Mr. Sunshine Smiles

Happy Monday, folks!

We are almost to the end of October which is literally insane to think about.

I feel like it was just yesterday when we were watching the ball drop in Times Square signifying the start of 2022.

And here we are, ready to say hello to another new year after we experience the full speed ahead mentality of the next two months.

Y’all better buckle up your seat belts.

And yes, I just did say y’all.

Oh…this is post number 190.

In case you care or were wondering.

Let’s get down to business.

Encanto is playing in the background for the second time since the weekend started.

My mind is racing.

It has been racing for quite some time.

As a 35-year-old, there are things that I experience on the daily that make me feel anxious and worried.

What act of violence to hurt others will happen next in our world?

Will I have enough money to get through the month and pay the bills?

Can I manage to take on a project in the new year to try and change the world?

How can I support others around me to help them with their specific needs?

How can I support myself in life without feeling selfish?

How can I teach others to be kind in their daily routine?

These are questions that are deep and can make my thoughts go down a rabbit hole without any clear answer or end in sight.

This video is one that my life coach, Daniel shared with me back in July of this year and it is something I constantly struggle with, so I share it with you below.

Putting myself first is not something that is easy for me, especially when I consider myself someone who thrives on the joy that I get from helping others.

But how can I continue to be Mr. Sunshine for others in my life in the world if I can’t be Mr. Sunshine for myself?

If I’m not filling my OWN CUP, how can I possibly help the cup of others to overflow with joy?

Finding motivation to get out of the warm covers in the morning has been more of a challenge recently, but I do it.

And I get the blood pumping by doing some push-ups, squats, and sit ups.

I’ve found it much more difficult recently to not take things personally. I seem to be at a heightened emotional state constantly because of everything that is happening in life.

I fear constantly that I will fail the people in my life by either saying no or not executing something well enough that it creates more issues.

I work my ass off putting in hours at four different jobs to make ends meet and quite frankly, there are times when I don’t want to communicate with anyone and want to sit in silence—with my phone on DND and play The Golden Girls or Encanto in the background.

When I have to emerge as a leader in the church where talk about money can bring up negative feelings or questions about the future, I shut down.

When I hear others talk about their fabulous trips or the latest and greatest thing that they bought for their lives, I become quiet because I don’t just have the ability to do that. I have to plan ahead and work hard constantly to make ends meet or just give myself a little splurge on that little special something. It isn’t something that can just happen with the snap of my fingers, so if you get to have that lifestyle just realize that not everyone can live that reality.

When I think about anything related to the world of dating or sexual relations, I just panic because most experiences with boys since the college years have been traumatizing to me in their own unique way…and well…believe or not…the self-conscious feelings start to take over.

So, what am I getting at?

If I seem off, more quiet than normal, non-communicative, or not the bundle of sunshiny energy you are used to seeing from me, please just know that is my way of processing the thing that we call life.

It is one of the ways I fill my cup with self-love.

I grow quiet, I like to be alone in solitude watching my favorite TV show/or movie, and I like to just be.

This week, practice self-love in a way that both rejuvenates YOU and fills YOUR cup with the energy you need to keep pushing forward in this crazy world.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Here we are! Another week of October has officially begun!

And I will admit that this past week in Lancaster, PA has felt unusually mild for Fall weather. It almost felt like it was summer again with the sunshine.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the sweater weather.

I just want to walk out the front door early in the morning bundled up in a sweatshirt.

Anyhoo, let’s get on to this week’s post, shall we?!

As I write these words for you, I find myself shutting my eyes because I’m exhausted.

EXHAUSTED.

A word that has seemed to creep into the vocabulary of many of us more often than not these days.

Anyone else relate to this feeling?

I can’t be the only one.

This past week has been filled with news from different facets that have all affected my mentality in a negative way.

And because of those negative feelings that have struck me in the face head on, I have found it even more crucial and important to find sunshine and joy in my life.

And when I find those moments of sunshine and joy, I make sure to soak it in.

