Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Happy Monday, folks!

Guess what?! It is the Monday after my FAVORITE holiday ever.

And if you didn’t catch that, it is something I like to call sarcasm.

Mmmbyeee.

Well, let’s get to it. Grab your conversation hearts to indulge in (or use them to skip across the lake instead of rocks) and whatever other mushy Valentine treats you might have around you because it’s time for a new read from yours truly!

My name is JP Welliver and “I” embrace the “I” in single.

According to Dictionary.com, the word “single” has a bunch of different definitions. It is used in our language as an adjective.

The top three definitions are listed below:

1. Only one in number; one only; unique; sole.
2. Of, relating to, or suitable for one person only.
3. Unmarried or not in a romantic relationship.

As I sit here reading these over and over again, they kind of just sit there…you know…kind of like how Thanksgiving dinner feels in your stomach after you stuff yourself with all the food that is placed in front of your eyes. Quite the image, right?!

Ugh, now all I want is mashed potatoes, corn, turkey, and my personal favorite…CRANBERRY SAUCE. Literally, give me ALL the cranberry sauce. Good thing I have a few cans on my shelves to help satisfy that craving. Anyway, I digress. Back to the single life.

I don’t know if it is just me; however, I feel like these days, more than ever, society tells us (or at least influences us) that we must have a partner by our side in order to be happy. It feels like a social stigma that is pushed on us from all different angles as we live out our daily lives. Whether it is that latest story line arc happening on TV’s most popular show, the plot from the hit movie currently playing at the movie theaters, or the damn advertisements for the next great Christmas romantic comedy on The Hallmark Channel (which I secretly LOVE and DISLIKE at the same time), it just seems to be around every corner…something that we can’t escape from no matter how hard we try.

I’ve been single for over 9 years now…and guess what?! I’m OK with that. It has never been a high priority on my list and quite honestly, I don’t feel it necessary to have someone by my side to make myself feel “whole” or “complete.”

I do find it necessary to leave my phone number on receipts for waiters because it’s fun.

I am my own person who gets to have control over my entire life–from setting the wake-up time on the alarm for those early mornings to determining my own bed time every single night. It’s glorious. And what’s even better is that I don’t have anyone around to judge me on those nights when I want to eat raw cookie dough from the container…that’s right…I do that.

And I embrace it 150%.

I’ve always been the type of person for as long as I can remember that has thrived on being busy and helping others. Heck…I probably came out of the womb like that. If you look at my daily planner you would probably become physically ill because there are very few days (if any) from now until the end of the year that have absolutely nothing written on them. Even in the midst of a global pandemic. And to be quite honest, I might be as bold to say that I’m even busier now in the midst of this pandemic.

Believe it.

For me, one of the greatest joys with being single is having the power to involve myself in things that make me feel fulfilled and happy on the inside. Whether it is working with customers to help their businesses grow bigger and better, helping fellow colleagues to improve their personal growth, or participating in a project to spread joy and kindness, my heart seems to constantly be overflowing with love and compassion to fuel my drive to push forward with the greatest of energy to involve myself on these entities.

Of course, like all things in life, being single comes with some struggles. Even at 33, one of the biggest struggles that I experience with the single life is social media. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook…all the outlets where I get to see pictures of engagements, weddings, happy couples…well…you know the rest.

These posts are always something that strike up a bit of jealousy under the surface because my emotional intelligence seems to get the best of me more often than not. I become reactive and create stories in my head that you need to have that special someone by your side to have the smile that goes from ear to ear on your face.

Ultimately, in the end, I am very happy for these individuals that I witness in these posts, but I would be lying to you if I said a part of me didn’t become reactive and sour when I first see them. Yes, I said it. It’s out in the open.

Go ahead, sue me.

Mmmbyeee.

This is actually an aspect of my life I’ve matured and worked on for the last couple of years. I’ve grown quite a bit in this area and have really worked hard to learn how to process those feelings.

Are there days where I wish I could come home to that special someone ready to greet me with a hug when I walk in the front door after a really rough day at work?

Absolutely.

Are there days where I wish that I could have that special someone on the couch to cuddle with me as I watch The Golden Girls for the 1000th time?

