Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Monday, August 20^th started off like any other day. The alarm on my cell phone started chiming; I hit the snooze button, and refused to get out the warm blanket that I was cuddled in tightly. However, after a few moments of yelling internally at my body to stop being lazy, I dragged myself out of bed and decided to make myself presentable to take on the new day that had just started.

I walked out the front door, headed to my car, and traveled over to church where I was planning on doing some piano practicing. It was a beautiful day—the shine was shining brightly and everything just seemed to be perfect. I arrived at the church and started to tickle the ivories while singing in the privacy of the sanctuary—this is one of my favorite past times—it’s actually kind of therapeutic —a form of meditation that I enjoy.

Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

I received a text message from my roommate Karey. Our dear friend from the theater, Pat Kautter had passed away. Some of you may already remember me talking about this previously (or heard through other facets of social media, but Pat Kautter was a very special individual who was fighting some very serious cancer in her body.

My phone dropped from my hands and my body collapsed to the floor where I started to bang with anger and cry uncontrollably. It felt like the sun that had been shining just moments ago in my travels had become less vibrant and warm. An individual who was incredibly special not only to me, but countless others had been taken too soon from us.

Right now, as I sit here writing this at 11pm, I’m filled with fear of the unknown because I was informed by my mom that my dad was admitted to this hospital…just about an hour prior to me writing this post. Not only was his white blood cell count incredibly high, but his body was incredibly weak. He was supposed to have surgery this past Friday, which got cancelled because of his immune system not being 100%. Now this. The fear of waiting. The unknown. My mind is rushing in a million different directions. I want to stay strong for my Mom. I want to have no fear. But damn it. I just can’t. I just want to break down and cry. In private. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.

Side note: I want to take a quick moment for all the people who sent good vibes, thoughts, and prayers the past couple of days. My family and I are lucky to be surrounded by such love and support. You have no idea how much all this means to us. Truly.

Over the next couple of days, the fear of the unknown is going to eat at me–it is going to feed upon my emotions and knock down my energy exhuberance of vibrancy and sunshine.

Why does it always take a moment of pain, sorrow, the unknown, or death for us to realize how many blessings we have in life? Why does it take a moment of darkness for us to realize what we are thankful for?

In the next two months of 2018, we will celebrate some of the biggest holidays that our society recognizes. These holidays are ones that revolve around the themes of family, thankfulness, blessings, joy, and peace.

These holidays are ones that will allow people of the community to come together and remind us that peace is a gift that ALL should receive regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status, and sexual orientation. These are holidays that will remind us that LOVE is a gift that we should show to ALL in the community and world.

In these next two months as we hustle and bustle about our lives, I both encourage and challenge you to take at least 10-15 minutes of each day to write down 1-2 things that you are thankful for. By the end of the year, you should have quite an extensive list.

Tell someone in your life today how much you appreciate them…how much you love them. Tell them right now.

Life can change in the blink of an eye. Don’t let a moment of darkness force you to remember all that you have in life to be thankful for.

Don’t let the fear of the unknown overcome your emotions.

Now, go.

Tell someone you love them before it’s too late…before that moment is gone forever.

Sprinkle sunshine always,
JP!

Before I kick off my writings for Week 8 of my blog, I must thank everyone for their immense love and support that was displayed with last week’s post. The amount of positive response, comments, and feedback I received was truly overwhelming and humbling. Thank you for sticking with me on this journey and being a part of it. I’m truly overjoyed to have each and every one of you with me each step of the way.

As we continue to move closer to the end of 2018, it saddens me greatly that the people of this country continue to get more and more polarized. No matter what political affiliation you identify with, it seems that we keep getting further away from working together to find common ground and work toward solutions for the issues that face us both now in the present and also the future.

Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” On January 2, 2019, I will reveal and launch a special project that will work to accomplish just that. It will allow everyone to look inside their hearts and come together for a common goal. There’s lots of back end work going into this project; however, several moments from earlier this year will make it even more special and sentimental. It can’t get here soon enough!

These days, it is not uncommon for me to be asked the questions of “how do you stay so optimistic and positive” or “how do you keep a smile on your face?” While you would think that the answers to these questions could be quite loaded and lengthy, they are actually quite simple.

The secret? Well, read on!

And…go follow me on Instagram if you haven’t already by clicking here!

So, where was I? Oh yes, the secret answers to the above questions that you just read moments ago. I was brought up on the principles of putting others first and showing them both love and kindness. Life isn’t about having the most friends, the most money, the most expensive luxuries, or being the most popular. It’s about making positive change in the world with what you have and lifting up others. And on January 2, I will open a new chapter based on these principles with all of you that I hope you will be a part of as well.

How can YOU make positive change in the world and lift up others in your life?

About two years ago, Katie Couric interviewed my spirit animal, Betty White in regards to the current state of the country. It is a piece of material that I still find relevant today and I would encourage you to stop reading my blog for just two minutes and watch the below clip. You can pick up reading my blog on the other side…

If, after watching this clip, you can’t figure out why Betty White is my spirit animal, then I might ask you to get your noggin checked out…just kidding…kind of…sort of…not really.

Are you guilty of saying “I hate this” and “I hate that?” Those of you who know me and read my “About Me” section on this blog know that I do my best to not say “I hate” and always try to replace it with “I dislike very much.” As you go about your daily lives, I would like to challenge you to be a LOVER and not a HATER. Show LOVE by sharing a smile with a stranger on the street. Show LOVE by sending a note of appreciation to someone in your life. Share LOVE by giving a hug to someone you know is going through a rough time. Show LOVE by seeking to understand someone else’s view point about a controversial topic by truly listening without judgment and open ears.

