There's light at the end of the tunnel...

For those of you amidst a struggle as we approach 2020, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed, life will have its ups and downs. Case in point to the latter, upon foolishly thinking that I knew everything in my 20's and 30's, life eventually humbled me. It was during the storms when I truly began to comprehend much of the sage advice I received from family, dear friends, and mentors throughout my journey. Admittedly, I heard the words but did not fully grasp some of the underlying lessons and had to pay the price. Ouch! We can’t change the past; however, we can continue to apply all the valuable lessons appropriately in the future. And more importantly, it's incumbent upon us to share that acquired knowledge with the significant people in our inner circle when the opportunity presents itself, thoughtfully. As I conclude my last post of 2019, I implore all of us to practice more kindness and use our unique gifts to deliver VALUE to those we encounter along with using this platform to foster meaningful relationships. Friends, stay positive, listen to the right people, and uplift others in the New Year! hashtag#motivation hashtag#nyc BTW…traveling through the Holland Tunnel during rush hour is awful! If you've had the pleasure, I am willing to bet that you agree. Gridlock! Lol!

Times Square

A LinkedIn connection from abroad recently asked if I’ve ever attended the Times Square Ball Drop celebration to usher in the New Year, and I answered with an emphatic yes! Ironically, I happened to be near Times Square this afternoon, and I could not help but recall the abovementioned email exchange. As a result, I decided to take a photo of the moment and then proceeded to crystallize my thought. If you’re in my generation or further down the road, there’s a good chance that Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve show will cross your mind on Dec. 31. If I wasn’t at a party, you better believe I was watching Dick Clark and the crew waiting for the ball to drop with family and friends. That brings back so many good memories. Can you relate? For your viewing pleasure, the attached photo provides a visual representation of the area a week before millions of people from all across the world gather in the streets of NYC to watch the world’s most famous ball drop. In case you’re wondering, I won't be in attendance this year, been there, done that, and I have no desire to stand in the cold for hours at this stage in life. Lol! So as we closeout 2019, I hope that this lighthearted post elicits a smile. 😊 I wish you health, peace, and prosperity in the coming New Year! hashtag#nyc hashtag#motivation

Rainbow

While taking a leisurely jog around the city reflecting on 2019 in anticipation of the start of the new decade, I stumbled upon the street-side entrance to NBC Studios and the Rainbow Room Observation Deck accompanied by several cold and fast walking individuals on the way to their respective destinations. As a result of partaking in this action, it was something about the sight of the word ‘Rainbow’ in the affixed photo that prompted me to think of a quote by the Maya Angelou, “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud,” which is the basis of this post. The further I get along my life’s journey, the more and more I realize that words are powerful. The simple act of bestowing a few kind words on another person at the right time doesn’t take much energy as long as it comes from the heart. Besides, you never know what someone is going through, so an act of genuine selflessness could make all the difference to the person receiving your words at that moment and potentially change the trajectory of their life! Food for thought as we approach Christmas Day. Enjoy the time with family and friends! Please let me know your thoughts. Season’s Greetings! hashtag#motivation hashtag#holidays hashtag#inspire

Seasons Greetings

During this time of the year, I make it a point to spend a few hours at Rockefeller Center to observe the famous tree and all of its surroundings. At this moment, my heart is full of joy, and I feel the spirit of the holiday season! It’s uplifting to witness New Yorkers, tourists, and people interacting so blissfully in this atmosphere. What’s more, I can’t help but notice the look on the kids' faces in anticipation of what’s going to be under the tree when they wake up at 6 am on that magical day. The mere thought of this conjures up pleasant memories of my youth. I hope that this thought triggered a special memory in your childhood, and if so, we are smiling together. 😊 If you have a must-visit place during the holidays, add a comment because I would love to learn about it. So as we closeout 2019 and move into the next decade, I will end by saying that I am incredibly grateful for everyone who has taken the time to read any of my content this year. I’ve made many meaningful connections since my first post in January, and I appreciate the knowledge transfer, support, and kind comments throughout the year. Let’s continue to grow together as well as inspire each other in 2020 and beyond, respectfully. Happy Holidays to you and yours! hashtag#nyc hashtag#mindfulness

Discipline

On the road to success - “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” –Jim Rohn. The thought for this post developed during a discussion with a friend as we drove across the Verrazano Bridge. As we approach the final days of 2019, it’s common for many people to reflect on what has transpired on their journey during the year. Even though it’s my practice to assess my progress quarterly, I felt compelled to share my take on discipline in the context of the quote that I’ve referenced. I believe that taking a disciplined approach with your daily activities is a crucial component on the road to success. My experience has taught me that it does not matter how much you know if you don’t apply and refine what you’ve learned effectively, which takes discipline. Also, as we move forward into the future, it’s vital not to allow your time to be eaten up by others whose demands are stronger than our own, which tends to disrupt your focus and drain your energy. That requires both discipline and empathy. To that point, I’ll end with another quote, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn. I agree, so spend your time wisely. Please feel free to share your thoughts as we grow together. Have a fabulous Sunday! hashtag#motivation hashtag#passion hashtag#nyc