I mean, duh.

But, then I wonder if these thoughts are the ones that society wants me to create in my mind. Are these the images that society wants me thinking? Will having someone by my side really make everything happy-go-lucky and perfect?

It’s the million dollar question that I will continue to explore the answer for as I live out life.

For me, life right now is about spreading awareness, changing the world, inspiring others, and keeping the aspects of love and kindness alive for our world in the Miles 4 Smiles campaign.

Right now, life is about defying the social stigma of those damn romantic comedies that tell us we need that special someone by our side.

Right now, life is about thriving on my jam-packed schedule and embracing the nights of cookie dough eating.

Right now, a happy ending for me doesn’t involve a Prince Charming.

My name is JP Welliver and “I” embrace the “I” in single.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, hi there!

Welcome to yet another new week and Monday of my blog!

For those who are new to reading my words, welcome! And for those who are loyal readers, welcome back!

If you are someone who is living on the East Coast, I sincerely hope that you were able to survive the little taste of Winter that Mother Nature gave us last week and that you are continuing to stay warm and finished with all your shoveling duties!

I’m not sure what it was this week, but something just felt off for me. I have not felt like myself and I can’t seem to pinpoint what it might be that had me feeling that way.

The snow–although it provides some beautiful scenery and photo capture opportunities, it also seems to blanket our world with what seems like a swirling depression that exacerbates the feelings of anxiety that we already seem to feel normally during the season of Winter.

The snow coupled with some exhausting customer interactions at work, missing both morning workouts with my personal trainer this week, constant news about the pandemic and the unknown of when we will feel “normal” again, and intense feelings of missing the office atmosphere with my colleagues just culminated into moments of feeling like what we could describe as being a “darker Mr. Sunshine.”

During one of my evenings this week, I put aside some time for just myself to start reading again. I started a book called Everybody Always: Becoming Love in A World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People” by Bob Goff.

As of right now (and I’m writing this post currently on Friday night at 9:18pm), I’m about halfway through the book on Chapter 12 and loving every single word. It is so relatable and I find myself going back to write down quotes that really speak to me.

One of these quotes that really jumped out at me more so than others, especially during this past week when I didn’t feel like myself was the following:

“Keep track of where you are, figure out what you need, and listen for voices you can trust.”

If I’m keeping track of where I’m at, I would say that I’m at North Plum Street and if I’m figuring out what I need…well…I need some extra sugar right now. Well, I guess I don’t really “need” it, but boy it sure could give me that extra jolt of energy to keep me going to finish this post.

Obviously, the above is just me trying to be funny with thinking about that quote. Like, duh. Obvi.

In all 100% seriousness though and stepping back to really think about this and what it means, it does pack a punch when I really think about it, especially with the way that I felt this past week.

Keep track of where you are…

-I’m a 33 year-old single, gay man living in Lancaster working three jobs to make sure the bills are always paid timely–bills that include a mortgage, car payment, house renovation loans, Netflix, Hulu, Internet coverage, groceries, gas, electric, sewer, trash, water, cell phone…I feel like I could just keep going. I, like most people in this world, is also trying to navigate a pandemic that has crippled a Country for almost a year. I’m also in the midst of a huge year-long fundraising project with the ultimate goal of trying to bring some awareness and light to the surrounding World.

Figure out what you need…

-I need sugar. Haha. Kidding…kind of. There are lots of things that I need, but some of the most important ones that were brought to light this past week were the following:

1. I need to run everyday not only because it is part of my year-long mission to change the world, but also because it is time to myself where nothing else in the world matters. It is decompression. It is a mental release to sweat out the negative toxins that I happen to be experiencing in that current moment whatever they might be—tangible or not.
2. While I would consider myself an extreme extrovert…shocker I know…but on the flip side of this, I need some time to myself with no distractions…no texts…no social media…no human interaction. This might mean watching a Disney movie in my bedroom with no other humans present, laughing to myself as I watch that same episode of The Golden Girls that I’ve seen a thousand times, reading a book, or just something as simple as coloring or journaling.
3. I need theater and concerts. It is something that I have been without for more than a year–the last production that I was able to be a part of was being music director for Frozen Jr. at EPAC during January/February 2020–right before the pandemic shut everything down. The Facebook memories that I keep seeing about my shows at EPAC literally bring me to tears every time they flood my newsfeed. I don’t think I was going to fill such a huge void without the theater and the action of making art with my dear friends and colleagues, but man…I was wrong on all accounts. And live concerts…I miss them just as much. Celine Dion in Atlantic City with my friends Abby, Jed, and Devin was my last one of those right before the world became crippled with COVID-19. Ugh. I literally just had to watch a YouTube video of her concert tour and it gave me all the feels.

Listen for voices you can trust…

-This is one that can always be a big challenge especially with the fact that there is just so much noise happening around us 24/7. Who do we believe? Who do we listen to? Who do we trust? Do we have people in our lives that we try to listen to more often than not because we just feel obligated to do so? Do we find ourselves listening to voices more often than not because they are a notable figure in society? What makes us wander from those we do trust? Is it the difference of political opinion, social status, behavior, accomplishments, or titles that clout our judgment? These are definitely great questions to step back and ask yourself.

I hope as you go about your week and the coming weeks that you will think about this quote that I shared above and will share once again to re-iterate:

“Keep track of where you are, figure out what you need, and listen for voices you can trust.”

As we continue to navigate this pandemic world together, make sure you know where you are personally in life, what you need to keep healthy (mentally and physically), and what voices in your life you can trust to understand your needs while also keeping you uplifted and supported.

What will you be listening for this week?

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, all!

If you are reading today’s post from the comfort of your home on the East Coast, then you are probably also struggling to try and stay warm as the Blizzard of 2021 knocks on our door with its bitter chills, gusting winds, and mounds of white stuff more commonly known as snow!

While I’m not the biggest fan of that white stuff…especially the shoveling part…quick side note about this Winter weather is that snow in the city is like not fun, especially street parking when you have to plow out your car and fight for the precious space that you clear for your wheels…but…on the other hand…it could always be worse.

Right?!

Well, enough talk about the Winter weather!

Today is the first day of a new month! February 1st…can you believe it?!

And not only does that mean it is the start of the month with my FAVORITE holiday ever (I do hope you can hear the sarcasm in my voice), but it does mean that it is the start of the second month in the Miles 4 Smiles campaign, which is being coupled this month with something very exciting that you will read more about in just a few moments!

The first month of this year-long campaign, which is in fact my biggest and most ambitious endeavor to date was full of so much love, support, and encouragement from people all over. It is something that gave me goosebumps and such feelings of gratefulness, thankfulness, and extreme humility.

In this first month, we were able to raise a total of $2,000 through the generosity of 22 donors while also clocking a total of 104.9 miles! That means we have completed 4 full marathons of the year goal and 1/10 of the $20,000 goal!

That. Is. Incredible.

I would’ve never guessed or imagined that I would be writing these numbers to you now in what has been only 28 days since the launch of this fundraising campaign.

And this month, I’m teaming up with one of the newest Lancaster County local businesses to promote some of their FABULOUS new products while also offering you the opportunity to give back to the Miles 4 Smiles campaign and support The Conner M. Holland Foundation as well as small business!

For those of you who don’t know, I’m obviously talking about…

LANCASTER BOXTAILS!

Now, you might be asking yourself, “What is Lancaster Boxtails?!”

Well, I’m SO glad you asked because…you guessed it…

…I’m going to tell you all about it right now!

Lancaster Boxtails is:

1. A curated cocktail experience that is shipped right to your door.
2. A family-owned business.
3. Unique cocktail recipes that you won’t find anywhere else–they are dreamed up and refined over and over again in the kitchen of Rob & Emily (owners of the company) until they are perfect!
4. Various recipes that suit a variety of tastes and different liquor preferences.
5. A unique, upgraded gift experience for anyone in your life instead of chocolates or flowers.
6. Beautifully-packaged, aesthetically pleasing products that include a personal note for your recipient.
7. Available shipping to anywhere in the United States!