There is no doubt that the world is a scary place. However, it is up to each and every one of us to make the positive change and give others the love and kindness they deserve.

So, start today. Don’t waste another minute. And the next time you want to start off your thoughts with “I hate this” or “I hate that”—think of Betty White and her words of wisdom.

Take a leap of faith and be the cockeyed optimist.

Be the change.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Hello, readers! Today, I officially welcome you to week 7 of my blog. Once again, I thank you for both following on this journey and supporting me with your reading eyes, immense love, and undying support. It truly does mean the world to me and words in weekly posts can’t express the true amount of gratitude that I have in my heart.

For those of you who don’t know, National Coming Out Day is this coming Thursday, October 11th. This day is obviously one that holds a very special place in my heart.

This week, my post is a open letter full of vulnerability, emotions, and thank yous that I’ve wanted to write for quite some time. While the thoughts in this letter will be a bit lengthy, I hope that you will continue to read on until the end.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is JP Welliver and I’m 31 years old. I’m a openly gay single man living in the town of Lancaster where I work full time as an Account Manager at The Webstaurantstore, part time as a Customer Service Auditor for The Loomis Company, and music director of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Penryn, PA. And while I keep myself busy with these careers, I also find time to participate in theater productions at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, personal train twice a week, run, and also watch The Golden Girls. However, amongst the crazy schedule, the miles run, the weights lifted, and the large amounts of caffeine consumed, there is one thing that is always in the back of my mind constantly even with being in the 21st century. And that is my sexuality. Even in 2018, there are still moments where I feel judged and stared at.

I came out 13 years ago during junior year of high school and while it has been a wild ride in the time since that moment of clarity for me, there are many emotions that I still feel on the daily, which include several thank yous that I’ve held in for so long that I want to share today.

First off, I want to thank my parents. Thank you for having the courage to sit down and talk with me about my sexuality even though it was an uncomfortable territory for you at first. Thank you for the patience, understanding, and compassion that you have showed me every step of the way and continue to do each day. Without your guidance, I would not be the man that I am today. I would be lost in this world of negativity, hate, and pain if it wasn’t for the constant love that you have used from your souls to raise me on the principle of kindness for everyone regardless of religion, social status, ethnicity, political affiliation, or sexuality. I hope I continue to make you proud as I grow through the years ahead on the paths that await.

Secondly, I want to thank my brother. While you might not have been the most loving sibling to me during our time growing up, I truly wouldn’t want to have it any other way. Even though we may still have fighting battles of words and wit every now and then, you are someone that I look up to and truly admire. You are extremely hard working and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you mature into a loving husband to Mindy. You may have the brain of smarts, but I have the brain of good fashion sense. Ha!

Thirdly, I want to thank all of my Singing Lions from my time at Penn State. I’ve said this before, but if I was not a part of your group…your family, I would have left. Thank you for offering an environment where everyone could be themselves without judgment. I truly value the friendships that I have created with you and those friendships are responsible for getting me through some of the toughest moments of my 4 year college life at University Park.

Next on my list are my coworkers (at both the full time and part time locations) whom I get the pleasure of being around on the daily. Thank you for supporting me even through my moments of mistakes and failures. All of you bring so much to the table and have helped me grow emotionally and professionally. I only hope that we continue to push each other in our future growth paths together in making the lives of those we help day in and day out a bit better.

I want to take a moment to thank all the incredible friends who have supported me throughout my life in different capacities. It doesn’t matter if our paths have crossed for a hot second (literally) in the past, have crossed paths in the present, or will cross paths in the future…each of those moments (or future moments yet to happen) is incredibly special in the evolution of Mr. Sunshine as a human being.

I want to thank Missy, Elyse, and Marissa who had the ability to put up with me for many years during our living arrangements…and what fun we had together! And while we might not see each other as often as I would like (mostly because I’m so busy), I’m incredibly glad and grateful our paths crossed in this lifetime and that we stay in contact. I also love that we can look back on all the memories we created and laugh hysterically until it hurts. I love that we can use other to vent, offer advice, guidance, or talk about boys. You are definitely three special ladies to me personally even if I don’t always acknowledge it.

I want to thank Abby. She is always so kind and generous to me even in moments when I’m drained and exhausted. I love that we have been able to grow closer over the past couple of years and I know our friendship will grow more and more with each passing year. Thank you for always offering me advice and kind words at the times when I need to hear them most. Truly a beautiful soul.

I want to thank the Ephrata Performing Arts Center and all those I’ve met and had the pleasure of working with over the years. It is so special to me that I have access to a theater so close to home where the feeling of those around you is family. It is a safe place where I can be myself and find joy in the smiles I see on the faces of audience members when under the lights to perform. So many wonderful memories and moments have been created in that space and I know there are more to come. I can’t wait.

I want to thank Hank Angus and those from the Hope Express family that believed in me and helped me to uncover the definition of “being worthy” and keeping my passion with finding a cure for pediatric cancer alive. The kindness and generosity of everyone involved with this organization is immeasurable and I only pray that I can continue to strive and make a difference each day with sharing love and hope with everyone around me and igniting a fire within them to make positive change.

