Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Happy Monday to all!

I’m happy to have you back for my 176th post in this second week of July after we have splurged on the hot dogs, cheeseburgers, corn on the cob, ice cream, and fireworks amongst the colors of red, white, and blue.

I hope everyone was able to enjoy their holiday with some relaxation, sunshine, reflection, and loved ones.

Also, can someone please tell me why they always say that Summer is half over once the Fourth of July hits? Like, Summer technically starts on June 21st, so in reality, Summer has only been happening for about 3 weeks.

Like…MMMBYEEE.

It isn’t half over.

Anyhoo, I digress as per the usual.

It’s time to get down to business.

Let’s talk reflections and recharges.

Hence the title of this week’s blog post.

There’s a lot of shit happening in the world right now.

Like…heavy shit.

And on top of that, we all have our own shit to deal with.

It can make days draining and exhausting.

For the past two weeks, I have started to reflect and focus more on some stuff in my own personal life that I will open up about shortly while also sharing some ways that I was able to rejuvenate myself this week too.

As I’ve started to witness the world around us break down a little bit more each day, week, and month—I have started to fall victim to the dangerous cancer known as “social media comparing.”

Yes, that toxicity known as scrolling through the images, the perfect people who show their “real” lives for us to like, comment, and be jealous about.

It’s toxic.

And I dislike it very much when I fall wind to it.

But it always seems to happen when the shit in the world is going bonkers.

So, this week, I started to cleanse myself and mute stories and posts of people both on Facebook and Instagram that are not bringing any joy to my life.

I shouldn’t have to chase people to be attracted me and what my morals are. I want people in my circle to naturally be drawn to me with my energy, my positivity, and the qualities I exude in life.

Sorry not sorry.

And honestly, doing that feels freeing. Like a 100lb weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

So, if you find yourself practicing “social media comparing”–try cleansing and muting those in your life who aren’t really worth it.

YOU are better than that.

Period.

End of story.

Moving on.

NEXT.

I’ve noticed more recently that I’ve started to struggle with taking things personally.

This is something I’m definitely better at than I used to be, but I have recently seemed to slip more into the habit of creating stories in my head that aren’t true.

When I take things personally, I become jealous, I get direct, and I shut down in a quiet blanket of little to no talking.

So, for the month of July, to combat these negative take things personally feelings, I have started to focus more on ME and what I can control.

I’ve started to set my alarm a few minutes earlier to get that extra jolt to start the day rather than being lazy and lying in bed under the covers for “just a few more minutes.”

And with those extra few minutes, I have started to begin each morning with 15 push ups, 15 sit ups, and 15 squats. I also end each day with this same routine.

In addition, I have started to add protein powder to my morning coffee and stopped listen to music on my runs so that I can focus more on the mental aspect of just CLEANSING the toxins and shit of the world and my life from the body without distraction.

And with these reflections also came some moments of rejuvenation this week.

So…let’s talk recharge.

Moment #1: Family time (which includes Ginger) with picnic food, having conversation, drinking a few adult beverages, and enjoying the sunshine together. Simple joys.

Moment #2: Having a day off date with my bestie that included some day drinking, hamburgers, and fun games followed by movie watching, ice cream eating, and pizza when his partner got home from work to join us!

Moment #3: Having Pastor Angie over at my casa for some real talk discussion about feelings, the church, and everything in between. You never know how good and therapeutic it is to hash out words with others in your life until you are actually in the moment doing it.

Moment #4: Spending some quality time with my good friends Marissa and Missy on Saturday night trying to find how to get to Morgantown Casino. It was quite the adventure that we were not expecting because there was literally no damn road to turn into the parking lot after getting off the turnpike. Not only did we try this once, but TWICE. About 35 miles wasted each way. But we ended up at Hollywood Casino outside of Hershey and had many laughts in the car on the way there after a few choice words about the damn directions of not being able to get to Morgantown. And we got to relish in a Summer classic of soft serve ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. DELISH. Never under estimate the power of laughs with friends.