And while they are offering several different curated recipes for the Winter season, there is one that has been curated specifically for me, Mr. Sunshine, that I hope you will purchase and enjoy!

It is “Mr. Sunshine’s Ray of Hope Orange Raspberry Daiquiri!”

As it is described on the site, “It may be cold and dark outside but this bright take on a gimlet will lift your spirits right up! Balancing the seasonal sweet-tart orange flavor and warmth of honey with a bright dash of raspberry, this cocktail will have you seeing life through rose-colored glasses.”

And believe me…

It is DELISH.

I got to sample the product before it was perfected and I…well…for lack of a better phrase…fell in love.

So, please support both local business with Rob and Emily’s newest endeavor and think about purchasing The Mr. Sunshine Ray of Hope Orange Raspberry Daiquiri curated cockatil kit to give back to the community!

Don’t delay! Hit up their website TODAY!

Lancaster Boxtails

A HUGE thank you to both Rob & Emily for being so willing and accommodating with partnering on this incredible endeavor. I’m so excited for them and even more excited to help spread some sunshine to others in the world.

Month 2 of our Miles 4 Smiles campaign begins today.

Let’s. Do. This.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, hello there!

Welcome to yet another Monday where I hope to bring some sunshine, positive energy, smiles, and happiness into your life for just a few moments as you read through the next couple of sentences and paragraphs.

How is that we are almost already through the first month of 2021?

The time certainly hasn’t slowed down at all and will only continue to get faster.

What’s also hard to believe is that we are coming up on a full year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last day working in the office is still one that is incredibly vivid in my mind.

And to think that our original thought process was that we were only going to be doing it for about 2 weeks.

It was a monumental week in our Country and regardless of your political affiliation, there is still something to be said about being able to witness the first woman Vice President of The United States.

I mean, that is pretty cool.

I would even go as far as to say groundbreaking.

Anyway, I don’t want to get political…

I just wanted to acknowledge that what I got to witness (from the bits and pieces I saw on TV) on Wednesday in our Country was pretty darn awesome.

There is no doubt that everyone in this world (myself included) has struggled at one point or another during the past year. Whether it was trying to make ends meet with jobless claims of unemployment benefits, figuring out how to keep up with your bill payments, how to homeschool your children while balancing a work from home schedule, where your next meal would come from, how to stay connected with those you love while keeping social distance between yourselves, anxiety, loneliness…

…The list goes on and on.

There were some dark times that we experienced. And there are still some dark times ahead. We aren’t out of the woods.

Even though we have new leadership in The White House, we have to keep in mind that we, as human beings, also need to be a part of the change.

We need to remember that “without faith, nothing is possible and with faith, anything is possible.”

There are still bumpy roads ahead for our world. We are far from the home stretch of getting rid of darkness, hatred, violence, bigotry, supremacy, or whatever the case might be.

Humanity in the world among us is still struggling, but it will never become any better it we don’t learn how to be HUMAN with each other.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliation.

It doesn’t matter if your candidate is no longer occupying The White House.

We need to smile at the stranger.

We need to listen with patient before yelling and reacting emotionally.

We need to understand that not everyone will share our same opinions.

We need to shake the hand of our neighbor rather than pointing the finger.

We need to step forward with love rather than hate.

We need to learn to be human to ALL humans.

We need to learn from our fellow brothers and sisters to break down walls that we have built merely because someone doesn’t share our same mindset or is “different.”

Since the events on Wednesday, I have been watching/listening to the below video on repeat.

And while this has been my favorite song and jam for quite sometime, it became even more special to me this week.

I watch it and tear up regardless of how many times I’ve viewed it.

It gives me hope.

It gives me a renewal of energy.

It gives me faith that we can change the world.

Strip away the politics.

Strip away the polarization.

Stop closing off your eyes and ears to the outcry of our world that needs you, me, and everyone else around us.

Katy Perry – Firework (From Celebrating America) – YouTube

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Well, we made it through another week.

And as we start off this new, third week of January 2021, I can’t help but feel a little bit nervous about the possible backlash that could happen this week as we witness the transition of power in our Nation’s Capitol.