I want to think the late Pat Kautter who was a true pioneer in the theater world. I was thankful to work with her on a few different shows in multiple capacities at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center. She was always the “theater mom” who encouraged me not to give up, be true to my identity, and give each moment 110%…even if it meant smiling as I tried to fake tap dance!

A special thank you to my Grandma Neidermyer who left us back in 2006. More than a decade later, it still feels like yesterday when I was huddled around the bed witnessing your last breaths on this earth with all of the family crying tears of pain. I wasn’t ready for you to leave. Your gentle smile is one that is imprinted in my mind and your presence is one I feel from above, especially in moments when I’m struggling. Each day, I wake up and look at the very last picture we got together at the 2005 high school holiday concert that sits on my dresser. It was such a surprise to see you after the show and the smiles on both of our faces in this image are true joy. A moment I will never forget as long as I live.

I want to thank my personal trainer, Zach Musser. He has helped me stay motivated to better my body and mind physically and mentally. I’ve been seeing him for almost 2 years and I can’t begin to thank him enough for the lifestyle changes that he has helped me create for myself. Even if I give him attitude and sass during our early morning workouts, he never fails to push me harder with his undying encouragement and motivation, especially on those days whens I just want to quit.

I want to thank my roommate, Karey. We don’t see each other incredibly often because of our opposite and busy schedules, but knowing I have her in the house with me is such a comfort. In addition, she can always get me to laugh until I cry with the best jokes of wit that I’ve ever witnessed especially in times of complete distress where I have broken down into a hot mess in front of her. She is a gem.

I personally want to thank all the jocks and straight boys who got a kick out of making fun of me during the years of my childhood. Because of you, I learned to grow thick skin and realize that I shouldn’t give TWO HOOTS about what others think about me or my sexuality. And even though there are moments (mind you in today’s society…the 21ST CENTURY), that I still get stared at or name called, I often find it a bit more tolerable for me to move on and ignore it because of the harsh words that you threw at me growing up.

I want to thank all the guys in my life that have decided that it is better to not tell me the truth up front. Damn it. Just be honest. Don’t tell me that “you are not gay” to only have me find out that you actually are and have a boyfriend. Also, don’t just stop responding if I reach out to you. Like, damn it. Just say “I’m not interested” and be HONEST. Ugh. These are the moments that happen in my life where I find it so hard to trust guys, which continues (and probably always will be) a struggle for me. And while dating is not a priority for me at the present time, these moments are what make it so hard for me to get over the tarnished view of gay men that has been painted in my mind.

I want to thank the guy in CA (I will not mention a name) who reached out to me earlier this year to ask for money. Thank you for pulling at my heart strings with your master craft of a story to get me on board. And before I go any further–I’ve never met this guy in person, but we have a lot of mutual friends on social media and had also been exchanging messages on and off through Facebook Messenger as well. And while you might find it crazy and absurd that I did in fact loan this guy money (and I will not specify the amount), I am a firm believer in helping others because I was brought up on the principle of showing kindness to everyone. I still hold hope in my heart that this person did good with the money, but at the moment, it is really hard for me not to believe that they took advantage of the huge heart that I wear on my sleeve.

I want to thank my bestie, DMH. I know that I’ve said it many times before, but I’m so thankful that you were brought into my life a mere 4 years ago through what is one of the worst phone apps to this day. Our friendship has only gotten stronger since that time. You are one individual that I trust completely, which is hard for me to do these days because of the past I have experienced. Thank you for being a constant in my life amongst a world of change. Thank you for adding extra letters in your texts, never getting mad if I’m having reactive moments of emotion over aspects of my life, allowing me to word vomit in car travels to scary movies, not judging me for wanting to sing Josh Groban’s “Evermore” at the top of my lungs, knowing that sometimes all I need is a night of rummy playing to recharge, and for always being able to bring a smile to my face no matter what the situation. These are priceless things that I cherish greatly (more than you can ever imagine). For these many moments, I will never be able to repay you. I can only hope (well I don’t hope because I know for a fact) that our friendship will only continue to grow stronger as we grow older. . I’m very, very, VERY lucky to know you and have you by my side as a bestie. In today’s society, I think it is extremely important and necessary, especially in the gay community, to have a best friend that involves a platonic relationship. I think it is vital for both personal well being and emotional growth. We share something special and I hope that everyone in the world is jealous of it…because you know what…they should be–what we share as besties is not something many people have in this world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the memories thus far and for the memories that I know are yet to come. I hope you realize how much of a special individual you are to me and how vital of a role you play in Mr. Sunshine’s daily grind.

Finally, I want to thank everyone in life that has been able to look past the walls of judgment our society has built up to realize that I, along with my fellow LGBT brothers and sisters, are human beings full of love to give. We are no different than you. Just because we love someone of the same sex doesn’t mean that we should be called inappropriate names, stared at constantly, or judged because we want to be happy. Quite frankly, I’ve been called the word ‘faggot’ enough in my life.

As we come closer to National Coming Out Day, I want anyone in the world who is struggling with their sexuality to know that it will be OK. I know that it can be scary territory to navigate, but I assure you that you are NEVER ALONE. There will always be people around to wrap warmth and support around you in the moments of extreme darkness when you want to give up.