This past week, I found sunshine and joy in the following:

1. The smiles of the kids as Pastor Angie and I did a children’s message during our faith community’s worship service.
2. The energy of the INCREDIBLE voices of the cast of The Color Purple at The Ephrata Performing Arts Center which runs through October 29th. You should experience it too. Buy tickets at epactheatre.org. Do it now. Like. Seriously. It is SO good.
3. Cuddling with a blanket and bag of berry flavored lifesavers while the fall breeze came through the windows and a romantic comedy played in the background.
4. The heart of kindness I felt in the face of a young child who put up their hands in a stop motion to make sure I avoided the squirrel that was in the middle of the parking lot as I went to park my car.
5. The laughter I felt with my coworkers when we experienced picking up the wrong drink from a local Starbucks establishment in what could only be considered and described as a classic comedy of error.
6. The creativity of Mackenzie as she built her Legos and Ellie’s smile as I held her in my arms jumping up and down as we walked throughout the house.
7. The immense amount of singing and smiles on the faces of the crowd at the 55 and over community that I had the extreme pleasure and opportunity to travel to and accompany some friends on the piano as they sang hits from Broadway shows.

The mental health of our world is declining.

And it seems to be declining at an extremely alarming rate.

And that has made the need to find joy and sunshine in life even more crucial.

Where have you found joy and sunshine in this past week?

Where will you find the joy and sunshine this week?

Are you being kind to the others in your life around you?

Find the joy.

Find the sunshine.

And take care of YOU.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Good morning and happy Monday folks!

Here we are entering the second week of October already!

Like, how is that even possible?

Thanksgiving and Christmas are literally tomorrow.

Are you ready?

Because I’m not.

These days, I feel like I can’t open my phone, laptop, or any other device to read the news or keep up to date with what is happening in the world without becoming overly anxious, sad, or disheartened by what is happening.

I can’t imagine I’m the only one who feels this way.

Anyhoo, let’s get down to business.

Shall we?

Cuddle up in your blanket and grab your favorite warm beverage because here we go!

This past Saturday, I got to experience Kinky Boots at the Fulton Theater in Lancaster with my bestie, Devin.

This was the second time we had seen the show because back in 2017 when I turned 30, we saw the show on Broadway.

I can honestly that I think I enjoyed both productions equally (maybe the Broadway one a tad bit more); however, the costumes, dancing, sets, and colors were fabulous.

But above all of those things, the most important quality to me was the message that continues to resonate with me as an openly gay man in the 2022 world around us.

At the end of the show, the cast comes together to sing a song called Just Be” (link below) and they talk about 6 steps that every individual in this world should attempt to become a more loving place for ALL.

Pursue the truth.

Learn something new.

Accept yourself and you’ll accept others too.

Let love shine.

Let pride be your guide.

You can change the world when you change your mind.

How true all of these words above are.

I hope and pray that each and every one of you will strive to live these out in your life today, tomorrow, and all days after.

Our world needs more love, color, and it is up to you and me to be more colorful.

Fruity pebbles aren’t the only thing in this world that can be colorful.

I challenge you to be colorful and to lead each day with love.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, everyone!

And happy October too!

Can you believe that we are officially into the tenth month of the year?!

Say WHAT?!

Yesterday, I had the extreme pleasure of being able to speak as part of Lititz Chooses Love’s Coming Out Festival.

It was beautiful.

I share those words with you now.

Hi everyone! It is quite an honor to be here today surrounded by so many wonderful, loving, and supportive individuals! 

It is an extremely humbling opportunity for me to share a few words with you that I hope will bring encouragement and fill you with hope. 

For those who may not know, my name is JP Welliver and I am an extremely proud gay man who has been out of the closet since 2005–the junior year of my high school career. 

And while the experience of coming out of the closet was one that lifted an incredibly huge weight off my shoulders and while I was supported (and continue to be supported) by extremely loving parents, family, and friends–I know that is not a reality for everyone.

The year is 2022 and people continue to be chastised, judged, treated unfairly, beaten, abused, marginalized.