But, let’s not dwell on the Negative Nancy feelings and thoughts. After all, this is the Mr. Sunshine Smiles blog, right?!

So, let’s talk about some sunshine, love, and positivity!

This week, I want to share with all of you my biggest celebrity role model that has helped me to mold the Mr. Sunshine attitude that I wear with pride on the daily.

For those who know me and have followed me over the years, this person will come as no surprise; however, with this post will also come some of my favorite videos of this person that I hope you will take some time to watch. This person has had some great advice over the years that I have tried to yield in my life on the daily and prove to be reminders that we could all use, especially today.

Could I have a drum roll please? Any guesses on who this special celebrity might be?!

It will come as no surprise to any of you, but this celebrity role model of mine is none other than the incomparable…

BETTY WHITE!

Yes, that’s right.

The golden girl herself who just happened to celebrate her 99th birthday yesterday! And might I add that she continues to strike this world on the daily with her beauty, kindness, talent, humor, humanitarian work, and just about everything else in between that you could imagine.

She is a gem.

I fell in love with her from the very first moment that I started watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show (on TV Land since I was not alive in the 70’s when it originally aired) where she played the feisty, fun Sue Ann Nivens more commonly known as “The Happy Homemaker.”

And in case you needed a little reminder and laugh of just how much of a pistol Sue Ann Nivens was, here’s a clip to prove it:

An Innocent Soufflé – The Mary Tyler Moore Show (S4:E1) – YouTube

And, as most of you know, I’m a HUGE fan of The Golden Girls (I mean…let’s be honest…who isn’t), but in case you are not sure of who Rose Nylund is or need a refresher (and I promise I will not judge you), here is a clip of some of the best moments of our favorite golden girl doing what she does best…making us laugh.

Betty White’s Best Rose Nylund’s Moments | The Golden Girls – YouTube

Betty has continued to work and make us laugh for more than 7 decades, which is insane. She has been entertaining us longer than any other medium in the industry. She has made us laugh in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland, The Proposal, and countless other movies, TV shows, game show appearance, and basically…anything and everything.

Truly.

She is untouchable.

And 99.

And, if you need a little Monday morning pick-me-up, here is a blooper reel of some of the best, laughable moments from Betty during her time on Hot in Cleveland.

Best Betty White Bloopers of ALL Time | Hot In Cleveland – YouTube

She has made us laugh.

She has made us cry.

She has been a household name for as long as we can remember.

Ands her outlook on life is so positive and optimistic. She makes me want to be a better person and is always on my mind when I try to look on the bright side of life, especially during those days when it just feels like there is no sunshine.

Don’t believe me? Well, read on!

To prove that she has such a bright outlook on life and to get her biggest secrets on the longevity of living it to the fullest, here are some clips that you should watch as a friendly reminder:

Betty White positive – YouTube

Betty White talks division in America and staying positive – YouTube

Well, folks.

There you have it.

Betty White.

In a world where we are surrounded by negative energy, news, hatred, and darkness–might we be reminded to try and lift others up, to be positive, to do good, and to be kind.

It can become contagious with the people around you and just might have a greater impact than you can imagine.

So, cheers to you Betty White!

Thank you for sharing your laughter, your kindness, your bright outlook on life, but most importantly…

Thank you for being a friend.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday and new week, all!

I won’t be doing any dilly-dallying this week, so I’m going to get right into it.

Hope you have your morning beverage ready and your seat belt buckled because…

Here. We. Go.

I’m not going to lie…it is has been quite some time since I have cried at something that I’ve seen on the news. But on Wednesday, January 6th, that changed.

After seeing the news, pictures, and videos of the riots on our Capitol, I lost myself.

I cried.

I cried tears of emotion as I saw an image of an America that I never thought I would see. It was a climax of hatred and bigotry that I’ve witnessed on the rise for quite some time now as we moved throughout the past several days, weeks, months, years.

I was angry.

I was saddened.

I was angry and saddened as I looked at where our Country was standing–just a mere 6 days after a new year had just started.

For someone who sees himself as an enteral optimist, it was a moment in time where I just couldn’t see the light.