Moment #5: The Cornhole Tournament at the St. Paul Penryn Backyard that I got to play at with some good friends while also witnessing many diverse individuals of our community coming together to enjoy a night out in fellowship together. Both Pastor Angie and I have shared some similar feelings of sadness/lack of energy recently at church with lower attendance and while it is not something to take personally, it can be hard especially for leaders of the church. But Friday night (and frankly our Sunday morning church service) were the jolt of revitalizing spunk that we needed. The faith community at St. Paul Penryn is incredibly important to so many and while religion isn’t everyone’s thing given the fact that the church has given some individuals really negative experiences in the past, I promise you that St. Paul Penryn is different. We love all. We support all. We welcome all. So, please check us out or message me if you want more information or just want to chat about what we are about. I’m an open door and book.

Well, folks.

That’s all I’ve got for you this week with my 176th blog post.

I wish all of you a most wonderful week and hope that you fill find time to have your own reflections and recharges.

Be kind.

Oh…and…

P.S.—Match.com is still a thing and I’m still talking with the same person I was originally matched with 70 days ago. It has definitely been an emotional roller coaster, but I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel yet.

P.P.S.—A Mr. Sunshine project for 2023 is in the works, so get excited! I’m sure some of you already have guesses of what it could be, but I’m not telling! At least until January 2nd!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Hi again, folks!

A very happy TUESDAY to all of you! I know that I usually post on Mondays; however, with the Fourth of July holiday, I felt it more appropriate to post one day later.

With that being said, I hope everyone was able to enjoy the holiday and hopefully some hot dogs…or other delicious picnic food.

A HUGE thank you to all the men, women, and other individuals who have fought and continue to fight for our Country and its freedom.

Anyway, I normally wait until the last minute usually to blog for all of you because I seem to do better with words when I procrastinate; however, there was a moment that occurred last Monday which I just couldn’t resist to write about because it brought the biggest smile to my face…

…and was a real-life moment that proves kindness does in fact pay off!

June 22nd started off like any other evening at The Ephrata Performing Arts Center. It was the start of the final week of shows for The Crucible and I was on House Managing duty while my co-partner in crime Jamie was bartending.

Oh, and did I mention that Jonathan Groff showed up too?!

SWOON.

Anyhow, that is actually not the real reason I’m blogging.

Keep reading.

Do you need to refill your blogging beverage?!

Now is the time to do it.

So, let’s keep moving with how kindness truly pays off.

At the end of the show, our Artistic Director, Ed Fernandez came out to the lobby asking for assistance because a patron had fallen.

I calmly walked into the theater to find our Sound Technician, Grant and Jonathan Groff helping an older gentleman down the steps. e

I took over for Grant and while walking with the patron, Jonathan and I were being conversational with him asking him what shows he had seen at the theater and also what he thought of the show he had just seen.

Vincent was incredibly kind and sweet (as was Jonathan) and I took Vincent to the box office to fill out an incident report to make sure everything was documented.

I asked him a few general questions and walked him to his car to make sure he got there safely.

We talked about his favorite shows and he mentioned “Anything with Mr. Young” in it. That of course means the fabulous actor, Sean Young who most recently had graced the EPAC stage in the 2019 production of Ragtime.

Vincent was very appreciative of everything and I ended our walk to his car with salutations hoping to see him again soon.

Well, kidness paid off.

How?

Our Box Office Manager, Kristen emailed the EPAC staff on Monday letting us know that Vincent had sent the theater a handwritten note with a $500 donation because of the kindness he had experienced after his fall at the theater.

He brought the biggest smile to my face and was proof that it costs nothing to be kind…and the reward of what can come of it is priceless.

I have included the picture of Vincent’s kind note below in hopes that it will also bring the biggest smile to your face while also encouraging you to continue being kind to ALL.

Our world needs us to display kindness more than ever.

Just remember that it costs nothing to be kind and it can be the simplest of tasks–from opening the door for someone to having conversation and walking beside an elderly individual to make sure they get to their car safely.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Another week of the year has ended and we are officially starting the last week of June!

SAY WHAT?!

Literally July 4th is like tomorrow.

I just don’t understand how the time flies by so quickly.

Anyhoo, let’s get down to business.

I sit here writing these words to you from my bed with a throbbing headache that I’m hoping will go away with the glorious entity that we call sleep.

