A Moment In Time

People passing by—all on their own paths to destinations unknown to me. 

A piano sings out tunes, thanks to the sweet red-headed teen playing with fire. 

The boys’ fingers dancing on the cool keys. 

People are buzzing around like birds.

Some stop to listen.

Others check the boards.

Others grab a drink.

Two cops twirl their way past the piano while a dad with a double stroller waits for his wife who is buying chocolate.

A sweet treat on a sweet day to be alive.

BElieve in YOUrself

Happy Monday everyone!

It’s been the “Weekend of me.”

A weekend where I decided to unplug from social media … and (most of the time) my phone.

It’s been a busy, crazy but good past two weeks. Sometimes though, you need to unplug and be alone. In a city like New York City… packed with people…you can still feel alone. That’s a good thing and it is okay! It’s okay to want to take time for you. To do you. To just go to bed early and take three serenity strolls a day. It’s okay.

As my three year cancerversary sneaks up I’ve noticed a change. I think it took a moment of meltdown a couple of weeks ago… but I finally came to honestly accept this realization: I am who I am and not everyone is going to like or understand me. I know I can be a bit much when it comes to my cup half full, positive personality. That's just me. It’s what makes me me. I think that’s why when I was confronted about a greeting I use daily (which is not unusual and quite common) I was shocked. I was essentially being told the greeting is, “too nice and odd” and “people” are asking, “Why does Jessica do that?” I was baffled at first. I was baffled because: 

A) I thought it was silly in the grand scheme of things.

B) I’d been doing it for years.

C) I was essentially being told not be me because some people felt it made me less credible and too nice.

The fact that people feel it’s odd to be nice in the workplace... or anywhere... just boggles my mind. Being kind and nice is something we all should be. Who wakes up saying, “I’m going to be mean today!?” It doesn’t matter what you do or who you work for. We all deserve kindness. There is no question about that. Your words are the greatest power you have. Use them with thought and care. Be mindful of how you speak them... no matter what kinda of day you are having. Be kind.

So, as we start this week off… I want to use my words to lift you up. 

*You are capable of greatness. 

*Your quirks are cool. 

*You slay. 

*You being here on this planet matters. 

*Something you say or do this week may mean nothing much to you but will mean something to someone.

If someone tries to empty your cup grab it back… maybe help try fill their cup. Be your own light if someone tries to dim it. You’re the only person who can control its’ brightness. 

Most importantly…tell your story. Don’t run away from who you are. I mean… as Goldie Hawn once said, “Who else is there better to be?” 

Everybody Say Yeah!

t's a bittersweet week on The Great White Way. The factory of Kinky Boots on Broadway is closing its' doors on Sunday. As many of you know this is a show near and dear to my heart. People in the cast... past and present... all have left, and continue to leave, little red sparkles of heeled footprints on my heart.

I have seen Kinky Boots 42 times. I hope to make it the factory (come on lotto luck) one more time. 

I wanted to take a moment to write a little something to everyone who has ever been involved with this production. I know this show has touched people from every corner of the world. 

Thank you.

Dear Kinky Boots,

Thank you for raising me up when I felt down.

For telling a story of love and acceptance.

For your openness to everyone who has ever stepped into the theatre.

Thank you for singing about sparkly, shiny, sexy boots... in red. (We all know sex is the heel)

To anyone reading this... remember to pursue the truth, let love shine and that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Most importantly... "Just Be!" 

Have a Kinktastic final week at the factory and let love shine! 

Below are the links to all the Kinky Boots related posts I've written. 

https://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2012/09/are-you-ready-boots.html

https://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2013/03/sharpie-smackdown.html

https://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-kinky-time.html

https://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2013/03/kinky-time-part-2.html

Happy New Year!

Two years ago I saddled up at my neighborhood bar.

I didn’t even have to get into a car.

I was bald and finishing cancer treatment.

It was really quite the achievement.

Since then I moved and not visited my old haunt.

So, I walked over to the restaurant.

I saddled up to the bar and noticed it was one of my usual bartenders.

He was stirring a drink… just out of the blender.

I smiled to see if there would be a spark of recognition.

Counted the seconds like a mathematician.

After a moment I got an “OMG JESS!  I didn’t recognize you with hair!”

I laughed… cause that was quite fair.

He caught me up on his girlfriend, work and his cats.

I updated him on my health, my breakup and my promotion and he said “Congrats!”