Open your minds. Open your hearts. Embrace the true colors of those around you. Our world needs to focus on bringing about change through facets of love and kindness. Be the light. Be the change.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well…HELLO THERE OCTOBER! And HELLO THERE friends! It has been a whole month of blogging thus far! This is officially post number six! Can I get a WOOT?!?! You know…I never believed people when they said that time went fast. Well, I was definitely wrong. Because it literally flies by…in the blink of an eye. Like, one day it is January 1st and then BOOM…it’s Christmas. Seriously though. It’s CRAY.

Last week, I took you on the “grand” tour of my casa, so I hope you enjoyed seeing into some of my most intimate spaces of the Sunshine Cottage that make me who I am.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live a day (and week) in the life of Mr. Sunshine? Well, look no further than these next few paragraphs because I’m about ready to give you a quick run down of what those 7 days look like. Hope you brought your energy drink because you might need it to keep up! Are you ready?

Oh…and before we start…I would like to personally thank Starbucks for making such a delicious beverage that is called the PSL. Literally…fall in a cup. If you are a Pretty Smart Lad (like me…OBVI…kidding), you should go enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte…right now. Well, not now because I want you to keep reading…but maybe after you are done! Deal? OK, let’s get started.

Oh…and one more thing…I’m so sorry. Tomorrow, October 2nd officially marks the 3 MONTH MARK until Sunshine Reveal #2! Do you have any guesses as to what it might be?! I’m anxious to hear your thoughts!

OK, now I’m ready to begin. Did you take a shot of espresso or coffee yet? I’ll give you a few seconds to go get one. Seriously. Go. Now. Grab and come back for the action-packed post.

We ask that you please hold on to all hats and glasses…we will be reaching speeds of 58mph…oops…sorry…that was the script you hear when in line for The Great Bear at Hersheypark.

I digress…again. Here we go…for real this time.

Sundays are for…sleeping in? WRONG! Not in Sunshine’s world! The alarm promptly goes off at 7:30am reminding me that I must wake up (off the couch of course),head up the stairs, freshen up with a clean shave and brushing of teeth, put on dress clothes, and head on over to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Penryn where I serve as Music Director. Arrival around 8:30am usually means I have some quiet time to mentally prepare, meditate, and practice piano as needed to get ready for service at 9:15am. After about an hour, church ends and 9 times out of 10, I head over to my parents house for one of my favorite traditions–Sunday lunch. Mama Welliver is a wonderful cook, so literally whatever she makes, I will eat. Except for brussel sprouts…GROSS. But she knows I don’t like them! Then, usually early afternoon means I must head on over to Ephrata Performing Arts Center for a rehearsal of some kind, which usually takes up a majority of the afternoon and evening. A typical end time is usually 9 or 10, so that means I get in my car and drive home, but not without stopping at Giant first for my grocery shopping extravaganza! Literally…I dislike grocery shopping…SO MUCH. Like, why are there aisles of so many different brands of cereals, toothpastes, paper towels, toilet paper…literally everything. Too many choices. I feel like I need to look into my crystal ball with helping me make a decision. However, the nice thing about a late night grocery shopping trip is that humans are usually very limited, which is nice. After arriving home, it’s time to put away the groceries and watch The Golden Girls before hitting the hay, which usually takes place around midnight or 1am.

Still with me? Good. On to the weekdays we go.

Mondays are for working a part time job! I commute to Reading where I get to spend 8 hours doing customer service auditing at The Loomis Company. This literally just started on September 24th and what an exciting adventure it will be! I’ll be working alongside two incredibly talented and smart women who will help me to grow and get me back in the flow of helping Customer Service Representatives perfect their skills and knowledge. After the work day is done, it is usually to the theater for more rehearsal (or meetings) that will last until about 10pm. Then home, Golden Girls, and sleep. You know…wash, rinse, repeat.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are for waking up at 6:30am and heading to training at Z Fitness with my buddy and FAVORITE personal Trainer, Zach Musser. Seriously, a beast…and funny too. I always love it when he brightens my morning workouts with his singing. And mind you my workout playlist consists of divas…Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion…you catch my drift. It’s pretty great. After an hour of getting my butt kicked with all different exercises, I head to work at The Webstaurantstore where I serve as a Platinum Account Manager. I have the best teammates who push me each and every day to be better! In addition, I have awesome customers from all over the United States that I get to interact with via email, chat, and phone calls. It’s pretty fantastic. And I love every moment. After putting in 8 hours, it’s usually off to the theater for more rehearsal. Are you sensing a pattern here? And after rehearsal…what comes next? I’ll take JP’s evening routine for 500! That’s right…home, Golden Girls, sleep.

Wednesdays and Fridays consist of waking up at 7am and hitting up The Webstaurantstore once again for my 8 hour days of Platinum account managing. After those hours are clocked, the evenings usually consist of working from home doing my customer service auditing, church choir rehearsal, or theater rehearsal. Oh…and sometimes coffee drinking and eating too! Can’t forget that!

Saturdays, you ask? Sleeping in? Day off? This is the part where I sound the air horn to indicate you are WRONG! Sleeping in and day off are two phrases that do not exist in my vocabulary. Saturdays are for working at the WEB for 8 hours and spending the evening at either the theater for rehearsal, doing some customer service auditing, spending time with my family, or on the rare occasion that nothing is happening, being with my friends.

Did you finish your energy drink and shot of espresso? Do you need to get one after reading this?

My life is crazy. Yes, you are correct. I’ve always THRIVED on being busy…for as long as I can remember. If you open up my planner, you would probably faint….it’s that full. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. How do I survive? With the help of support from family and friends, Dr. Pepper, iced coffee, and taking time (down time) for myself each night, which as you know is watching The Golden Girls.

