Debbie: Paddleboarding Experience under the vast Intrepid
Paddleboarding with good friends amidst twilight zone with a breathtaking view of the Intrepid museum…Didn’t even fall off the board once! Lying down on the paddleboard and enjoying the view…being myself…having dinner at Gotham marketplace..tacos…walking around the city…It was an evening of laughter and novelty.
Mac: Glory…
One of my boys (Venezuelan-Italian) called me a while back to tell me about some challenges he was facing in his career and what he intended to do. I asked him to give me a few days to think it over and get back to him as far as what I thought the best solution might be. I called him back in a couple of days after thinking and, in utter honesty, told him I didn’t like his plans. I proposed a solution and we both explored possible options. I asked him to apply to a number of companies in his field of interest (financial services and banking). He followed my advice and did so. He got two offers and, surprisingly, one of the companies (multinational financial institution) called him to say, “You applied for this (non-managerial position), but we want to offer you a managerial position (Manager), which we thought about and he accepted. Last Sunday, he called to say, “Mac, you always look dapper. I was wondering if you might want to come shopping with me and give me some advice on suits and how to look good for my new role.” I did just that. Now, leadership is about helping others realize their potentials while realizing yours. I am sure he’ll do fantastic. To God be the glory!
Mac: Kiss from a Rose
You are somewhere dreaming about me while I dream about you. You crave my piercing stare and desire my awe-inspiring smile. I envision our first date, when I drive to pick you up and treat you like the queen that you are. I bring you roses, go down on my knees, kiss your hand and give it to you. You are comforted by my obvious equanimity.
You look stunning and my heart is near popping out of my chest. I open the car door and usher you in with utmost gentleness. When you call my name, “Mac,” it’s almost like you are saying to my parents, “And you’ll have a handsome and beautiful boy. He’ll go out and break a lot of hearts, and have his heart broken too. But in the end, he’ll find me and it’ll be a moment of absolute blessedness.”
In my dreams, I bring you to the ballroom and I waltz with you to Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” I am looking dapper and all debonair in my tuxedo and my bowtie.
On the dance floor, you feel my triceps, biceps, and my chest, and you think, “Oh my! He is built like a Greek God.” You smell my neck and feel like it’s the best thing ever. You are carried away by the way I waltz you around. You desire my good genes. Your whole world turns and you wished we had met earlier.
Your palpitating heart tells you, “This is my man and I won’t let him go.” For once, you just know that this man is your other half and he is a fine specimen of a man. At last, we’ve found each other and love lasts.
Ira: The Last Three Years
The last 3 years since I moved to New York from Israel, were pretty overwhelming. And the last year mostly, has beat me to the ground. Working HARD to make enough money to live in New York. Managing a business, falling in love with zumba, becoming an instructor, doing a leadership program, opening my first company, new relationship, injuring my shoulder, going through a surgery, 6 months recovery. no working out, no zumba. injuring my back, closing my company. The lesson that I’m taking with me from this past year is, to do only what makes you happy, and continue to work on improving yourself. Making A lot of money and hating every second of it – is not a way to live, and is very hard to walk away from. i kept on receiving this message in a form of big health issues, that kept on coming one after the other. it took me some time to realize that and walk away. now I’m taking the spring-summer time to focus on what makes me happy, and becoming a better person, gather my lost energy back, and then, I will start working on my new business. Which is going to be HUGE, mark my words . Thanks to b-school, and Marie Forleo for some valuable lessons.
Debbie: Milky Way
Winter Wonderland. In the vast forest of Wyndam, it was discovered that snowflake designs are real as can be, each intricately woven, purposefully outlined, yet naturally fluffy… Seeing them effortlessly dropping serendipitous designs onto my black down coat, it seemed as if my sleeve was a vast milky way of evanescent patterned stars…Wiping them away was like sweeping away blankets of dry fluff…It felt like a winter wonderland, and Mother Nature was raining down Christmas ornaments.
Philip: Out of Your Comfort Zone
As humans we do things daily to make us feel connected and comfortable in our journey. But at one point you were not comfortable with those actions or ideas…right?? So whats holding you back from doing that next thing that is uncomfortable so you can have something new to feel comfortable to do? You will always look back and usually laugh at yourself thinking why you didn’t do it earlier or wonder why you ever held back!!
Debbie: Cute Moments
I got left a large Chinese almond cookie, the size of my hand, on someone’s desk. A few days later, I instant messaged him to ask how he liked it. Here’s his response:
“Thank you. Yesterday, I suffered difficulty because I didn’t know who kindly put it on my desk… I’m afraid if someone erroneously put it on my desk..Now I can enjoy!”
It made me smile. =)
Now I want to make almond cookie ice cream – Vanilla ice cream and almond cookie crushed in the blender. Mmmm..
It reminds me of The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. And after or before that, I’ll get crab soup dumplings too with lots of hot sauce, sitting in and enjoying the cute moments of life.
Vanessa… Lucky.
My job is unreal. I got so lucky. I am absolutely amazed I’m actually using EVERYTHING I learned in entrepreneurial finance & PE class every single day. I have a newfound love for cap tables and here’s to hoping I’m not diluting people by accident…cause that would mean the difference between a mercedes vs. a mazda.
Philip: Dancing through Life!
I’ve dove into a lot of opportunities in my life. Things I questioned before hand thinking “oh it’s not that big of a deal”, I can maybe do it another time. Or later!! Also things that are once in a lifetime events or situations I only could do once. It doesn’t matter how silly or over the top it may be to get there or experience it. It’s just about making sure I do it. Life in the end should not be looked back on and wondered what if I would have done that? It should be a constant risk taking journey. I know in the midst of my insanity and fogs of “doing whatever it takes” to get there are tough and somewhat viewed as ridiculous. But I’m here say persistence pays off. I would say the majority of my excitement comes from the scariness I put myself through in order to get what makes me happy. Always remember its not the destination but the journey you go through that means the most. The destination is just the icing on the cake and maybe even with a candle on top to add some extra light. Go for it no matter what the outcome and without expectations!!
The Sparkled Life 