Individuals who identify in the LGTBQ+ community and embrace love for all can’t even walk around in public holding hands without being stared at or given verbal abuse. 

And that breaks my heart. 

And it should break yours as well. 

When I began to write these words a few weeks ago, I tried to think about things in life that bring me joy. 

And I landed on the rainbow. 

The rainbow. 

A symbol that is intensely joyful that when it transforms the sky with its thin band of beautiful colors, it stops crowds of people in their tracks…

…grabbing their photo to capture the moment and experience the magic and beauty of its majestic colors. 

Just thinking about a rainbow image makes me smile.

The rainbow is something that can bring a sense of energy and enthusiasm that unites crusaders of LGBTQ+ activism under a banner of activism with a feeling of joy. The rainbow welcomes outsiders and unites all in a common cause. 

I want to take a moment to share reflections with those out there struggling with their identity and sexuality. Always be true to yourself and never sacrifice anything for what you feel in your heart. Know that you are not alone and that there will always be people around to wrap you in love and warmth when the world seems cold and closes in with darkness. Find your support system. They are out there and are ready to love and support you in life’s toughest moment of weakness.

I want to take a moment to share some reflections to those who view me and my fellow LGTBQ+ community as different. I hope that you will one day be able to look past the walls of judgement that you have built up and realize that we are no different than you. And while we may identify with feelings for those of the same sex, we are still human beings full of love and pride.   

I encourage all of you to celebrate the rainbow and the LGTBQ+ community and to extend a hand to all in this world by spreading love and kindness.  Not just this month, but every month of the year. Do it today, tomorrow, and each day after. 

There may be days in my life left on this Earth that I (along with some of you here today) get bullied, called faggot or other derogatory terms, or struggle with the thoughts of hurting yourself. Hate, prejudice, and bigotry are still very much alive in our Country.

And if you are someone or happen to know someone who thinks these entities do not exist, I would kindly ask you to look around you or when you find yourself in the comfort of your home later this evening to look out the window. 

And as you gaze out that window, I ask you to look at the world around you and realize that it is not perfect and far from it.

And after looking out the window and at the world, go look at yourself in the mirror.

And as you look at yourself in the mirror, take a moment to ask yourself this question:

“Am I enabling the problem or helping to end it.”

While I realize that some of you have never experienced a moment of bigotry, prejudice, or hate (and might never experience one), I need you to understand that it still exists.

Very much so.

For so many people from all different walks of life…not just those who identify as part of the LGTBQ+ community.

And it is a reality that I have lived in these 35 years of life more than once. More times that can be counted on your fingers and toes combined.

Do you ever walk out of your house in fear that you might get hurt because of the person you are and people you love? 

Do you ever think that you will be discriminated against because of the people you love? 

Do you ever think that you will be made fun of or bullied because of who you are?

These are all questions that I have (and continue to) answer ‘yes’ to on the daily.

And while I hope and pray that we will eventually live in a world where none of this hatred and prejudice exist, I sincerely hope and pray that you will do your best to show love and kindness to everyone you meet and to help bring an end to discrimination and all the elements of hatred that come along with it.

But I do know this. I am a believer in sharing love and kindness to everyone regardless of social status, ethnicity, religion, skin color, or sexual orientation. 

I fight for what I believe in.

Every morning, I wake up and look in the mirror and repeat the below mantra to myself:

I am loved. I am worthy. I am colorful.

I stand before you in this very moment with great pride in my true colors and can’t wait to continue sharing with the world who I am and what I’m about. 

We need to stop the hating, the judgments, the bullying, and work together as one to break down the walls of hate that have paralyzed our society with the belief that the LGTBQ+ community is different. This world needs more love.

The events that have unfolded and continue to unfold in the world around us are clear examples that we are in need of so much more love and kindness.

Where are the open arms of love that we should be extending to ALL humans regardless of the gender of the humans they love? 

When will the hating stop? 

When will the violence end? 

When are we going to wake up as a human race and realize that people who love the same sex are no different than anyone else? 

When is the world going to realize that love is love is love?