Seriously though–find what you’re passionate about and do it. Take the risks. You’ve got nothing to lose.

From now until the end of the year, I will be doing:

Full time work at The Webstaurantstore, part time work of 15-20 hours doing customer service auditing for The Loomis Company, starting rehearsal as Music Director for the Kids for Kids Production of Mary Poppins at EPAC, being Assistant Stage Manager and ensemble member of the December production of Beauty and the Beast at EPAC, preparing music and service details for Christmas Eve at my church, working on my blog, finalizing details with my January 2 Sunshine Reveal #2, training for my half marathon on October 21st, performing acts of kindness whenever possible…and other random things here and there…you know, like sleeping, cleaning the house, and taking the contacts out of my eyes.

Do I need a personal assistant? Probably. Would I hire you? Probably. Are you allowed to bring me coffee? Probably. Actually, yes. Yes, you can.

Well, that’s the wonderful world of Disney for you. Oops…sorry, I mean wonderful world of Mr. Sunshine. This was probably a really boring post to read, so I apologize about that. But seriously, each week can’t be like an exciting read…there has to be at least some kind of lame-ness involved. Am I right??

Well, it’s time to go take out my contacts…and find the couch in the living room…and put on The Golden Girls.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe if you haven’t already. I would very much appreciate it.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Follow me on Instagram…@mrsunshine827! Yay! Yay! YAY!

Well, hello there! Today, I greet you with a big, heart-felt “welcome back” as we enter week 5 of my blog! I’m both happy and thankful that you have decided to come back and experience me for yet another week. I couldn’t be more grateful for the immense amount of support and love I’ve received thus far on the journey–and there are many more miles to go, so prepare for even more adventures with Mr. Sunshine by your side.

This week, I thought I would take you beyond the walls of Sunshine Cottage for an exclusive look into the life behind the doors as we strip away the iced coffee. And…before we continue…don’t forget to follow me on Instagram if you aren’t following me already…@mrsunshine827. It’s pretty simple.

Also, before I start giving you the “grand” tour of my living space, can we just take a moment to pause and discuss the AMAZING-NESS that is known as the below three things…

1. Carrie Underwood’s new album…SO good at giving me all the feels.
2. Betty White at the Emmy Awards…literally the classiest & CUTEST woman alive!
3. The trailer for Mary Poppins Returns…like…I. CAN’T. EVEN. DEAL. AHHH.

Hi, my name is Tour Guide Barbie and I smile until my cheeks hurt…well I mean…basically that is me. Today, I will be giving you a “grand” tour of the spaces in my house that give me the most rays of inspiration on the daily.

Have any of you ever watched those HGTV shows (Fixer Upper or House Hunters, etc) where you literally see homes that have everything? And I mean…EVERYTHING…basically the only thing missing is an elephant from the Circus, but I’m sure there is some home out there even with that. Well, my home is NOT like one of those homes. In fact, it is probably the house that Chip and Joanna Gaines would show people as a “fixer upper” because from the outside you see gutters that look like they are dangling for their life, a front porch that seems to be semi-rotted, and grass (that is currently as I write this) about 2 feet tall. And…to answer your question, no I’m not ashamed to admit these things because they display the imperfections of myself that make me who I am. More on that later. But let’s get through the front door…

As you walk over the “Live. Laugh. Love.” doormat that is placed outside the bright blue door of my casa, you are immediately greeted by the living room and big, comfy couch where I spend most of my nights. If you recall from one of my first posts, I am someone who LOVES sleeping on the couch and NOT in sheets. Yes, that is correct. BREAKING NEWS: almost every night of the week, you can find me on the couch. This couch literally belongs in the Smithsonian–it IS that comfy.

Further into the living room, you will see a fireplace (that I never use…imagine that–probably because I can’t imagine chopping wood to burn in it…go figure that one out) along with one of my favorite mantras on an end table coupled with a rainbow. The mantra is all you need is love–something I try to live out on the daily while also constantly reminding myself of how proud of I am of my true colors. The living room is also where you will find my piano, which I have literally played less than 10 times since moving almost 2 years ago. Say what?! And yes, there is dust on it. This is where those handy dandy items called Swiffer come in handy!

Now, let us take our twinkle toes up the staircase to the second level where some more focal points of my life can be found. The second floor is where you can also find my fiercely witty and incredibly entertaining roommate, Karey. She is definitely one of a kind and I hope you all have the pleasure of getting to meet her one day. Not only can she belt any song in the world with grace and poise, she can make you laugh at the drop of a hat. And while we don’t see each other too often, it is always comforting to know that I have her presence in the house with me.

Anyway, back to the tour! If you look above the staircase, you will find a framed photo collage of moments from my time dancing in THON 2010 as a Senior at Penn State that my mom created for me. This is definitely one of my proudest moments of life thus far in 31 years–no sleeping or sitting for 46 hours while fighting to find a cure for pediatric cancer. This framed collage is something I get to witness each and every day when I leave the house, so it serves as a constant reminder to me that there is HOPE and that WE WILL find a cure one day for this disease. Pediatric cancer research has been a passion of mine since my time at Penn State and I will be forever grateful for my involvement with THON and The Hope Express for allowing me to keep that passion alive as I continue on in my adult life.