It’s interactions like that… that remind me of what’s important.

Making memories...community…family.

That’s what we talk about happily.

The cavalry of people… the places… that make up the year… is what we remember as we spread holiday cheer.

So may the New Year be full of fun and not fear.

Loved ones far and near.

May 2019 sparkle like a chandelier.

May you persevere.

May we lift each other up and remember to ask each other ‘sup?

To drink out of a tea cup when bad news pops up…

But most of all… this is your life. Show up and soak it up.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Find The Beauty In Your Battle

It’s a beautiful October day in New York City. It’s not quite the crisp, pumpkin-picking, wood-burning fireplace feel yet… but October is in the air. It’s my favorite month.

It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For those of you who don’t know… I am a survivor. I was diagnosed in 2016 and finished treatment in 2017 a cancer-free woman. Now, I take Tamoxifen every day and am navigating the Thriver life! 

It feels like a lifetime ago. Life before cancer seems like a past life. I am very grateful for where I am today and to be able to help other warriors on their own journeys. I am also thankful I blogged during parts of mine. The posts reminds me of how far I have come, how strong I am and how important community and telling my story is.

For those of you on the fence about mammograms… don’t be. Hop the fence and make that appointment. It doesn’t matter if your family has a history of cancer or not. Cancer can touch anyone. That is why a cure is so important to find. In the meantime, take care of you. Advocate for you.

That’s what I did when I went to my gynecologist for a prescription refill. She did a breast exam and felt nothing. I hadn’t felt anything either. I had no symptoms. It was your typical gynecologist office breast exam. However, this time she said, “Jess. It’s time for you to get a mammogram. You’re 40.” In less than a week I was getting my first mammogram. 24 hours later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The mammogram didn’t show my tumor clearly but the ultrasound did. Thanks to making that appointment… and an ultrasound tech with a very keen eye…. my cancer was caught early and the tumor removed.  

For those of you reading this battling any type of cancer. There is CAN in CANcer for a reason. You can do this. You will. You’ll have crappy days. You’ll have great days. You’ll have days you wanna get off the crazy cancer coaster. The coaster jolts, has loops and has hills. Know this. The rollercoaster does level out and stop. You’re not alone on the ride. Just keep going. Your friends and family are on that coaster with you cheering you on. I am cheering you on. Just keep holding on… cause you CAN. 

As one beautiful warrior and thriver said, "We may not have the power to control what happens to us but we have all the power in the world to control how we react to it. Find the beauty in your battle."- Nalie Agustin

Tip The Balance

Happy Friyay everyone! We made it! It’s been a week of special Sending Smiles blogs. I unplugged from Instagram. I’ve had a few anxiety attacks. I looked in my reflection and not always liked what I saw. Let’s just say that it has been a week. But you know what? I made it. WE made it. The main reason I started the Sending Smiles Tweets, a couple of years ago, was to start a place where people could go when they needed some positivity. 

I’m trying to balance the scales of what, I feel, is an increasingly negative atmosphere on social media. Nobody’s life is perfect. We all have our own struggles and daily challenges. You are not alone in those struggles. That’s what I wanted to remind myself and anyone who clicked on my Twitter handle and link this week. 

So, I end this experience wanting to continue to spread some positivity, hope and happiness out into the world. Let’s tip the balance the other way. I’d love for anyone who is reading this to submit a little nugget of positivity on Twitter and tag me please, so we can share some positivity throughout the Twitterverse. Wishing you an amazing day. It’s Friyay! 

This weeks special posts:

http://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2018/07/unplugging_30.html

http://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2018/07/embracing-your-body.html

http://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2018/08/just-stop.html

http://theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com/2011/12/find-beat-again.html

Just Stop

Good morning! It’s Day 3 of my Digging Deeper/Sending Smiles journey. Today's is going to be short and sweet. New York City is about the buzz. People rushing here and there. Trains roaring through the tunnels that weave through the city’s underground. Taxis threading their way through the streets. It’s hard to slow down. I’ve found it harder the past couple of months to just stop and smell the roses. Like most of you, my days are full. My mornings are jammed with workouts, emails, doctors appointments, errands and then work till 11:30pm.  Even my physical therapist was like “You have got to slow down.” Pumping the breaks is hard and my daily effort to not feel the need to “do do do” and just stop and smell the roses in this busy, but beautiful city, is something we all should try and do more of. It’s ok to just slow down… and stop.