And even when life isn’t a rainbow, I’m a proud one that will continue to be the symbol of joy to puncture the despair around us and send up flag signaling hope to all. 

Let’s continue to be those flags of hope together. 

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Monday greetings, folks!

Or at least I think it is Monday…can someone confirm?

Oh, and happy Fall too!

I’m not going to lie…writing this week’s blog post was a challenge.

Like…writer’s block kicked in.

There are weeks when I know exactly what I’m going to write about and the words flow on the screen as I type furiously on the laptop.

And there are weeks when I literally stare at the screen and can’t think of the words to share with you.

Well, it was one of those weeks.

I spent some of the Sunday afternoon driving around in my car trying to find inspiration.

I stopped in at my full-time job’s office and sat at my desk thinking inspiration would magically come to me.

I walked around the office building doing laps several times hoping the words would start spilling from my mind to my fingers.

Nothing.

And, here it is, 10:31pm on a Sunday evening, and I’m lying on my bed with my laptop currently writing what you are reading.

And that was after staring at the screen for 30 minutes as the cursor flashed in front of my face.

So, let’s get on with it.

I won’t keep you long.

Earlier today when I was driving around in my car, I started to cry.

It was impossible to hold back the tears though I tried to keep them from flowing down my cheeks.

Just last week I was crying with Pastor Angie in her office…and here I was…crying again uncontrollably in the privacy of my car with the tunes playing from my phone as the sky around me started to become dark with storm clouds.

And I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was crying about.

It was like a combination moment of both feeling lost in the world while also feeling disheartened by its events.

And after driving around for about 45 minutes, I saw the sun ever so slightly peak through above me.

It was beautiful.

It was like God and the world telling me to pause…inhale…exhale.

Pause.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Let go of the negative shit and move on.

And with the letting go, make sure to take moments to find comfort in the plain and simple.

Take that extra scoop of ice cream from the carton.

Embrace squeezing the pillow on the nights when you feel scared.

Smile at the sunshine in the sky.

Have that extra cocktail with your friends at the bar and stay out past your bedtime.

Embrace the peace and darkness of your bedroom (or other room) and sit with your eyes closes for 5 minutes.

Enjoy the sensation of soap cleaning your hands as you lather away the germs from life.

Wrap yourself tighter in favorite blanket that offers security from all the insecurities.

Stand in a hot shower for an extra minute as you breathe out the toxicity of whatever it is that is grappling your mind.

Smell that fresh bouquet of flowers from the side-road stands you pass on your drive to work.

Take a drive in the Countryside with no agenda or time constraints.

Cry.

Plain and simple.

I hope that each of you will take just a few moments to find comfort in the plain and simple of life.

Today, tomorrow, and each day after.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Hello and welcome to another Monday, new week, and new post!

And while I will be the first to tell you that I love the heat and sun of Summer, I am quite anxious and excited to experience the cooler temperatures that the Fall season brings us.

As well as everything pumpkin…I mean DUH.

It’s that time again for pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin carving, pumpkin pie, etc.

Would you believe that I even found pumpkin spice whole milk and pumpkin spice butter at the grocery store?!

What will they think of next??

I have still yet to see pumpkin spice body lotion…

…just saying.

Anyhoo, let’s get on with this week’s post.

Post #185 to be exact!

You. Are. Enough.

Read that again.

YOU. ARE. ENOUGH.

In a society and world where there is so much dark shit happening on the daily, it can be hard to remember the entity of checking in on others let alone keeping all of the burdens we carry ourselves together.

Ever since the pandemic, mental health has become an entity pushed to the forefront of our lives.

But as a society we need to make sure we are doing better and talking about it.

Yesterday, after our faith community’s church service, I grabbed a cup of coffee in my more self love mug and sat down in Pastor Angie’s office.

And she began to cry.

Tears flowing from her eyes started to make my own eyes water.

It was a raw moment.

It was a beautiful moment to be able to experience with her.

A moment that allowed me to realize that people—even Pastors—are not immune to burn out, can be stretched beyond one’s own capacity and limits, and that the importance of needing to practice self-care is very real.

