Taking Time and Seeing the Good

Well, the time has come to set sail once again.  I am headed back to the MS Amsterdam for four months in sunny, summertime Alaska.  I am anticipating many hikes or simple journeys into nature where I can decompress and try to slow down all the frenetic thoughts that have been swirling through my mind for the last few months.  There is nothing quite as refreshing as taking the time to check in with yourself and allow your brain to recharge.  This is something I do not do as often as I should.  However, it is a new year.  Well, it was a new year not too long ago, so why not make a new start?

I look forward to providing you with updates from the heart and mind of a man traveling with little more than his hopes, dreams, fears, and ambition.  To those of you who have contributed to my journey thus far, thank you.  Your support and, in some cases, disapproving energy have been exactly what I have needed.

Until we meet in this virtual cafe again, allow me to give you a challenge; a challenge that I will also be taking on.  I urge you to find the goodness in every situation.  I do mean in EVERY situation.  Go ahead, give it a shot.  When you find yourself starting to complain about something, take two seconds to fish around in your brain and extract a ray of sunshine.  I am not saying it will be easy, or even possible in every circumstance, but what if you find that it could be?  You will never know until you take a chance to surround yourself with the good.  

I pray that you will be well and feel blessed.  

Until next time,
Joey

Back In L.A.

Well, it appears that I was horrible about keeping this here site up to date. Allow me to summarize everything that happened in the space between my last post and now with the word amazing.

I could not have asked for a better group of people to frolic in Europe and the Caribbean with. I just finished my time with them a mere ten days ago, but it feels like much longer. Upon completion of my contract on the Nieuw Amsterdam, I joined two of my cast mates for a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. It was an absolute blast. After that, I traveled with one of them to NYC for six days of merriment in the greatest city in the world. I was fortunate enough to see "The Last 5 Years," "Cinderella," "Pippin," and "Fuerza Bruta." All we fantastic in their own way. However, I must rank "Pippin" in a class of its own. If there is ANY way for you to get to New York to see it, do it!

I am currently sitting at the apartment complex where I've been put up for rehearsal for another ship. This time I'll be heading back to the Amsterdam on a four month contract in Alaska. Today was the first day of rehearsal and it went pretty well. We are starting to learn our "welcome aboard" show called "Listen to the Music." I performed this show on my last ship, but there are parts that are different as cast size and makeup is different. Fingers crossed for a mostly stress-free process.

I hope that this finds you well and in good spirits. I will attempt to be better about keeping you up to date with what is going on, but...well, we saw what happened last time.

Sending love to you and yours.

Until next time,

J