But then, the very light I couldn’t find and needed in my life came to me just when I needed it most.

Exactly one week ago, I launched my biggest endeavor and task to date entitled “Miles4Smiles.” For those who might not be familiar, this endeavor is going to involve running the equivalent of 50 full marathons (1,310 miles), raising $20,000 for The Conner M. Holland Foundation, and sending 2,000 cards to pediatric cancer patients to local hospitals across the Country. (You can find more information at http://www.miles-4-smiles.com).

These are quite the ambitious goals to accomplish this year, especially after the time frame we call 2020.

In the first week of what some might call an insanely, crazy project for Mr. Sunshine to undertake, I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support from individuals all around me.

And I truly mean ALL around me.

I went from crying tears of sadness on Wednesday to ending the weekend crying tears of joy and happiness.

It was beautiful.

The amount of people that have already reached out about both making and donating cards to send to the pediatric cancer patients is incredible. I already received a first batch that were creatively created by my Cousin Pam that I will work on getting mailed out within the next couple of weeks. In addition, I received an email from an individual who had just started following my journey and asked if she could support me in the way of making packs of cards for me to send since she has been mastering her craft abilities during the times of the pandemic.

The amount of financial support I’ve experienced in this first week is also insane. On Saturday, at 4:30pm, I posted a video with a message about wanting to hit $250.00 by end of weekend on Sunday.

And in less than 24 hours, we had almost tripled that to a total of $775.00.

As I sit here writing this on my bed, we are officially at $800 raised!

In addition to both the financial and card support, I was approached by a brand-new, local Lancaster business to work on a collaboration that will support both the launch and selling of their product while also supporting the mission of Miles4Smiles.

Like, WHAT?! I can’t even deal.

To add to this, I was also approached by a very dear friend to collaborate on a Bingo event collaboration to get even more additional financial support, which made me smile from ear to ear.

And separate from all of this was a moment on Friday night when I received a message on Facebook from a friend of mine who wrote the following that I had to share because it moved me so much. They were words that came at a perfect time to keep me pushing forward toward the light.

“Well I am so proud of you. And I know that is so redundant but I fail more unique things to say without being cheesy. I feel like I could write you yourself an entire letter of love and appreciation. Can I express why? No. But I’ve always held this truly truly shiny sparkly special place in my heart for you. I think of you very often and truly cherish your soul. I feel blessed that I ever was able to call you an acquaintance let alone a friend. You inspire me. You always have, from day 1, and I’m not sure I know a single person who would say otherwise. I’ve had some dark times in my life that you weren’t even aware of, throughout really our entire existence of knowing each other–which has been, what? 25 years give or take a few? But you’ve always been just that: Mr. Sunshine.”

My Miles4Smiles campaign this year is more than just running, raising money, and sending cards. It is a journey for ALL of us to come together, inspire others, and to lift each other up.

It is about creating light where the darkness tries to overshadow and to ignite fires that are full of passion in the souls of everyone to make a difference in a world that needs our help.

The light that found its way to me in my life this week magically seemed to appear exactly when it was needed most. And I can only hope that the same light will find itself into your life this week, the next week, and the weeks after.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

THE WAIT IS OVER! After the year we’ve all experienced, it’s time for some positive energy, love, and kindness to fill our lives! And if there’s one thing I learned from the year we call 2020, it’s that I don’t feel fulfilled unless I’m doing something to help others. So, with that being said, today launches my newest, biggest, and toughest endeavor to try and change the world—one smile and mile at a time. Today, marks the start of my Miles4Smiles campaign—something that has been in the works since April. Throughout 2021, I will be conquering darkness with light and love in the hopes of running the equivalent of 50 marathons (1,310 miles), raising $20,000 for The Conner M. Holland Foundation, sending 2,000 cards to pediatric cancer patients across the United States, and hopefully inspiring others to change the world. Pediatric cancer has been a passion of mine since college and seeing the destruction and struggles it brings families is heartbreaking. I’m honored to partner with The Conner M. Holland Foundation this year to help support them in their endeavors of providing financial help for families battling the destruction and devastation of this awful disease. I’m ready to take the fighting, courageous, and energetic spirit of Conner with me for every single mile. It’s time to put in the miles to spread smiles. A HUGE thank you to Drew Kramer for creating my amazingly fun and fabulous logo, website, and bringing my dream to life. You are a gem. If you feel motivated and passionate to inspire and bring light to the world, please share, donate, and follow the journey by hitting up the official website for all the details at http://www.miles-4-smiles.com. I thank you in advance for your generous support, love, and encouragement. I hope you’ll join me on this one-of-a-kind journey.