Everyone is familiar to the term of “burn out.” We have all experienced it. It is no stranger to us, especially today.

We all know what it means to be stretched beyond our limits.

In the year 2022, it seems that we often forget to practice the entities of checking in on others in our lives to make sure they are ok and letting them know they are loved.

It also seems that we often forget to practice the importance of self-care.

After this moment with Pastor Angie, I headed home to have lunch with my parents and saw that a college friend of mine that I got to enjoy being in Singing Lions with at Penn State had just released a new original song she wrote entitled “Am I Enough?”

I listened to the lyrics and beautiful tune and felt goosebumps because it aligned perfectly with everything that I had just experienced with Pastor Angie.

Many of you know, but I am always constantly busy. I balance a full-time job, two part-time jobs, and music director and church council president titles at church.

And intertwined with all of this, I receive multiple text messages and emails on the daily that require responses which I try incredibly hard to address as quickly as possible.

This means that the cleanliness of my home might go awry at times, my grocery runs might be more sporadic than normal, or that my car might not be spotless.

But, at the end of the day, I know how to practice self-care for myself in making sure that I’m taking time to disconnect, recharge, and fill up the tanks of Mr. Sunshine with energy.

Take time for yourself.

Find the self-care routine that works for you.

Check in on the others in your life to make sure they are doing ok.

Watch your favorite TV show cuddles with a blanket or squeezing a pillow, turn your phone on DND for silence from the outside word, read a book, color, take a walk around the block, go on a hike, scream at the top of your lungs in a car drive through the countryside, dance to your favorite song, or make the decision to eat the ice cream right from the container.

The shit of the world isn’t going any time soon.

But always remember…

YOU. ARE. ENOUGH.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Hi folks!

And welcome to another blog post by yours truly!

Blog post number 184 to be exact!

WOO!

I just got back from a week vacation and how crazy is it that I’m already SO busy within the first 24 hours of being home.

Welcome to the life of Mr. Sunshine.

But like, honestly…I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Well, then…let’s get down to business shall we?

This week’s blog post!

Do you have your favorite beverage with you?!

Not going to lie–it is basically pumpkin spice latte season and I CAN’T WAIT to indulge.

This past week, while at the beach, I started reading a book entitled Joyful by Ingrid Fetell.

It is a beautiful book and if you need any type of good read, I would highly recommend it.

100% guaranteed or your money back.

Anyhoo…one of the chapters in the book talks about the entity of “play.”

What is play?

In the book, play is described as the following:

“Play can put us in a powerful state, which allows us to let go of everyday worries and be absorbed in the joy of the moment.”

Read.

That.

Again,

“Play can put us in a powerful state, which allows us to let go of everyday worries and be absorbed in the joy of the moment.”

How many times do we go through our lives allowing the darkness of our world to suck the joy from all the wonderful things around us?

To be frank, it is too often.

However, reading this section of the book while on vacation really made me stop, step back, and think about the entity of play.

So…here a just a few things that I was able to find both some play and color within this past week.

1. The golden sun in the sky.
2. The blue waves of the ocean.
3. The colorful architecture of beach houses.
4. Laughs from game night at the beach (mainly Catchphrase).
5. Jokes from episodes of The Golden Girls…especially those delivered by Betty White.
6. The vibrant colors of entities around me in my home (painted walls, blue colored body wash, rainbow colors in hung artwork, colorful patterns in rugs, bright colored shorts and shirts, colorful swim trunks).
7. The jovial energy of a congregant in our faith community that sits up front and sings his heart out and always says “Amen” just one beat behind everyone else.
8. The changing colors of leaves on the trees around the city as we enter the fall season.
9. Extra laughs when I used the wrong deterfent for the dishwasher and foamy suds started appearing on the floor…literally straight out of a classic episode of The Brady Bunch if you remember the episode with the washing machine suds.

I hope this week that you take time to enjoy the COLOR around you in our world and PLAY with it to create moments of joy that will shine bright amidst the moments of darkness that get thrown in our faces constantly.