As we travel down the hallway, you will find my bedroom where there are several special entities! First off, my tie collection can be found hanging on the door to my closet. I am a huge fan of the bowtie and together with the neckties, I have about 40. If you ever need a last minute gift idea for me, there you go! You heard it here first! In addition to the tie collection, I have a HUGE fun sock collection. Another one of my secret obsessions. Well…I guess it really isn’t a secret! I’m short of just about 100 pair and have a whole drawer to prove it! Once again, if you need a last minute gift suggestion, you can never go wrong with fun socks.

On the wall, you will find built in shelves for…BOOKS?! Why, of course not! Who do you think I am? Belle from a small, provincial town? This is the 21st century and I’m an openly gay man…the built in shelves are OBVI for shoes. I mean…come on. Who doesn’t love a good pair of shoes?

In all honesty though, most of my shoes are falling apart…and I’m OK with that. Because to me, life isn’t about having the latest and greatest in fashion–it’s about making life GREAT and MEMORABLE with what you have.

There are marks on the wall. There is peeling paint in multiple rooms. There are gaps in the laminate flooring. There are not granite countertops. There are not stainless steel appliances. There are picture frames that are still on the ground because I haven’t found free moments to place them on the wall. There is dust. My backyard literally looks like something straight out of Africa. There are thousands of imperfections. And I have no problem with that.

My house is full of love ready to give to whomever walks through it regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or social status. My house is a safe haven that I can retreat to when I need that moment of recharge away from the world and humans. My home is a place where my mind is constantly on the go thinking about the next project or task to involve myself with that concerns sharing love and kindness with the world.

At the end of the day life isn’t about having the most friends, the most money, the most expensive luxuries, or being the most popular. It’s about making positive change in the world with what you have and lifting up others by showing kindness and love to all.

My living habitat is living proof of this.

Embrace the imperfections in your life. They are what make you YOU.

This officially ends the “grand” tour of Sunshine Cottage. I hope to see you soon!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

So…last week I talked about the 5 things that I do in my life to keep me happy and smiling. This week, for the monumental fourth week of my blog, I decided to do an off road experience and talk about the complete opposite of happiness, so I hope you brought your seat belts to BUCKLE UP. I know. I know. You’re probably asking yourself “But why Mr. Sunshine?!” Well, even Mr. Sunshine has a few cloudy days and rumbles of thunder sometimes, so I want to explore vulnerability and let you know that it is OK to cry and show emotion.

First off though, can we just take a hot second of a moment to talk about how the summer is already coming to a close? To me, it feels like we were just ringing in the New Year watching the ball drop in NYC to light up the bright, big 2018 in Times Square! With this week’s post, I actually was ahead of the game and not procrastinating to the last minute…BELIEVE it. I decided to take a rainy Tuesday evening to spend some time reflecting, drinking a few sips of wine, listening to inspirational tunes (well, actually Disney princess songs to be honest), and writing out these very words you are reading now.

As I look back at the summer and the months that have passed thus far in 2018, there is much to reflect upon–moments of pure happiness and joy that put a big smile on my face and also moments of both sadness and darkness that have brought tears to my eyes. Some of those joyful moments I’ve had the privilege of experiencing this year were stage managing my first show on the EPAC stage, becoming a mentor as part of the Worthy Mentor Program, enjoying a week long vacation at the beach with my family, and launching my very first personal blog!

Right now, as I write the words to this current sentence, I have one of my favorite hymns playing in the background on my laptop which happens to be a version performed by one of my favorite country singers, Carrie Underwood. And can we just talk about not only how BEAUTIFUL her voice is, but also how BEAUTIFUL her legs are too?!. Yes, that’s right…#Carrielegs. Anyhoo…getting back on track from the diversion of hashtags and beautiful legs. Gosh…I LOVE legs.

For many of you who know me, it will come as no shocker that this hymn is the classic “How Great Thou Art.” This is one of those hymns, no matter how many times I play it, sing it, or listen to it makes me tear up with emotion when thinking about life–whether it is thinking about what has happened in the past, thinking about what is happening in the present, or thinking about what is going to happen in the future. It’s one of the few hymns that can really cause me to stop and think about what is around me and how appreciative and lucky I am for all that God has given me in this life.

Earlier this summer, I learned that my brother and his wife had experienced a miscarriage for the second time. She was carrying twins and it was a little over a year since she had gone through her first miscarriage. I learned of this information on a Friday afternoon at work and immediately had to leave my desk to go out and cry in the privacy of my car. It was a moment of breakdown for me.

That Sunday at church, we happened to be singing “How Great Thou Art” as the closing hymn to the service. During the last couple of verses, I had a breakdown of emotion and tears while playing the notes on the organ–I couldn’t even sing along with the congregation because I was so distraught inside with sadness. It was one of those raw moments of my life that really hit me deep down.

Last year, toward the end of summer, I learned that a very dear friend of mine who I had the pleasure of working with on two shows at the EPAC had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of some vital, internal organs. The outlook was not good and I remember crying on the couch the night I found out because, once again, I was overcome with a raw emotion of sadness. I had the opportunity to work alongside this individual during my Stage Manager duties this year, which was a true blessing and gift for me–something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

This particular individual, who happened to be Pat Kautter, passed away on Monday, August 20. She had given a brave and courageous fight to the disease for just about a year. I happened to be at church that morning practicing piano and received a text from my roommate, Karey letting me know Pat was no longer with us. I will never forget that moment. I dropped my phone and fell to my knees in tears and screamed at the top of my lungs. The tears flowed for a good half hour as I just knelt on the carpet…feeling hopeless and letting the tears fall down my face and hit the ground. Even three weeks later, there are moments of complete breakdown I still have at random times.

