At the Beach

Since my planned trip to the beach this weekend went up in smoke, I did the next best thing I could think of and headed over to a tiny human-made beach nestled along the outer edge of Jersey City's waterfront. To be clear, I have no desire to swim in the Hudson, so the spray pool nearby, this Adirondack chair, blue beach umbrella, and imported sand will have to suffice! 

After taking off my flipflops and getting comfortable in the chair, I hit the play button on my phone to listen to ocean waves crashing onto the seashore, followed by closing my eyes and guiding my imagination to roam around the Jersey Shore. 

An hour later, I opened my eyes, reached for a cold bottle of water, took a few sips, and went back to relaxing. I was ready to leave shortly after, but before departing, I paused for a moment to soak it all in...then I burst out laughing at myself, embracing yet another terrific experience to add to my journal. 

Moreover, I think it’s safe to say that we have each learned something new about ourselves during this time. This pandemic has challenged all of us to find creative ways to have fun, interact, and develop new strategies to navigate successfully in this era of social distancing. 

Feel free to add a comment and perhaps brighten someone’s day! 😊 

#inspire

In the Rain

While lounging on the rooftop yesterday evening during the thunderstorm, I became enamored with the splendor of the raindrops falling down the side of the building, producing that relaxing sound of water flowing down a mountain stream. As I went on to observe Mother Nature sprinkling rain over the city, right on cue, I heard a BOOM, …which was the sound of thunder echoing all around the Big Apple!  

Moving on from the above thought into this Thursday evening, it’s now just about time to link up with my folks to watch an NBA game live for the first time in months from the well-publicized Orlando bubble.

Admittedly, I have not been this excited for a scrimmage game since my CYO basketball days way back when! Unfortunately, my NY Knicks did not get invited to the bubble, so I will reluctantly root for the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs. Lol!

Nevertheless, a spur-of-the-moment post on a Thursday night inspired by the rain and a live sporting event as we remain vigilant during this pandemic and march on towards our new normal responsibly. Even though no one knows when that will be or what it will look like, I continue to be optimistic and will enjoy the journey.

Until next time, please keep spreading your positive energy, and have a lovely evening! 

#staypositive

Sailing on the Hudson

I headed out this Sunday afternoon with tremendous excitement for an impromptu social distancing meet up with a few friends at an open field near the Hudson River. As we got together and went back and forth in a lively conversation, all of a sudden, I heard a teenager yell out, “There goes a sailboat!” That obviously piqued my curiosity, so I looked around, and sure enough, there it was, a sight for sore eyes!

For those of you accustomed to my Saturday morning post, it will come as no surprise that I immediately grabbed my smartphone to take a picture and then began to journal my thoughts.

Worth mentioning, rarely do I post twice in the same week; however, I wanted to share this breathtaking image on a hot summer day in the city, as I sit here baking in the 95-degree temperature amongst friends having a fabulous time, in our new normal.

To end, I wish each of you a fun as well as relaxing rest of your Sunday and look forward to interacting with you this upcoming Saturday on this platform.

Have a productive and successful week!

#fun

A Gift

While lying down on the lawn looking up at the high-rise buildings, the rhythm of my heart started to beat in sync with the smooth melody playing in my ear. Before I drifted off into a relaxed state, I reached for the phone to lower the volume in my AirPods just a little, then I placed my hands behind my head, laid back down, and allowed my thoughts to flow!

A few seconds later, an inspiring thought appeared in my mind, so I began to process each word to make sure that I fully understood the underlying message. When I came out of this peaceful state of being, I stood up, took a minute to brush off the grass clippings from my sweatpants, and then felt a strong desire to journal my thoughts before they faded away.

In the ensuing moments, I marched along the concrete path, zig-zagging through the jungle of the city, while simultaneously recapping my latest reflection into the iPhone en route to the store. Then out of nowhere, the glare of the sun flashed in my eyes, forcing me to squint! To counter, I reached into my pocket, pulled out my shades, put them on, and kept it moving! 😊

I will end this week's post by encouraging everyone to make a conscious effort to enjoy the present moment because it's truly a gift.

Please share your thoughts, and have a lovely weekend!

#inspire

At the Dog Park

As the ground began to tremble and the dogs started to bark, I knew it was a matter of seconds before I heard and saw the Light Rail creeping around the curve on its way to the train station. When the train appeared, I became a spectator relaxing on a bench at a dog park adjacent to the tracks reading a new book. Once the train passed by, I watched the dogs play for a bit, spoke to a few of my neighbors, and then went back to reading.

Shortly after, I came across a paragraph in the first chapter of the book that I found thought-provoking—so out popped the yellow highlighter to highlight this section. I then paused for a moment to digest the information before I went back to reading the rest of the chapter.

I’ve always had a great appreciation for a sentence or paragraph that jumps off the page. In those instances, I am sure to revisit that section in the future to contemplate further.

No major game plan for me this Saturday other than to take the day as it comes. If a cup of tea and a good book on this cloudy day is all that is in store, that’s just fine with me.

If you are wondering why I am sitting near a dog park and train station, as a native New Yorker, I relish the busyness of the city and use it to fuel my energy throughout the day! 😊

Enjoy your weekend! 

#read

The 4th of July

With the early morning breeze feeling lovely, it was a perfect time to take a stroll as we get ready for the temperature to rise for what is sure to be another hot summer day in the city. 

As I walked by a small garden, without warning, the irrigation system came on, and cold-water sprinkled all over my body. A woman sitting nearby started to laugh, and I laughed with her because a little humor at my own expense is good for the soul. As you would expect, I struck up a conversation with her and discovered that she was a neighbor and worked on Wall Street. After that friendly exchange, I scrolled through my iPhone to find a playlist to settle on for my walk.

While enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, I heard a buzzing sound from behind, so I turned around and spotted bees pollinating the flowers and a few birds tiptoeing in the grass looking for food. I know it’s cliché, but I took a minute to smell the roses and then got on with my day. Lol!

As for my day, I plan on attending a barbecue with a couple of friends this afternoon and viewing the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacle from across the Hudson River.

Do you plan on watching fireworks this evening?

Have a fabulous 4th!

#nyc #inspire

Thoughts Are Fleeting...

On the way to the elevator rocking to “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, an inspiring thought flashed into my mind, so I opened my notes app and started typing! When the elevator doors opened, I hopped on and immediately went into a stream of consciousness, unloading my thoughts on the ride down to the 1st floor.

As soon as the brass elevator doors reopened, in came a short burst of air that knocked me off balance for a split second! I quickly gathered myself, jumped off, and rushed over to the lobby seating area to continue writing. 15-minutes later, I had the framework of a 1,300 character LinkedIn post.

This activity cleared my head, which allowed me to begin my jog, knowing that I could revisit that outline at a later date to refine if I so desired.

Undoubtedly, thoughts are fleeting; therefore, when a good idea reveals itself, I recommend that you capture it in some form so that you can come back to it and fully bake it. Who knows, it could be the key that unlocks a significant change in your life. On the flip side, allowing an excellent idea to fade could subject one to the Law of Diminishing Intent, and a valuable thought goes into the abyss, so take action!

That is why I am a firm believer in journaling. Do you keep a journal?

Stay safe!

#motivation