It. Begins. Today.

http://www.miles-4-smiles.com

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Isn’t it crazy to think that we are entering the final week of 2020? What a year it has been.

I sincerely hope that all of you were able to enjoy the holidays and adapt with all the craziness that is continuing to happen around us. I was able to enjoy some time with my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and niece with a small gift exchange of Christmas tradition. And while it was definitely a different year, it did end up being very enjoyable, warm, and cozy.

And while we are officially only ONE WEEK away from my 2021 reveal, I wanted to take this week to share some of the wisdom and themes that I really took away from some of my favorite holiday movies this year to share with you in hopes of you being able to carry them out as we enter into this new year we are about to call 2021.

One of my favorite holiday movies is Elf and in this iconic role, Will Ferrell reminds us of the following:

-The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Even if we aren’t in the Christmas season, there is something special about singing that does the body good. Have you ever noticed that whenever you sing, you suddenly feel better? And the louder you sing, the more fun it is for you and for those around you. So do it to spread some cheer.

Up next on my holiday move list is The Polar Express. This was a favorite book of mine growing up and it is a movie that I love to watch every single year. Even as an adult. And the theme that I take away from this movie is:

-Always BELIEVE in what your heart is saying.

There are always moments in life where it can be hard to believe in so much, but if you truly look inside your heart and listen to what it is saying, everything will fall into place…as it should. In its own time. And if you ever need a reminder of this, you can always turn on the song version Josh Groban sings because that will also just instantly make you feel better. Because…well…Josh Groban. He voice is incredible. Duh.

Holiday movie number three on my list is A Christmas Carol. But there is a very specific version that I’m talking about. In my mind, the BEST version (sorry not sorry for those who like the Muppet one). It is the George C. Scott version that was made in 1984. And if you haven’t watched it or seen it, I highly recommend it. This is one that I’ve watched year after year with my family and it has become a tradition that I always look forward to. And with this movie comes the very important theme that Ebenezer Scrooge takes to heart and shares with us at the end of the movie:

-To honor Christmas in our hearts and to keep it with us all year.

How true these words are even so many years later after the original written version by Charles Dickens was published in 1843. How soon we forget to keep the spirit and feeling of Christmas with us all months, days, weeks, hours, minutes, and seconds of the year.

Don’t be a bah humbug.

And last, but certainly not least on my movie list of holiday themes that really resonate with me is one that I only watched for the first time this year! I finally sat down to watch It’s A Wonderful Life with my mom and dad and how great of a movie it was. How I’ve gone 33 years on this Earth without seeing it before is beyond me. And as the movie ends, we are reminded of this very important mantra:

-That no man is a failure who has friends.

Well, there you have it. Four holiday movies that I absolutely love, adore, and resonate with in different ways. And these themes are ones that I hope to bring into 2021 and live out on the daily.

Take some time (even now that the holidays are over) to watch some of these if you haven’t (or even if you have already watched) and figure out ways in your life that you can live out the lessons they teach us.

And just in case you forgot already, you have only ONE MORE WEEK until my 2021 reveal!

Ahhh!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

4 days.

Yes, you did read that right.

There are only 4 days until Christmas 2020.

I’m not sure about you, but this year has definitely been a struggle for me to try and find the energy to get into the Christmas spirit.

It just doesn’t feel like the holidays are upon us.

What’s made the month of December especially difficult for me is seeing all the memories come up on my Facebook of my past shows that I’ve been involved with at EPAC during the holiday seasons. It hits home and just makes me realize how much I miss the theater. How much I miss performing with my second family. How much I miss entertaining audience members and putting smiles on their faces. Memories of Willy Wonka, Cats, Anything Goes, Annie, Shrek, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast have all been flooding the newsfeeds over the past three weeks.