Find some color in your life.

Appreciate it.

Play with it.

You will never be able to find the joy in life if you don’t take an extra moment to step back, find the color, and play with it.

Don’t let the shit of this world ruin your colorful moments of play.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy Monday, folks!

Yet another week of HOT weather and extreme sunshine! Hope that you were able to enjoy it while also staying cool.

And if you could say a quick prayer or two and send a few good vibes Mother Nature’s way, we could certainly use the rain.

Anyhoo, this past Saturday, I turned the big 3-5…which means only 5 more years to 40!

I can’t even begin to thank all the beautiful souls who took time out of their busy days and schedules to send me well wishes through text, Facebook posts, Instagram messages, pictures, phone calls, and voice messages. Feeling the love, sunshine, and kindness at a time when the world is just so dark ignites my passion for wanting to make the world a better place. I can’t even begin to express my thankfulness and gratitude for each and every one of you.

And in true Mr. Sunshine fashion, the only way that I know to properly celebrate a birthday is with a blog post of light, fluffy facts…35 of them!

Let’s go! Hope you’re ready!

#35: I have had Stitch Fix for almost 4 years which is a service that you pay when you want clothes delivered to you by a personal stylist. I have had the same stylist, Brooke since starting and I have never returned a single item that she has sent me. She knows Mr. Sunshine WELL.

#34: My favorite song right now to play on the piano is River Flows in You by Yiruma.

#33: As I write this, I’m currently watching Encanto which is the third time that I’ve watched this week.

#32: I am so upset that Supermarket Sweep has not come back yet to Hulu. I was literally LOVING the reboot so much, so I sincerely hope ABC brings it back to production. I’m soon going to start a petition.

#31: Elizabeth Banks has to be one of my favorite game show hosts on TV right now. She hosts the reboot of Press Your Luck and she just radiates a genuine positive energy for wanting the contestants to win and I love seeing her cheer them on when I watch. The overall energy of the show is also so exciting that I will sometimes flap my arms because of how excited I get.

#30: My favorite Bath & Body Works scents right now are called Coastal (cologne) and Freshwater (body cream lotion).

#29: I have been looking for the Simply Spiked Lemonade drinks ever since having them in Wildwood this past June at the Barefoot Country Music Festival and have been unsuccessful. If you find them, BUY THEM! I will gladly pay you for them.

#28: My current go-to Door Dash order is a Wendy’s Baconator, 6 piece chicken nuggets, and medium fries. ALL THE CALORIES.

#27: I watched the new trailer for Disney’s remake of Pinocchio and I can’t wait for it to be available to watch.

#26: Even at 35, I still prefer to be wrapped in a blanket rather than lay under sheets.

#25: I don’t know what it is but hot dogs from Sheetz are literally the bomb.com. My favorite way to have them is with ketchup and cheddar cheese.

#24: Packing for vacation or any type of going away trip is like a game to me. I think of it like Tetris and get excitement out of making ALL the things fit.

#23: One of my favorite acceptance speeches is Sandra Bullock’s 2010 Best Actress one at The Oscars.

#22: I don’t like eating breakfast actually at breakfast. I would rather have it for lunch or dinner.

#21: I really miss Push Up pops. They were one of my favorite ice cream treats growing up as a kid. The packaging always had one of the characters from The Flintstones on it. Does anyone else remember these?

#20: I am not a fan of cherries, so if you are ever with me when I get an ice cream sundae, you better believe that I will only be getting whipped cream and hot fudge on top.

#19: I love, love, LOVE running in the extreme heat and humidity. To me, it is therapeutic and similar to people who enjoy releasing toxins and life’s stressors in the sauna.

#18: I have to start everyday with shaving my face; otherwise, my day ends up being out of whack.

#17: I don’t like riding in elevators, flying in planes, or being in a Ferris wheel.

#16: Mayo continues to still be my favorite condiment to this day. So much so that I can literally put it on pieces of bread and eat it just like that.

#15: Even at 35, I still dislike thunderstorms very much. They scare me. Period.

