Enjoy your day!

Like many of you, I've learned firsthand that cabin fever is a real thing, but a small price to pay as we all practice social distancing for the greater good. So, as I collect my thoughts this Saturday morning and head over to the grocery store to pick up some necessities, I also elect to get in 45-minutes of cardio in a solitary way. When I crossed Columbus Circle adjacent from Whole Foods Market, I had a direct view of the Central Park West entrance to Central Park. So...what was my immediate thought? Well, even as NYC's busiest park on a typical day was relatively devoid of people, I was still bedazzled by its charm, as depicted in this picture. As I took a moment to observe the scenery, I became enamored by the blue sky and then started to notice the gradual movement of the clouds, all while adoring the sight of the sculptures. As a result, I developed a deeper appreciation for Central Park, along with my many blessings in the midst of adapting to our new normal. If you have time, examine this photo, and express your feelings, wherever they may take you. Please consider this my contribution to uniquely stimulate our collective creative minds in place of binge-watching a series on Netflix this weekend! 😊 Stay vigilant, optimistic, and enjoy your day! hashtag#life hashtag#mindfulness

After completing work on a Monday evening, it’s customary for me to head over to the gym to workout. However, on this particular Monday, that wasn’t the case because of what’s transpiring in the world. As I adjust to these unusual times like everyone else and find new ways to channel my typical workout energy productively, I felt duty-bound to jot down what was on my mind at this moment and decided to share it with you via a quick post, respectfully. I then scrolled through my photostream, and a pic I snapped near the financial district in Lower Manhattan last September grabbed my attention since the image was absent of people. As I took an in-depth view of this photo, I begin to appreciate its brilliance, and a feeling of serenity came over me. Subsequently, I closed my eyes and thought of a few incredible email exchanges I’ve recently had with some of my LinkedIn connections from the United Kingdom, Italy, as well as here in the United States, which warmed my heart, tremendously! Moreover, I am grateful for the encouraging words conveyed during these email exchanges, especially during these challenging times for everyone around the globe. Indeed, we're all in this together, so let's support each other in any way we can. Stay safe and informed, friends! hashtag#humanity hashtag#life

Be Vigilant

I spent this past weekend laying low, checking-up on family, friends, and yes, even my LinkedIn connections from all over the world. I appreciate all of the valuable conversations, which capped off an extraordinary week on so many levels! As we all come to grips with our new way of life, for the time being, a dear friend of mine reached out asking for my perspective on things and encouraged me to post this Sunday, which I rarely do. Nevertheless, she was insistent, so I put on the noise-canceling headphones to listen to an instrumental playlist, looked at the attached photo and let my mind wander! I have been staying informed by watching the news and putting an extra emphasis on the local press to ensure that I have a good sense of what is happening in my immediate area. As a result, I learned a new term, 'social distancing,' that is now part of our lexicon and day-to-day life. Since a LinkedIn post is limited to 1,300 characters, I will close by saying, please listen to your public officials, and let us all do our part to be cautious when the need arises to go out to purchase any of life necessities. Stay safe connections! I will remain active on this platform for the next hour if you want to chat in the comments section. hashtag#life hashtag#motivation

Keep Looking Up!

When daylight saving time kicked in last Sunday, I carved out some time that morning to evaluate the progress of my 2020 goals. That included reaching out to a few mentors to get that valuable feedback we all need, which often helps ensure that one is moving in the right direction. After a couple of hours of engaging in this process, I was no longer in that mindset, so I decided to stop; and called a mentor to schedule a brunch appointment for this Saturday at South Street Seaport. However, in the ensuing days, life as we know it changed drastically, so I canceled the meetup for the obvious reasons. Like most, I will be hunkered down in the house this weekend, and will use this time to count my blessings, journal, reflect, and do my spring cleaning! Note: Since I did not visit the Seaport, I couldn't capture my usual weekly LinkedIn pic. Thus, I referenced a photo I took at Washington Square Park back in Dec. to stimulate my thoughts for this post. To that point, allow me to share a quote from my favorite cartoon character to brighten your day, “Keep looking up…that’s the secret to life!” –Snoopy! 😊 As we exercise social distancing for the foreseeable future, what are some cool ways you are spending your time this weekend? Be vigilant; this too shall pass! hashtag#future hashtag#life

Chelsea Market

While attending an after-work networking event, I struck up a conversation with a part-time Yoga Instructor and 5-minutes into our discussion, I was impressed by the degree of enthusiasm she expressed about this practice. Our talk concluded with her inviting me to attend a Yoga class near Chelsea Pier that I gladly accepted! Saturday morning arrived, and it was now time to get ready. I grabbed my newly purchased Yoga Mat (Lol) and cruised down to the Chelsea area with an open mind, prepared to embrace this new experience. Let’s do it! When I walked into the class, I was blown away by the number of people in the room. I proceeded to introduce myself to a few folks, got some guidance, and then the session started. It was kind of awkward at first, but once I got the hang of it, indeed, it was a calming experience. On the way out, I stopped in Chelsea Market to pick up a few things. With my shopping all done, I snapped a quick pic, sat down on the bench to the right side of this photo to enjoy the atmosphere, and took the next 15-minutes to write this post. 😊 To end, if you have a few valuable Yoga tips for a novice like me, and others that may come across this post, please share with the group. Now go out, try something new, and make it a fun weekend! hashtag#yoga hashtag#life hashtag#nyc

