Subway Escalator

After getting off the train this evening, I hopped on the subway escalator and rode it up towards the exit. I was listening to music on the ride up when the escalator suddenly came to a screeching halt! I remember thinking, this is a bit odd because this has never happened to me before.

I stood frozen for no more than two seconds when the person behind me yelled, “let’s get moving, buddy.” So, of course, I turned around and gave him the universal, please go ahead look, then moved to the side, and he flew by me like a bat out of hell!

Amused and unfazed by his actions, I calmly transitioned into journaling mode, snapped a pic, and started writing. As soon as I began typing, what do you know, the escalator started moving! I finished framing up my thought with two steps to go to before landing on the sidewalk. Then, I walked off in stride and proceeded to a pizza parlor.

Ironically, when I was ordering a slice, guess who was standing in line? Yep, it was the guy in a rush, and what’s more, I got my order before he did. I waved bye-bye on the way out, and he burst out laughing!

Talk about a thrilling escalator ride and short adventure, which turned into this lighthearted post. 😊

I hope you had a productive Thursday, and I wish you a pleasant evening. Let's go!

#motivation

 

Tiny Raindrops

Before you start reading this post, enlarge the photo and focus on the puddle of water and the three tiny raindrops for a few seconds. While doing so, did you see and feel the beautiful vibration?

Now that I have your attention, please get comfortable in your chair, take a sip of your beverage and imagine me sitting next to you, about to tell you a story. Are you ready?

The time is 7 am, and I am walking towards the coffee shop, singing in the rain, when all of a sudden, a bright yellow Porsche pulls right in front of me, drives over a puddle, and splashes water everywhere. Yikes!

I quickly maneuvered to avoid getting wet but to no avail. However, instead of getting upset, I took it in stride and calmly wiped myself off. Then, I began admiring the smell of the fresh morning rain, the unique sound of the Porsche’s engine, all while reminiscing on the feeling of the water splashing onto my body just a few moments ago.

After savoring this experience for a couple of minutes, I proceeded to the café to grab a cup of coffee and a toasted poppy seed bagel; then, I got on with my day—the end.

Did this short 1,300 character story elicit a smile? 😊

Have a relaxing evening.

#mindfulness #inspire

 

I Forgot My Phone...

After leaving the parking garage and making it halfway down the block, I realized that I forgot my phone, so I turned around and headed back to my car. Bear in mind, my phone also acts as my wallet in this day and age, so I had no choice but to go back if I wanted to buy anything from the store.

Don’t you just love it when this happens? Lol! All kidding aside, it was no big deal, and I was back on track without missing a beat.

An hour later, I was walking up the street to pick up my vehicle when this setting caught my eye. It was something about the sight of the traffic lights turning green, combined with the red and white car lights reflecting off the side of the building, that I found visually pleasing.

As a result, I began moving slowly to allow my creative juices to activate and flow into my natural writing rhythm. Now lost in thought, I instinctively started writing about the lovely images, smells, and sounds in the area before being interrupted by a loud horn (beep-beep) passing by.

I then finished typing my last sentence, glanced at my watch, and realized that this all transpired in six peaceful minutes.

I share this random experience as a respectful reminder to find time to pause and embrace the present moment as much as you can.

Enjoy your evening. 😊

#inspire

 

Madison Avenue

After leaving the Minskoff Theatre and grabbing a quick bite to eat from a street vendor, I hopped on a city bus and rode over to 23rd and Madison Avenue.

When I arrived at my stop, I jumped off the bus and walked down Madison to meet up with a friend, who happens to be an aspiring personal stylist. I've told her repeatedly that I will be her first paying client whenever she chooses to launch and declared this as our first transaction. I am always supportive of anyone in my orbit that is pursuing their dream. Go get it!

We chatted for a while, and then she handed over the two suits that I ordered from her, then we each got on with our day.

Since I fall into the category of people who shed a few pounds during the pandemic, I happily began refreshing my wardrobe months ago in preparation for reentry.

Indeed, I am looking forward to engaging in face-to-face meetings, delivering my keynote speech, and meeting many of you at networking events later this year.

Now feeling like a million bucks with my new threads and back on the move, I decided to take some time to relax at nearby Madison Square Park.

While sitting on a bench, I felt like writing, which comes as no surprise. This post is a snippet of what I wrote for your reading and viewing pleasure. 😊

Enjoy your Sunday!

#nyc

 

The Lion King

When I came upon the Minskoff Theatre this morning and spotted The Lion King billboard, I said to myself, it sure would be nice to go to a Broadway show. Now curious to know when one of my favorite plays would reopen for business, I raced to the ticket booth to see what I could find out!

To my delight, I learned that the show is scheduled to resume on June 1 and immediately purchased a few tickets! I walked away on cloud nine and can't wait to see the show, which I haven't seen in nearly six years.