These moments of extreme emotion happen to be the ones where I’m reminded of how much I have in my life–how many wonderful blessings I have been given. We all have so much to be thankful for, but we always seem to get caught up in the daily grind of our busy lives that we forget to take those necessary moments to step back and observe the beauty of the world around us.

While listening to “How Great Thou Art” with writing this post, I was able to close my eyes, appreciate and reflect on some blessings in my life for a few moments, and cry some tears. A loving and supportive family, a wonderful job and career, a roof over my head, amazing friends who help me to make lasting and wonderful memories, a church family that will go to any lengths to help each other through the rough times, and so many other entities that are too numerous to mention. These are just some of the things that cause my eyes to swell with tears and my soul to sing at the same time.

It should come as no surprise that I wear my heart on my sleeve. I cry…a lot. I get emotional…a lot. And it bothers me to no end that our society seems to have a stigma on males who cry a lot and show vulnerability and emotion. It DOES NOT make us less manly. It DOES NOT make us less of a person. It DOES; however, show that we are a genuine human being with feelings.

Sometimes we just want a good cry to get it all out. Or a warm hug and embrace to know that it is all going to be OK. We shouldn’t be judged for that.

The next time you get caught up in the life around you, take those necessary moments to step back and reflect. take a moment to listen to “How Great Thou Art” and think about the aspects of your life that make your soul sing. Take a moment to tell someone in your life that you love and appreciate them because you never know when that moment will be gone.

Take a moment to let human emotions take over the waterworks of your eyes.

It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to show emotion. It’s OK to be vulnerable.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @mrsunshine827

Well, good heavens to Betsy! Here we are already in week 3 of my blog! Where is the time going? Since last week’s writing, I’ve received a few more wrinkles in my forehead, gained several grey hairs on the top of my head, and earned tan lines to my tan lines. Sorry, no picture evidence for that…just take my word for it. TRUST in the sunshine.

It’s amazing what a week at the beach can do for you. While we dub these trips of relaxation and rejuvenation “vacations,” it seems that our minds still have much to process, especially when we are bombarded with news stories about the world we live in.

For me, deciding what this blog post would be about came from thoughts I had during my runs along the beach as I watched the seagulls fly, waves crash, and sweat drip down into my eyeballs causing me to go blind for literally a hot second. And I mean a HOT second. Like…98 degrees hot. And no, I’m not referring to the boy band although I do find the men who compromise that musical group quite attractive.

But that is neither here nor there. Well, it’s here because I just wrote it…but like…I digress.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked by others “how do you stay happy?” or “how do you remain so positive?” or “what is your secret to being Mr. Sunshine?” The answer my friends is blowing in the wind…well, actually there’s nothing blowing in the wind although I do wish there would be pretty, colored leaves blowing in the wind much like that during the montage of “Colors of the Wind” in Pocahontas. Am I right or am I right?! Oh…and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram…@mrsunshine827. Shameless plug…sorry not sorry.

Okay let’s get to the meat and potatoes of this post…seriously, wish I had meat and potatoes right now, especially garlic mashed potatoes with butter…like rumbly in my tumbly. AHHHH. Diversion…again! Keep me on track!

Here are just a few simple things I do in life to keep myself happy, smiling, and spreading sprinkles of sunshine.

1. Listening to my favorite song at least twice a day.

Yes, that’s right. Jam. It. Out. Singing at the top of my lungs whether in tune or not is something that I make sure I give myself time to do every single day…at least twice. Whether it’s in the shower, in my car ride to work or home from work, or in the privacy of my own room, this is one of my simplest secrets to keeping positive energy going. And the jam I listen to? Well, it should come as no surprise that this song for me is Katy Perry’s “Firework.” OBVI. Like…do you even know me??

2. Exercising and sticking with it. 

These days, a lot of people have specific workout regimens that they adhere to on the daily. Working out gives me an adrenaline rush unlike any other because it is something that I can put energy into, especially negative energy if I’m feeling pessimistic or cynical about something. I see a personal trainer twice a week (shout out to the INCREDIBLE Zach Musser at Z Fitness–check him out here http://zfitnessllc.com) and also run about three times a week. Running is like a cleansing for me because it is one on one time with myself and nature (if I’m outside) that is such a revival of the soul. Working out just makes me feel good about my body because I know that I’m strengthening it to make it better.

3. Taking time each night to laugh. 

They say that laughter is the best medicine and what truth that is. This is a HUGE rule of thumb for me and I carve out time each night before going to bed to laugh. How you ask? Well, if you don’t know the answer to this, I will literally go and throw a pie tin filled with Cool Whip in my face. I make sure to watch an episode (or two…or seven) of The Golden Girls each night before I hit the hay on the couch. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen the episodes, they still crack me up…a lot…to tears. Obviously, you don’t have to watch The Golden Girls; however, I would highly encourage you to find laughter in something each night because it will make you feel so good inside. It will keep you young too…and might reduce some wrinkles on your forehead. And who doesn’t love a little wrinkle reduction action?!

