Live life to the fullest!

On a gloomy Saturday in the city around 4 pm, I am sitting on a bench reading through an actual printed version of a local newspaper, something that I haven’t done in years.

As I folded the newspaper in half to take a deep dive into a story, all of a sudden, I got a whiff of the ink coming off the page, which made me laugh! That took me back to my youth when I used to battle with my cousins to get a hold of the Sunday newspaper after the adults in the house finished reading it so that I could read!

After consuming a few more articles, my reading appetite was now satisfied, and then I felt the urge to be still. That wonderful heightened sense of awareness kicked in, and I began to hear the subtle sounds of nature, followed by a light breeze brushing up against my body while simultaneously observing the world around me.

Once out of this meditative state, I grabbed the phone, took a picture, and immediately started capturing my thoughts! I went on to complete this newest journal entry by acknowledging that time is our most valuable resource, so don’t waste any of it!

Indeed, life is a collection of experiences, and finding time to appreciate the simplest moments never ceases to amaze me. Do you agree?

Have an enjoyable weekend, and live life to the fullest!

#motivation

 

Small-Owned Restaurants

 

After reading an article on the impact that COVID-19 is having on small, family-owned restaurants, I decided to make a conscious effort to patronize these types of establishments this weekend. Besides, these cozy little gems scattered all over the city usually have a friendly vibe and delicious authentic food! 

So I began this Saturday by visiting a café on the corner of 2nd Ave and East 50th St, not too far from the UN Plaza. Upon arrival, I went straight to the takeout counter to review the menu. With an urge to try something new, I rolled the dice and ordered an Avo & White Sandwich and an Almond Matcha Latte.

After grabbing my food and fancy drink, I sat at a table on the sidewalk, pulled out a book, and started to chow down on my breakfast! When I took my first bite of the sandwich, my eyes were suddenly drawn to a city bus racing down the block as I watched it grind to a halt in front of me and a fire hydrant. Lol!

I soon completed my meal, and it was time to head home. As I crossed the street to pick-up my car, I noticed a bike rider looking up in the sky, and instinctively, I looked up to make sure that everything was okay. All was well, and I finished enjoying the moment! 😊

Do you plan on supporting small-owned eateries with your wallet this weekend?

#nyc

Buckingham Palace Flower Beds

 

Unexpectedly this evening, my Google Photos app displayed a picture from 3-years ago, when I was at St James’s Park and the Buckingham Palace Flower Beds area in London. Looking at this photo conjured up a pleasant memory, so I decided to embrace said thought, closed my eyes, and summoned my imagination to re-experience the moment. Let's do it!

My initial recollection was of the fresh scent of the flowers gently blowing in the wind as we stood in awe of the breathtaking scenery. Next, I can vividly recall adoring the joyful faces of the people in the pic; then, all of a sudden, the feeling of euphoria that I felt at that moment rushed back into my body, evoking a smile and a bellow of laughter!

For those of you who grew up in the states like me and haven’t traveled abroad, I highly recommend getting that on your to-do list. I found the trip across the pond to be an enriching experience and grew tremendously as a result of my time there. The vibe in London is phenomenal, and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter back and forth with some of the locals regarding our respective US and UK accents. Cheers!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you can find it anywhere, at any moment, if you open your mind and live in the present.

Can you relate? 

Enjoy your evening! 😊

#london

Grand Central Terminal

 

While jogging in Midtown Manhattan this morning, I ran up on Grand Central Terminal, and suddenly, something dawned on me! For those of you not familiar with strolling around NYC, it can sometimes be a challenge to find a public restroom, so living in a COVID environment takes that to a whole new level!

With that in mind, I knew it would be wise to capitalize on a chance to make a pit stop to avoid a potentially uncomfortable situation later on; and just like that, I veered off and entered the Grand Central-42 Street Subway Station.

Since I was already in the terminal, I couldn't resist taking a peek in the Main Concourse. Not knowing what to expect, yet curious, I walked into the iconic room, and its allure stopped me dead in my tracks! As you might imagine, I took time to bask in the ambiance of one of this country's most adored architectural achievements!

Now with an urge to reflect, the first thing that came to mind was how conspicuous it was seeing the lack of usual pedestrian traffic moving through the terminal. Then in a blink of an eye, I latched onto a positive thought and focused on my admiration for the millions of folks that have answered the bell by practicing social distancing and wearing masks during this pandemic, respectfully.

Enjoy your weekend! 😊

#nyc

Sharing

 

On an overcast evening, I found myself sitting on a bench at a safe distance from a few people walking by, thinking about the value of sharing thoughtful content on this platform. As I reflect on the incredible exchange of ideas and knowledge gained from my LinkedIn family, my appreciation for our connection grows stronger!