As I was leaving, my stomach began to growl, so I rushed down the block, picked out a street vendor, and ordered a veggie omelet with a dash of pepper on top. When the chef handed me my order, steam was blowing everywhere, and the smell of the onions, cherry tomatoes, and spinach made my mouth water. Bon Appétit! 😊

After taking that first bite, I had to close my eyes because the omelet was so damn good! Upon devouring my food and washing it down with a bottle of sparkling lime water, I was off to Madison Ave to do a little shopping.

Usually, I would hop on the train to get there, but today, I decided to take the city bus to change my routine. If I come across an image that inspires me to write, I will post about it tomorrow.

Share your thoughts, and have a fabulous weekend!

#nyc

 

A Chilly Morning in April

With only 15-yards to go before arriving at the gym this morning, I heard the wind howling, and the next thing I knew, I was struck by a gust of wind that sent a shiver up and down my spine! I stood frozen momentarily, and when I recovered and looked right in front of me, I saw the bushes and flowers blowing intensely from side to side.

I stood there bewildered because it was nearly 70 degrees just yesterday, and I thought that spring was in the air. Now needing a weather update, I glanced at the weather app on my iPhone, and to my surprise, the temperature was a chilly 34 degrees. Yikes!

I quickly pulled my hood over my head, placed my hands in my pocket, and proceeded to rock back and forth to stay warm while eagerly waiting for the personal trainer to open the door.

Moments later, the usual early-bird workout warriors began showing up, and then, at precisely 6 am, the gym door opened, and we rushed in! I headed straight to the spin cycle room, put on my peloton riding shoes, jumped on a bike, and waited for the instructor to start the class.

After an intense workout, I was dripping with sweat, full of energy, and ready to crush the workday. Let’s go!

Did you get your exercise in before or after work today?

Enjoy your Thursday evening. 😊

#exercise #fitness

 

Waiting by a Brownstone

As I was standing near a lamppost waiting for my friend to come outside from her 3-story Brownstone, I became spellbound by the gorgeous scenery surrounding me. That resulted in me drifting into a trance, and after a few minutes, I started walking towards a bench to sit and capture my thoughts.

Even though I was curious about where my mind would go just minutes before sunrise, I fought off the urge to control my thoughts and let my imagination flow freely.

I was soon standing beside a different lamppost, admiring the turquoise lightbulbs shining bright and looking into the sky. Then, right on cue, I heard my friend shouting, Anthony, Anthony; however, I was unwilling to let this peaceful moment fade into the abyss, so I ignored her for a moment and allowed my thoughts to finish crystallizing.

When she finally made it over to me, steam was going out of her ears; and she said, “are you writing again?” I responded in the affirmative and then told her that she now had my undivided attention! She stood speechless for five seconds, and then we burst out laughing!

Live in the present and journal thoughts whenever you can, my friends. BTW, this experience, from taking the pic to the short walk, and writing this post, took a total of 9-minutes. 😊

Have a lovely evening.

#inspire

 

Statue of Liberty and Cookie Monster

Several people reached out via direct message requesting to see a picture of the 9-foot tall person dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. Because of popular demand, this image of Lady Liberty chilling out with the incomparable Cookie Monster is for your viewing pleasure!

Indeed, it is exciting to see the population begin to participate in fun weekend activities as we slowly transition into the new normal.

On a related note, it has been great engaging with so many of you over the past year, specifically when I post on Saturdays at 11 am. I hope that reading some of my authentic NYC stories in conjunction with looking at images of the moments that inspired me to write provided a sense of human connection for those few minutes.

Before I go, I'd be curious to know which of my posts were your favorite during this timeframe. I will include the most popular ones in the book that I am currently working on.

Well friends, until next time, have a lovely evening and a terrific rest of your week. 😊

#nyc

 

Sightseeing NYC

After departing Times Square, I started walking towards the subway station when, all of a sudden, I noticed a double-decker sightseeing bus passing by, with several people sitting on the upper deck!

For those who follow me on LinkedIn, you know how I like to seize the moment, so without a second thought, I purchased a ticket and hopped on the next bus! Before I knew it, I was sitting on the upper deck making new friends, cruising down Broadway.

I made a conscious effort to sit back and embrace this experience as if I were a tourist. Thus, I took my sweet time absorbing the sights and sounds of the world's greatest city, aka the melting pot…New York City!

It was a lovely trip, with stops at the Empire State Building, Union Square, Soho, Chinatown, and Battery Park, to name a few of the places. I eventually got off near Wall Street and jumped on the train to go home, capping off a spontaneous and worthwhile experience.

Once on the train, I began writing in my journal and was done before arriving at my stop. Then, while walking home, I heard a whisper in my ear telling me to share a small portion of what I wrote, which became my two latest posts. 😊

I hope you enjoyed our time together. The pleasure was all mine.

Have a relaxing Sunday and a great week ahead. Let's go!

#nyc