Rush hour in any city is never fun, but particularly in NYC on a hot summer day. I like to consider myself a calm person, in control, one that retains his composure even in the most stressful situations, yet all it takes is five minutes in rush hour traffic and not even a psychiatrist would be able to bring me down the mountain of anxiety that would have formed. Aside from the obvious factors that make traffic stressful, there is for me, another unquantifiable parameter that gets satiated to take me over the top and frustrate like few things in life can.

I suppose it is the helplessness of it all. Cars, designed to be driven at any other speed except 0mph, sitting there, going nowhere, while pedestrians seem to be blazing by, mocking those of us trapped in these boxes of steel and fiberglass. While I can't remember the date, all I remember is sitting there, smack in the middle of a traffic bonanza. Ahead of me were miles of cars, which might as well have been parked we were moving so slow. It was like I was staring into the face of a slot machine; three lanes and they all came up losers.

The sun has been up for hours as I sit here in front of my computer getting ready for the day. A hot cup of tea to my left and the noise of people starting their day floods in through my window like a rainstorm. It is the 'beginning' of the week, at least that's what they tell us, and my hope is that it proves to be a week that will not be forgotten, but one that will stay in my memory for a long time to come.

I go through my morning rituals that we all have. Some go straight to the coffee machine to start brewing that first warm, comforting cup while some can't do anything until a long shower wakes them up. Whichever your personal ritual is, in the end, doesn't really matter, but it's yours and yours only.

Me? It varies a bit but more often than not, I heat up a pot of water, get the tea ready and sit in front of the computer to write, as I am doing now, or if it's early enough before the day gets going, I will read a bit to enjoy that quietness before NYC trucks and buses break that silence. And yes, they always do.

Well, I will keep my writing short today but I wish you all a beautiful morning and hope to see you back here tomorrow.

much directional love
~adrian

The clock is just turning 9:42 as I sit by the window relaxing after a big breakfast. The temperature could not be more ideal, around 60 degrees and the day has all the promise of a day that will provide much needed tranquility. Don't get me wrong, I love a hectic schedule like any good New Yorker but sometimes you just need to slow down and think about life, what's around you and more importantly, where to aim your energy and focus.

That's what today is all about and although I don't exactly expect to solve every last of life's issues over the next few hours, it always helps to be in a better state of mind, where you can make better decisions.

With that said, I am off to enjoy a nice walk and see what my mind and heart come up with. The sun is just warm enough and the air is just breezy enough to not have to worry about any of that and just enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

I pray you all have the most amazing day as well and I will see you in the morning with another full posting.

much quiet time love
~adrian