And, to be honest, I have no words..

This week’s post will be short and sweet.

Because Mr. Sunshine is lacking the positive energy and right things to say.

I can’t help but shake the feeling that our Country is moving backwards.

The recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade has me speechless, mad, pissed off, and just angry at the world.

The polarization of political parties is becoming even more evident in our everyday lives.

It is exhausting.

It is draining.

It is discouraging.

The past couple of nights, I have shut my eyes, but can’t shake the feeling that my rights as a member of the LGTBQ+ community are the next to come under fire.

I fear for the future.

And that is the God honest truth. .

This week, I pray that I can find some positive energy to help me lessen the fear that I have for the future .

Sprinkle sunshine always.

JP!

Well, hey there folks!

Happy Monday!

I hope you didn’t miss me too much last week with no new post.

I have taken the last week to recharge, reset, and rejuvenate myself with the entities of Summer, sandals, sunshine, and kindness.

Oh, and yes…

…I do have sunburn.

Shocker I know.

I’m currently in the peeling stage and using gobs of aloe.

And I mean GOBS.

Worth. It.

It is always amazing how a week at the beach does to me.

It’s like the mind is cleared, epiphanies about life are had, and the sun just shines into your soul.

It is a beautiful thing.

When I’m at the beach, everything in life washes away like the seashells taken out by the waves of blue water flowing back to the ocean.

Even without running 50 full marathons this year, it certainly hasn’t slowed my life down at all.

If anything, there are moments when I’m feeling busier.

In fact, there are moments where I wonder how I even did all the running with everything else in my life.

Anyhoo, I digress.

I know I’ve said this before and I apologize to say it again, but I never realize how much I actually need to recharge, rejuvenate, and reset until I’m actually in the moment doing it.

Don’t get me wrong–I have and always will be the person who thrives on the go, go, go lifestyle. Most days and times of the year, I love it. But there is always that one occasional moment when it gets the best of me.

And I shut down.

But this week at the beach has been a very welcome rejuvenating reset that Mr. Sunshine needed.

And through it all including every morsel of sand that touched my feet, I still come charging at you encouraging that kindness is key in this world.

There are just so many ways to display it to others, even strangers.

This week at the beach, I displayed kindness by:

1. Tipping extra to the servers and bartenders that served me.
2. Smiles at the stranger and made conversation with them.
3. Picked up some trash during my run that I saw along the sidewalk.

So, amidst the crazy thing we call life, please find your very own way to rejuvenate, reset, and recharge.

And please, please, please, PLEASE above all else…

BE KIND.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

I’m out of the office, which means come back next week.

And I’m the meantime, please be kind.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Hi folks and happy Monday!

And even though it officially kicked off on June 1st, happy belated Pride Month too!

I am currently outside in the backyard of Sunshine Cottage enjoying a beautiful Summer night under the lights with a wine, Dr. Pepper, and my feet propped on an adirondack chair.

It is in these moments where life just feels perfect.

If only.

It seems with each passing minute, hour, day, week, and month that everything is far from perfect…

…Especially the world.

A few weeks ago, we were delivered news about a mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas.

And that night, the day it happened, I sat on my couch and shed tears.

I shed tears for the innocent lives lost, the families that were affected, and our world.

Gun violence is not something new to our society; however, it certainly seems to have gotten more out of control recently.

For some reason, I can remember back to the time when breaking news came across the TV screen about the Columbine school shooting that happened back in 1999.

And here we are 23 years later, still being delivered news about mass shootings and learning how to navigate the aftermath of the horror.

Far from perfect.

I think what scares me the most is that these types of incidents can happen anywhere and at any time.

And they cause a constant fear to be in the back of my head, which makes me sad.

I know that we are not supposed to live in fear, but gosh darn it, I certainly don’t know how to do it.

Just this past weekend, I got to enjoy a weekend off from both work and church duties and took a trip to Philly with my bestie Devin and his partner Jed to visit our friend Krishna before he moved to Chicago.

It was a quick trip filled with delicious food, rainbows, adult cocktails, lots of laughs, and many memories…

…including me trying to get into the wrong room at the wrong hotel…

Yes, you did read that right.