4. Spending quality time with good people. 

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Surround yourself with good humans. Get around those in life who will encourage you, make you laugh, give you warm hugs, lend a listening ear, offer a shoulder to cry on, and give all the love in the world until the end of time. You will know exactly who these people are because of the energy that bubbles out from their soul when in their presence. Genuine goodness can’t be faked. As the saying goes, “your vibe attracts your tribe.”

5. Performing a random act of kindness at least once a day. 

This is probably one of my favorites and comes with the mantra that I try to live out as Mr. Sunshine in being kind to one another. Something so simple can change the entire world. If we all just took a moment in our lives to share an act of kindness with someone, what a difference we could make. Paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru, sharing a warm smile on the street with a stranger, offering to help a coworker with a big project, volunteering at a local food bank or shelter…the possibilites are endless and you can be incredibly creative. Trust me when I say that performing a random act of kindness will give you the GREATEST fufillment in your heart. Nothing is more rewarding. And if you need some inspiration, might I suggest Chicken Soup for the Soul Random Acts of Kindness. 

Well, there you have it folks. My top 5 biggest secrets on how I keep Mr. Sunshine alive. I hope that you will try some of these tactics in your own personal life in hopes of keeping that positive flame burning inside, especially in the moments when it’s ready to go out. And if you do, I would love to hear about it! And, if you have other suggestions on how you keep smiling on the daily, let me know!

“‘Cause baby you’re a firework, come on show ’em what your worth, make ’em go “oh, oh, oh!” as you shoot across the sky-y-y!”

Now, go keep the sunshine alive!

Follow me on Instagram @mrsunshine827!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Well, grab me a box of Skittles and pinch my cheeks! You are back for my second week! (And that rhymed…what are the chances?! I didn’t even try that!) I’m super stoked that you’ve decided to come along for the ride and follow my writings as I continue to expand this blog.

This week? Well, you are in luck! We are going to talk about those two words that we all know and love…SO much. And…no, it’s NOT ice cream or hot dogs!

ONLINE DATING. (And cue dramatic horror music in the background as my jaw drops to the floor much like the image of Kevin as he looks in the mirror after putting on after shave in Home Alone).

This is something that has always given me anxiety, and quite frankly, I’ve never been a fan of it. Why, you ask? Well, with being a gay man in Lancaster County, we’ve got slim pickings to begin with, so like BYEEEEEEE.

There seem to be a million different dating sites and apps these days–OKCupid, EHarmony, Match.com, Plenty of Fish, Tinder, bacon and eggs–oh wait…that’s just some of my favorite breakfast foods. Hey now! Oh, and before I move on…make sure you follow me on Instagram @mrsunshine827 if you aren’t already. Kthanks.

One of the many lessons that I’ve learned in my 31 years on this Earth is to take chances, go for it, and literally not give two hoots about what people think. Well…there are sometimes when you should give a hoot about what other people think, but not in this case that I’m about to describe.

Wait…what’s that now? You want an illustration about how I took a chance and didn’t give a hoot about what someone else thought? Well, goodness gracious! I thought you would never ask!

Flashback to my college sophomore year when I was taking ECON02 during my Spring semester. Class took place in the Forum Building, which was a huge room of stadium seating that sat approximately 350 people. I was never a huge fan of this class, but one day I happened to spot a boy from across the way that I found to be quite cute. I could barely pay attention to what I was learning because I felt like my eyes were always glancing over to where he sat. But like, can you say creeper much?! Listen…don’t judge me…yet.

One day, I left class and made it a priority to find out who this guy was. So, I took to one of the computer labs and began to start searching Facebook. And what do you know? Low and behold, after about 30 minutes of searching, I found him! DING! DING! For the win!

Yeah, I was feeling pretty confident.

The next step? Remember when I said earlier about taking chances and not giving a hoot about what others think? Yeah, well, here we go. Buckle up and get ready to judge me…BIG time.

I took to Facebook messenger (obvi) and messaged the boy introducing myself and mentioning that I saw him sitting in the back of my ECON02 class. Pretty straight forward and normal. Fast forward when the boy replied and we exchanged a few other messages about the class and how much we disliked it. Things are going pretty well, right? You would think so until Mr. Sunshine decides to be REAL BOLD and go in the for the kill with the below line…

“If you want to sometime, I would really like to get to know you in a comfortable, relaxed setting.”

Are you kidding me? Who even says anything like that? Not only does it sound dirty, but it’s like…like…I don’t even know what it is. EMBARRASSING. Insert face planting emoji from your Iphone times a million right here.

Needless to say, the boy happened to know the roommate I was living with at the time and politely asked her for advice on how to tell me that he wasn’t gay.

I mean…I guess it could’ve been worse.

To this day, that line I used still cracks me up because I can’t believe that I would EVER use such a phrase with anyone regardless of how well I know them. Looking back, that was literally 0 to 60 in like 5 seconds. CRAY.

Always be true to yourself and go with your gut. Just maybe try to steer away from phrases that use “comfortable, relaxed setting” unless you happen to be describing the furniture in the new living room as part of a prize you could win on The Price is Right.

So yeah…Mr. Sunshine and online dating…not my strong suit, but here are a few things that I’ve learned from the experience:

1). Always be true to yourself no matter what.

2). Go with your GUT.

3). Don’t give a hoot about what others think.

4). Try not to use the phrase “comfortable, relaxed setting” unless absolutely necessary.

Follow me on Instagram @mrshine827

To collab with me, questions, or feedback email mrsunshine827@gmail.com!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!