market Days in Chicago. Seeing him after so many years felt so good.
-Being surrounded by queer joy, love, and light during the live music at Market Days in Chicago.
Connection and community.
Those two words have been showing up a lot for me this year.
At the start of 2025, I told my fitness coach, Ryan, that I wanted to focus on connection — connecting with myself, with the people I love and appreciate, and even with those whose paths haven’t yet crossed mine.
And alongside connection, the word community keeps finding me, too.
Pastor Angie has been weaving it into her recent sermons, and as I approach the final days of being 37, I can’t help but reflect on just how important community is — especially in today’s world.
We need community to build us up when we’re feeling at our worst.
We need community to cheer us on when we’re ready to give up.
We need community to offer love when the world turns cold.
We need community to share our joys and laughter with.
We need community to remind us of the simple art of a hug.
And so, as I step into this next season — whatever rhythm of blogging it may bring — I hope these words feel like a little piece of community for you, too. Thanks for showing up here, for reading, for connecting. Here’s to finding more moments, big and small, to hold each other up and cheer each other on. Until next time, take care of yourself — and don’t forget to pass on a hug or two.
Mr. Sunshine Smiles 