Just a Thought

First Snow of the Season – Welcome Friends

Whenever someone asks, “What’s your favorite holiday, Bryn?”–
My answer is always “THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW!”

Here in NYC, the snow began this morning.
Although it is the first day back to work from a long weekend, it feels like a holiday in my business!

Snow. Magical. Pure. Full of hope. Lights twinkling off the drifts.

Pure joy to me.

Could this madness be based on the fact that I was born in a rural area outside of Rochester NY in January? I’ll never know. What I do know is that I am already the girl dancing on the sidewalks of NYC catching snowflakes and laughing.

I’ve always had a nose for snow… a little snow radar detector.
Just like one of my favorite television characters ever- Lorelai Gilmore (who also happens to love coffee as much as I do! Bryn trivia: Lorelai is always my answer to “which tv character are you most like?)

This morning I woke up smelling snow and I am never wrong!

Click Above: To see exactly what I am referring to…

❄️ WELCOME FRIENDS ❄️

Happy Birthday, Jim! My Inspiration.

On November 10, 1969, at almost 3 years old, my mom sat me in front of television history.

It was the first airing of Sesame Street and my entire life changed. I know that might sound terribly dramatic, but it is absolutely true.

In that moment, I believe that I began to understand creativity in a way that would never be paralleled for me again in my lifetime. Jim Henson and his brilliant mind unleashed something in MY mind, my soul and my heart that I have been abiding by for the last 50 years.

My love and connection with Jim Henson and his creations is rich and deep. Suffice it to say that it is a profound connection that really goes so far beyond words. It is about communicating using creativity, humor, compassion, hope and tolerance to bring people together. To build community. His creations help me to see the world for what it is- magical, fun and filled with opportunities to love.

I remember exactly where I was on May 16, 1990 when it was announced Jim Henson had died at 50 years old. I wept uncontrollably in a bar in the West Village of NYC. A part of me died that day.

On September 24, 2011, on what would have been his 75^th birthday, I was part of a celebration of Jim at the Museum of Moving Image in NYC at an exhibit that has since become a permanent fixture here in NYC. Surrounded by so many other Henson lovers enjoying the special programming and signing the “memory book” that will go in the archives of the Jim Henson Legacy organization.

Today, in honor of what would have been his 83^rd birthday, I want to leave you with my favorite Jim Henson quote.

It sums up my outlook on life.

I believe that we form our own lives, that we create our own reality, and that everything works out for the best.

I know I drive some people crazy with what seems to be ridiculous optimism, but it has always worked out for me.

~ Jim

Forward is Forward

“Slow and steady wins the race.” This has always been one of my favorite quotes.

However, “YOUR SPEED DOESN’T MATTER, FORWARD IS FORWARD” is definitely more reflective of me. 🐢

At various workshops and retreats geared toward entrepreneurs, I have been asked, “Are you a sprinter or a marathoner?”

I REALLY DISLIKE this question. 🐢

I am neither. I am both. 🐢

I am the procrastinator who magically transforms procrastination in a veiled “project plan”- writing it out and setting the direction and timing which REALLY becomes me changing the deadlines and sabotaging myself— but to others this looks like a wonderful marathoner steadily moving along the race. 🐢

The reality- while the race is going on, I am drinking coffee, chatting and texting with people all while binge-watching television at a darling cafe along the race route. 🐢

At some point- probably when the crowds start to thin and the cheers start to fade, I realize that I committed to this race and people are expecting me at the finish line. Waiting with their handmade signs and lovingly cheering me (or tapping their watch wondering where the he** I am). So, I gulp down the last of my americano, tip the waitstaff who are now my bffs and jump back in the race. 🐢

And NOW, I’ve got to sprint. Seriously haul a**. Foregoing sleep and other pleasurable experiences in an effort to get to the finish line. 🐢

Ooooh, I’ll let you in on a little secret. While sprinting (or maintaining a highly erratic and caffeinated jog), I click into a competitive mode where I now want to be one of the best. Not necessarily THE best. I understand that particular honor is reserved for the masterful sprinter or the marathoner who truly has been chugging along in the race. But I want to be ONE of the best. And that competitive drive then kicks me into super-high gear. 🐢

At this stage of the story, you are either thinking I am a total nut job or your new super hero. Either way, I trust that you realize that this is the “Brain of Bryn” at work. 🐢 FORWARD IS FORWARD.