Ugh. I’m ready to put the 2020 year in the past.

This year is definitely one where I’ve been asking myself the question…

“Where are you Christmas?”

Most people in my life know that the traditional Christmas Eve service is always MY FAVORITE one to plan each year at church. It is something that gets me so excited that I start to plan prior to Summer.

Seriously. No joke.

And this year, all of that changed as we were forced to adapt to the happenings of our world with pandemic restrictions that are continuing to grasp our society.

It is definitely going to be a different year for sure.

But through the feelings of difference that I’m still struggling with as I try to grasp with the reality that it just won’t be the same, I’ve forced myself to realize that the answer to “where are you Christmas” is right in front of me.

Christmas for me is the spirit of giving to others, spreading love to everyone, and sharing kindness with every passing moment on the daily.

In just 3 days, my faith community at St. Paul Penryn will share the spirit of Christmas with a virtual Christmas Eve service via Zoom at 3:30pm and a 6:30pm outdoor service (weather permitting). If inclement weather ensues, the 6:30pm service will also be done via Zoom. I hope if you are feeling lost this Christmas or just want some type of connection with a faith community to find Christmas, that you will join us as we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus.

In just 2 more weeks, I will share with you my 2021 mission that I have been keeping a secret for a majority of this year. My hope continues to be that the news I share will bring love, kindness, and hope to the world.

I hope it will be a light to inspire those who might be feeling lost, fearful, or uncertain.

So, if you find yourself asking the question of “where are you Christmas” this week, just remember that it will live on if we just choose to open our hearts and fill the world with love and kindness.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

It is 10:08pm. My eye continues to heal. My mind is exhausted. My energy is lacking.

I’m currently sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, and watching The Golden Girls. As the jokes over slices of cheesecake and Blanche’s latest date bring laughter from the tube, I find myself daydreaming as I hear the wind howl outside the window.

2020 certainly has been a year to say the least. And has been a year where I’ve had the opportunity to lay lower than normal and keep myself from being involved with “extra curricular activities.”

My mind is flooded with a million thoughts. Thoughts of things that need to be accomplished within the month, within the week, within the day, within the hours that are continuing to go “tick tock” on the grandfather clock keeping me company as I lay here writing this very post.

What will 2021 look like? When will be out of the woods with this pandemic? How is everyone in this world going to continue surviving after many of their livelihoods have been uprooted?

The negative energy of the world and its current happenings (many that have been happening for many months) are ones that I find myself struggling with on the daily to try and combat.

It’s not easy.

In fact, it’s probably the hardest thing in the world for me, especially given that I have the nickname “Mr. Sunshine.”

How does one keep going on with life when the threat of negativity, fear, unknown, and hatred linger around every corner?

It’s the million dollar question and one that only YOU, yourself can answer.

What’s my secret? Is there a secret?

No, there’s no secret.

For me, it’s all about finding the fuel that ignites me from within.

My fuel is helping people. My fuel is making sure those I care about in life are supported with love. My fuel is finding new ways to spread kindness.

On January 4, 2021, you will all find out what my newest tactic will be for sharing this love and happiness with the world.

It’s been weird not doing anything this year that emulate my principles of love and kindness; however, after the BIG year 2019 was for me, it felt appropriate to take a little break.

And, as all of the back-end work continues to come together in these last few weeks before the official release, I can honestly say that 2021 will be an even bigger year for me.

A HUGE undertaking that makes me excited, nervous, and every other adjective in the book.

But I can’t wait to share it with you.

So, if you haven’t already, mark your calendars for January 4, 2021.

Find your fuel. Find what makes your heart sing with so much love and happiness that you need to share it with others.

The world is a dark place with stories of coldness. The light inside ourselves can fuel the fire for others and ignite the waves and ripples of change that can make the biggest difference for you…for me…for everyone.

Find your fuel.

It’s time for us to ignite the fires within ourselves and go out to share that light with the world.

Fuel the fires of change.

Let’s go.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!