Grand Central Terminal

If you need to visit several places around NYC in a day, by far, it’s most efficient and cost-effective to utilize mass transit. Besides the time you’ll save, you will also avoid suffering from severe sticker shock when the parking attendant hands you the bill! Okay, I recently had such a day that eventually had me strolling through Grand Central Terminal to catch the 5-train. As I walked through this iconic landmark, I stopped for a few minutes to admire the ambiance and architectural beauty of the terminal; and marveled at the diverse number of people all around. Love it! Captivated by this moment, combined with a massive dose of curiosity, I rushed over to the information booth located near the famous four-faced opal clock eager to obtain some historical perspective. As a result, I learned that over 750,000 people visit Grand Central each day, making it second only to Times Square as the most visited destination in the Big Apple. Incredible! With this new fun fact deposited into my memory bank, I then hustled to the subway and jumped on a packed train to go home. If you’ve visited a well-known landmark lately and had a similar aha moment, please share your experience so that we can learn from your insight. Have a great weekend, and live in the moment! hashtag#life hashtag#admire

Brookfield Place

I kicked off my Saturday by having a cup of hot chocolate near The Rink at Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan. Not a typical weekend landing spot for yours truly; however, I deliberately chose an unlikely place to journal, recharge the batteries, and to contemplate life after a hectic and exhilarating workweek. Happy to report that it was refreshing to watch the youth and grownups have such a blissful time ice skating while viewing the eye-catching skyscrapers from Jersey City up to Hoboken on the other side of the Hudson River. As I continued to observe my surroundings, I began to notice a teenage girl ice skating that kept falling; and each time she fell, she popped right back up with the encouragement of her coach. What is more, her resolve to keep getting back up and battle through the lesson was inspiring! Consequently, a favorite quote of mine flashed in my head, “The magic you’re looking for is in the will of trying and not giving up!” -Tom Brady. This scenario serves as a good reminder that no matter how many times life knocks you down, keep getting back up. Last of all, never stop believing in yourself and keep chasing your dreams passionately! Please add a comment to foster growth with everyone that reads this post. Have a fun weekend! hashtag#life hashtag#motivation hashtag#nyc

Vessel Landmark in New York City

I met a few friends at Hudson Yards for an early dinner last Sunday to reconnect in a meaningful way. Since the Vessel was nearby, Manhattan's newest landmark that opened in March 2019, I was eager to get a glimpse at this construction for the first time. As we approached this impressive looking structure, we bumped into some people taking pictures of a trio of jubilant dogs that stopped me dead in my tracks! So thrilled by this sight, I snapped a pic which I've affixed to give you a bird's-eye view of the moment. To the surprise of my friends, I then politely introduced myself to the folks in the picture and stuck up a conversation. Two were from Brooklyn, and the other was from the Boogie Down Bronx! We then purchased tickets and went inside the Vessel. As we made our way up the spiral staircase, I heard a lot of oohs and ahhs from folks all around. Once we arrived at the top, I took a couple of minutes to soak it all in and enjoyed the breathtaking views of New York City and the Hudson River. If you haven't been to the Vessel, worth a visit if your travels ever bring you near the Hudson Yards. In the end, I observed a new landmark, met three new people, and had a good time with friends that I haven't seen in a while. Have a fun weekend! hashtag#nyc hashtag#inspiration hashtag#newyork

Fully Present

I rolled into BJ’s this Saturday morning and encountered a bunch of birds flying around the parking lot, looking like they were ready to attack! Out of the blue, I felt an urge to rethink my initial perception of what I was witnessing and began to embrace the beauty of nature in motion. In doing so, I was able to hear the lovely sounds of the birds chirping while watching two of these adorable creatures glide in the air, followed by admiring another landing gracefully. Moreover, it was peaceful to be in sync with nature for those 45-seconds. Love it! After I snapped back into reality, I went into the store to get my shopping done. With such an exhilarating experience still fresh on my mind, I decided to park my shopping cart in an area that would not piss off the other shoppers. Lol! I then took 15-minutes to capture my thoughts; once complete, I began shopping and got on with my day. Indeed, every picture tells a story. Beauty is all around us, even during those moments that may seem insignificant if you make a conscious effort to be fully present and carefully observe your surroundings. Do you agree? Thanks for taking the time to read about this snapshot through my lens. Please feel free to share your thoughts. Have a fabulous weekend! hashtag#mindfulness hashtag#motivation hashtag#nyc

Hudson Restaurant Week

I purposely took a few minutes last night to reflect on the week. Undoubtedly, the range of emotions felt by millions of people, including myself, this past week was extraordinary. Now drained after watching an NBA basketball game at the Staples Center, I slowly walk over to the front door to make sure it's locked, followed by turning off the lights and then diving into bed. Before my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep! When I woke up the next morning, my stomach was growling, so I jumped out of bed, got dressed, and headed downtown to get a hot breakfast. The second I arrived at the intersection of Grove St. and Newark Ave, I saw a banner that read, "Hudson Restaurant Week," that gave me an extra pep in my step. The reason being, this week is a semi-annual celebration of dining in Hudson County with prix-fixe discounted menus, which is always a good time to try a new restaurant. Once I settled on a restaurant, my next move was to introduce myself to a few people in the LinkedIn spirit of networking. I struck up a conversation with a lovely couple and ended up having breakfast with them. Love it! I'll end this post by encouraging you to try something new this weekend. Life is precious, so live it to the fullest! Have a great Super Bowl weekend! hashtag#motivation hashtag#networking