Kindness

While walking with some friends on a frigid Saturday evening in Midtown Manhattan, I persuaded our group to pause for a minute to be fully present, which was no easy feat. At this moment, we admired the imagery of the outside area of Madison Square Garden and felt the energy from the people just before we headed across 7th Avenue. As we began to walk, I could not help but notice the digital billboard advertising an upcoming Bob Dylan concert at the Beacon Theatre. Then, his well-known quote popped in my mind, “New York was a city where you could be frozen to death in the midst of a busy street, and nobody would notice.” Indeed, New York City is a busy place, and people instinctively keep it moving...I get it! By the same token, I’ve found New Yorkers to be some of the most kindhearted and resilient people on the planet. So, whether you’re in New York, Alaska, or somewhere else on the globe, my message this week is for all of us to be more kind and to help others as we move along in our respective journeys. I wish you peace, love, and prosperity. Please feel free to share your thoughts. Have an excellent rest of your day! hashtag#kindness hashtag#motivation hashtag#nyc

Are you ready to Burn the Boats?

Burn the boats is a concept in which you leave no other option for yourself in the context of something that you would like to achieve. In other words, when you decide to go "All-In" with the mentality that you will either sink or swim in the pursuit of your dream, this act of certainty and determination will bring out the best in you! For those of you thinking that you can do more to realize your full potential, please reflect at this moment. I then encourage you to develop a plan and start executing asap. Forward momentum is what you’re looking for, and it begins with taking action. If you're waiting for the perfect time, it may never happen for you. That's just a feeble excuse. I’ve been there, done that, and before you know it, a precious year has passed you by. Will you make mistakes? Absolutely! Chalk this up as a valuable part of the process of finding your destiny. Moreover, it's vital to operate with a sense of urgency because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Now go make it happen! I'll end this post with one of my favorite quotes, “Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration.” -Evan Esar Please share your thoughts so we can learn and grow together. hashtag#motivation hashtag#passion hashtag#nyc

Recap of a Youth Workshop at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County, New Jersey

I had the most incredible Friday afternoon spending time with potential Leaders Of Tomorrow (LOT) at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was a pleasure to learn from members of Generation Z (Gen Z), and I thank the audience for allowing me the opportunity to share some of my real-life stories and views on the importance of gratitude. What’s more, I am appreciative of the level of engagement by everyone who attended the workshop. Now allow me to recognize Tonya Rufus, MBA, MS, for being the primary stakeholder for organizing this event. Her commitment and passion for helping today’s youth is a sight to behold. Special thanks to the incomparable Kim Jenkins Manigault, CPA, Elena D. Coley, Sonya Ruffin, and Melody Smith,MBA, for carving out some time in their schedules to participate. These leaders are on the frontlines in the community, making a difference, which I admire. As we approach Thanksgiving and in the spirit of the holiday season, I'm grateful for this experience, and I am committed to increasing my degree of activity with these kids in the future. Each One, Reach One! hashtag#volunteering hashtag#newjersey

My key takeaways from a recent lesson in Mindfulness...

During a meeting this week, I was exposed to a description of mindfulness by Rich Carter that had a profound effect on me. The definition is as follows: "Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally." -Jon Kabat-Zinn As I absorbed the essence of this definition and engaged in a few mindfulness exercises, I then found myself in a peaceful state of mind. So at that moment, I made a mental commitment to add a form of these exercises into my daily playbook. Later that day, I went to one of my favorite thinking places to partake in my new daily ritual. This photo depicts the ambiance of said place. From the sounds of people talking on their cell phones and shoes tapping the marble flooring, I was calm, present, and grateful for the moment. I encourage you to make a conscious effort to be in the present moment more frequently. Thank you, Rich, for sharing your knowledge with the group. Please feel free to share your thoughts as we continue to learn together. Have a fantastic weekend! hashtag#mindfulness hashtag#nyc

Exploring New York City

The premise of this post is a byproduct of a discussion I had with Estefanía Zárate Angarita ♀, who currently resides in Denmark. She has been recently reporting from various parts of the world, including Denmark, Columbia, Egypt, and Portugal, to name a few places. I love it! Although circumstances don’t allow an immediate opportunity for me to travel the globe in this regard, I’ve decided to use this as a reason to explore my surroundings. Admittedly, I’ve taken some of the uniqueness of my environment for granted because it was my usual. As a person that grew up in New York City, I’ve only had a few occasions that I’ve explored NYC as a tourist. Thus, on this frigid Saturday afternoon, I've decided to be purposeful and explore as such. I've found myself cruising along the Hudson River with people admiring the view of the city. At that moment, I closed my eyes and made a conscious effort to be fully present. Then, I felt the sounds of the Ferry colliding against the river while observing the joyfulness of the diverse group of individuals on the cruise. To that end, I encourage you to practice being present whenever possible, which will allow you to have a greater appreciation of the moment! Please share your thoughts with my LinkedIn family. hashtag#nyc hashtag#motivation hashtag#newjersey