My way. Imperfectly. A little wacky. A lot chaotic. But also filled with delightful coffee, cafés and conversations.

Can you relate?

Just a Thought: It Will Come

It Will Come.

Do not worry about how the good that has been planned for you will come.
It will come.

Do not worry, obsess, think you have to control it, go out hunting for it, or tangle your mind trying to figure out how and when it will find you.
It will find you.

Surrender to your Higher Power each day. Trust your Higher Power. Then, stay peaceful.

Trust and listen to yourself. That is how the good you want will come to you.

Your healing. Your joy. Your relationships. Your solutions. That job. That desired change. That opportunity. It will come to you- naturally, with ease, and in a host of ways.

That answer will come. The direction will come. The money. The idea. The energy. The creativity. The path will open itself to you. Trust that, for it has already been planned.

It is futile, a waste and drain of energy, to worry about how it will come. It is already there. You have it already. It is in place. You just cannot see it!

You will be brought to it or it will be brought to you.

What I believe.

Found this in The Language of Letting Go- one of the many spiritual books on my shelves. It struck me right between the eyes. I cried tears of joy and possibility. YES YES- THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE. I typed it up, printed it out, framed it and put it in my office to read every day.

Now I wanted to share it with all of you. It is what I choose to believe.

What do you hold as sacred truth in your life?

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Rainy Days and Madness

Sometimes my “glass half full” attitude can produce some of the best memories- if I do say so myself.

For much of the summer of 2018, I was in Washington, DC taking in the sights and spending time with important people in my life. Unfortunately, this also included 100-degree days and humidity, as I had truly never experienced before. I felt like a damp, wilting flower most of the time.

Have I mentioned that my favorite season is winter and my very favorite holiday is the first snowfall (an actual floating holiday in my life and business)? So you can only imagine the extra effort it took to keep a happy face and positive attitude during the adventures which often included two kids — who I am certain would have been very content playing video games in the air conditioning all day long. (But it was not going to happen!)

One particularly excruciatingly humid day, after finding cool relief amongst the exhibits at the National Gallery of Art, we decided to make one more stop before going home. The National Archives were only 7 blocks away and the kids really needed to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights up close and personal (said the adults). I mean, we were in D.C., so time to take advantage of all the history there was to offer. Now here is where that “glass half full” attitude of mine comes into play. As we walked out of the museum to head over to the archives, it started to rain. A certain adult in our group thought we should hail a cab or summon an Uber.

But I exclaimed, “It’s only a few blocks and the rain will feel SOOOOO good in this heat!”

After a little discussion, my positive attitude prevailed and off we went.

Oh you know what’s coming, right? You see this movie scene playing out, don’t you?

Me: Soaked through and amused.

Yes, a few blocks away the skies opened up. I mean down-poured. Flash-flooding type of rain. And no matter what we did- where we ran for shelter, we were getting soaked. So, what did this woman filled with positive attitude say, “let’s just keep going because we are wet already”. By the time we walked into the National Archives, you could literally wring out our clothes, shoes and bag and now we were freezing from the blasting air conditioning. The other three were not a happy bunch, but I just kept laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

A few days later, it was our last day in the city and I did not want to let the rain stop us. No one wants to sit inside on the last day. Time for some adventures. However, this time I knew I needed to redeem myself from the prior soppy adventure. Solution: I bought 4 of the most fantastic umbrellas I could find at a moment’s notice. We were going to tackle this adventure in style. We danced in the rain. We laughed and splashed and twirled the umbrellas. More great memories- just a little drier this time.

Making memories. Making fun. Making lemonade from lemons.

These stories will serve as a great reminder to me on the days that I feel defeated or when circumstances are overwhelming or fraught with obstacles. Time to dig in deep and pull out my positive attitude and maybe that colorful umbrella.