But I will save that story if you wish to hear it for and in-person discussion because it’s better that way.

A retelling of it is almost and most certainly better with Mr. Sunshine energy, faces, and hand motions than reading it in a text format.

It will def be a part of my comedy routine when I become a stand up comic in my next life and take the material on tour.

Anyhoo, I digress.

Sunday morning, after our fun night out in Philly, I woke up to several texts including from my best friend, Marissa making sure I was okay.

The text said…”Just read about the shooting in Philly…you ok??”

I wasn’t 100% sure what she was referring to, but then saw the headline of the news article our friend Krishna had also sent to Jed, Devin, and I in a group message:

“14 People Shot, 3 Dead, In Mass Shooting On South Street.”

Literally just a few minutes away from where we were partying and having fun dancing the night away hours before.

It could’ve happened to us…

And that scares the living hell out of me.

On the way home, I was so quiet in the car because I literally just kept replaying the fact that it could’ve been us.

And I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t a little bit scared for the fact that I’m headed to Wildwood beaches next week for a huge Country music festival and all that I can think of is violence and gunfire happening.

I am afraid.

Hug the people in your life just a little bit tighter next time.

Say I love you every chance you get.

And fight for positive change in our world.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

I hope everyone was able to stay cool with the extreme heat Mother Nature threw at us this week.

It was like we went from frost-filled mornings to dog days of Summer with no warning.

Not cool, Mother Nature…not cool.

At least give us some type of grace period.

I’m also currently swiveling back and forth in one of my newest furniture additions to the Sunshine Cottage living room, have my feet propped on the coffee table with fresh air coming through the open windows, and the sound of falling rain is serenading me in the background.

Oh…and…I’m indulging in a mini bottle of Coca-Cola because sometimes it is the perfect carbonated beverage to side-kick on these Summer evenings as described above.

Anyway, I digress.

Shocker, I know.

This past week, our faith community lost a member quite suddenly.

And every time that happens, especially in a small, family church where everybody knows your name, it feels like a part of you and your heart get taken away too.

Mary Alice was someone I had just been greeted by the previous Sunday morning as she walked in the front doors before making her way to the pew close to the front of the sanctuary.

And, one week later, it has all changed forever.

There won’t be any more Sunday morning “hello’s” from Mary Alice.

There won’t be any more cards that wish me a happy birthday or give me a kind note of thanks about my music at St. Paul’s in Mary Alice’s perfectly distinct and polished cursive handwriting.

There won’t be any more spot checks of my fun socks that she always used to do when walking past the piano bench after Communion to give me her smile and thumbs up of approval.

And during the church service on Sunday after being notified that she had passed the night before, I started to cry during the last verse of our special music presentation of “River in Judea.”

The tears took over and as much as I wanted to try and finish out the song, I just couldn’t.

And those tears continued into the prayers portion of the service where I attempted to stumble through, but ultimately had to concede to the tears once again and pass off the remainder of reading to Angie.

And, as if I hadn’t cried enough, the waterworks happened again during the last verse of our closing hymn, “When Peace Like A River” which just so happened to be one of Mary Alice’s favorite hymns. It was always one that she would submit when I would ask congregational members to give me a few of their most beloved tunes.

And, during the last hymn, a beautiful moment happened.

Jelani Seppi–a handicap, black individual who always sits in the front pew started to sing along with the hymn…something he never does.

And even though he sings a bit off key and doesn’t always say the correct words, he was right there—with the rest of the congregation—carrying on for the voice that I didn’t have because I was crying over on the organ bench.

It was beautiful.

It was perfect.

It was a moment meant to be that Mary Alice was definitely smiling down upon as it unfolded.

Life can literally change in an instant.

Our faith community experienced that this week.

And it was that subtle reminder that we should never take anything for granted and that it is both ok and necessary to cry out our emotions.

Hug someone in your life you appreciate just a little bit tighter.

Say “I love you” to your people as much as possible.

Never take the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years we have been given for granted.

I leave you with the last verse lyrics of “When Peace Like A River” in memory of our beloved Mary Alice.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

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!