#14: Give me all the mashed potatoes. Favorite food hands down. And I want ranch dressing and cheddar cheese with them too. It’s not just about butter in them for me.

#13: My favorite episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show is “Chuckles Bites The Dust” and even though it is from the 70’s, it still cracks me up to tears. It is brilliant acting at its best. I watched it as part of my birthday celebration.

#12: To this day, Katy Perry’s Firework is still my favorite jam that will make me feel immediately better about anything regardless of how shitty life is.

#11: My favorite type of cheese is Cabot’s Vermont Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

#10: I prefer Wawa hot coffee over Sheetz hot coffee.

#9: I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee over any other type of iced coffee.

#8: Puppy cuddles are something that will never get old for me. They will always make me feel love, supported, and that the darkness in world doesn’t exist.

#7: Ever since Betty White’s passing at the end of 2021, I continue to try and live my days out thinking about her grace, her beauty, and her kindness.

#6: I will always choose a Dairy Queen ice cream cake over any other type because of the fact that there is fudge in the middle with the cookie crumble and ice cream.

#5: My favorite version of the movie Cinderella is the Brandy version that just celebrated it’s 20th anniversary with a special 20/20 reunion special.

#4: My favorite childhood game was Candy Land. I own it now as an adult and my favorite character is still Queen Frostine.

#3: One of my favorite snacks that I’m currently obsessed with is dipping pretzels in ranch dressing. Don’t knock it until you try it.

#2: This is my 4th year of blogging and my 183rd post. I’m so grateful and thankful to each and every one of you for continuing to support me in this endeavor and that you come back week after week to enjoy these words that I so very much enjoy writing for you.

#1: 2023 will be the release of another super special Mr. Sunshine project! I am still working on final details, but they are in the works…I promise! And what this will entail is going to be a HUGE undertaking not only for me, but for all of you as well and together we are going to change the world one step at a time with an extra dose of sunshine and kindness.

Cheers to 35!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Good morning, all!

And happy Monday!

I appreciate you following along after my week off to rest my body and listen to its need for rest!

So, here we are!

Closer to the end of August and my OFFICIAL last post as a 34 year-old.

Let’s not talk about it.

YIKES.

Anyhoo, let’s get on to this week’s post!

If you are anything like me, you are always trying to go through life to find the joy, happiness, and simplicity of the things that make you both happy and smile.

So, what is the definition of joy?

Well, let’s consult Dictionary.com for the OFFICIAL definition:

Verb; a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Now, let’s pause.

And let’s think about this definition.

Are you able to go back to this week and tell someone time that you had a feeling of great pleasure and happiness?

Well, can you???

In today’s world, it is SO important more than ever to find that moments of them, to enjoy them, and to relish in them. 

So, in this week’s post, I’m going to share some moments where I felt that JOY in hopes that you will also work hard to find that same JOY in your life.

Here are just a few things that I found JOY in this past week.

1. Seeing some guy friends that I haven’t seen in awhile and enjoying dinner and dessert at a local restaurant.
2. Watching rebooted game shows on Hulu and getting excited about the contestants winning money. Specifically, I’m talking about Press Your Luck with Elizabeth Banks.
3. Watching the Fire Island movie on Hulu and being able to not feel so distraught about my love life.
4. Family dinner.
5. Puppy cuddles with Porky.
6. Watching The Golden Girls while in a blanket of warmth.
7. Singing all the songs from Encanto as I watch it for the millionth time.
8. Coming home to find a beautiful piece of artwork involving a sunshine image purchased by my roommate that displays to the world where Sunshine Cottage is.

Well, there you have it.

The joy that I was able to find in this week.

I hope you can do the same.

Find JOY.

Enjoy it.

Relish in it.

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

Happy happy Monday, folks!

After what has been an almost 80 hour week between all of my jobs, my body sounded the alarm to tell me to do something for myself.

And that was taking a week off from writing for you and instead honoring my body to rest.

So…this week…honor your body.

And do something for YOU.

I’ll be back next week with an all new post!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!