What’s more, please don’t underestimate the potential impact of sharing an authentic message with your network since a simple 1,300 character post can be inspiring. Although you may never know if something you post had a meaningful effect on somebody, if your gut tells you to share, do it because there’s a chance that your message will land on the right person at the right time!

I experienced the above last Sunday when a connection that I’ve never met in-person sent me an Inmail to express appreciation for something that I wrote. On a day when she was feeling a bit down, she stumbled upon one of my posts, and after reading it, the story uplifted her spirits. This encounter warmed my heart, and I felt a sense of gratitude for the gift she provided in return.

So during this time of uncertainty and social separation, I encourage you to share kindness and positivity with your inner circle because it just might help a friend get through a tough day! 

#inspire

Subway

 

It’s been nearly 6-months since I last rode the subway, so I didn’t know what to expect as I made my way to the Path Train early this morning on my day off. As I walked into the entrance of a station that is usually full of riders during this time, it was pretty much devoid of people for the obvious reasons.

After taking a moment to regroup from an eerie feeling I suddenly felt in the pit of my stomach, I pulled out my MetroCard, gave it a quick swipe, and walked through the turnstiles headed to the Wall Street area.

Then, the moment of truth arrived, and it’s time to decide if I am going to get on the train! When the double doors opened, I looked around, and to my pleasant surprise, only 5-people were on the train, so I was okay with boarding! Worth mentioning, the folks that were in the train car all had on masks and did a commendable job of social distancing.

Additionally, I got a good chuckle checking out some of the creatively designed masks that are now in vogue! As for me, I had on a solid red one that I purchased online, so it may be time to step up my mask game!

Next, I began to jot down my thoughts, and 7-minutes later, the train arrived at the World Trade Center Station, and I proceeded to my destination!

I hope you enjoyed our subway ride together. 😊

#nyc

Hammock

While perusing through a few of my favorite news websites this past Wednesday evening, I came across a quote that piqued my curiosity, “Naps are nature’s way of reminding you that life is nice, like a beautiful swinging hammock strung between birth and infinity.” – Peggy Noonan.

After mulling over the underlying message in these words, I added this quote to my journal so that I could come back to it later that evening. Upon revisiting just before going to bed, I suddenly had a vision of meditating in a hammock by the Hudson. Without a second thought, I launched the Amazon app, picked out a hammock, and made a 1-click purchase!

To my delight, my new toy arrived in time for the weekend, so I woke up this Saturday morning excited and ready to put it to use! Since I already determined the perfect spot to settle, all that was left to do before heading over was to read the setup instructions. Lol! 

Soon after, I arrived at the site and began setting up to the bewilderment of some kids watching nearby. I smiled at them, and then I politely asked their mom to snap a pic to capture the beauty of the moment for my latest journal entry.

If I never use this hammock ever again, the experience of its use was priceless, so money well spent!

Are you trying something new this weekend? 

After the Storm

After fast-moving tropical storm Isaias flew by the city and all was clear, I went outside and found a lovely spot near the Goldman Sachs building to collect my thoughts. Unsurprisingly, people were back on the move, which made that incredible energy that radiates from the Big Apple that I’ve come to crave available in abundance!

With periodic wind gusts in the area, I proceeded to move towards the guardrails to watch the Ferry approach the dock, swaying from side to side before smoothly cruising into the Paulus Hook Terminal. Seconds later, the patrons began to exit in an orderly fashion, 6 feet apart. I can only imagine that our future generations will look back at this time with amazement, and ponder on how we remained resilient during this unprecedented period around the world.

I will end by saying, please share your kindness this evening with those around you, and thank you for reading this spur-of-the-moment post.

Have a pleasant rest of your week!

#motivation

Adaptability

With a recent conversation on adaptability fresh on my mind, I decided to give that chat some further thought on this first day of August. So after getting dressed and making a cup of coffee, I sat down on the couch to write down the discussion points that resonated with me the most, intending to crystalize these thoughts during my workout.

After working up a good sweat in the middle of my run, I glanced down at my watch to check my distance as I eased around a city block; and when I looked up, an outdoor spin class was suddenly in my line of sight! A social distancing spin class in-front of a high-rise building with the music blasting? That’s a new one on me. Love it!

Incredibly motivated by this experience, before leaving, I walked over to the registration booth, met a few new people wearing beautiful masks, and signed up for next week’s class!

Stumbling upon these workout warriors dovetailed nicely with what I was already thinking about, and is an excellent example of successfully adapting to the environment we find ourselves in this day and age.

Stay positive, safe, and enjoy your weekend!

#motivation