The Sunshine Report What a Glorious Feeling… 'Karen and Jay share thoughts on the virtues of finding sunshine even, and especially, when faced with a rainy day.' Click here to enjoy the song: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (including the goodnight kiss): [link removed] Have you ever had to face a rainy day – and all of a sudden something comes over you? A feeling of joy and excitement. A determination that you’re just not going to let that rainy day get the best of you? Something down deep gives you the confidence that you’re in charge. You can make your own kind of weather. You can overcome what’s happening ‘outside,’ by what you have the power to make happen on the ‘inside.’ That is, what you can do with your mind, your spirit, and your imagination. You can bring sunshine and optimism to a rainy day. Both figuratively and literally. Well, there’s a scene from a movie that captures this feeling so perfectly. You may recall the 1950’s classic ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ when Gene Kelly’s character Don Lockwood famously jumps onto a light post, umbrella in hand while getting absolutely drenched by a rainstorm but without a care in the world. If you read the script, the scene is only described in six words, “Don dances in the wet street”. Yet Gene Kelly’s performance extends for more than four minutes and has famously come to symbolize that even when we might get rained on in life, no matter the circumstance, there’s still much we can both be grateful for and look forward to (like being dry for example). It’s fair to say that we all have those days when we wake up and it just feels nothing is going our way, where even the smallest things can lead you to feeling like you’ve been dealt a bad hand, the metaphorical ‘rainy day’. Life however is very much like the weather, there will be rainy days, snowy days, cloudy days, and sunny days. And, as we saw in ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ rain is used as a tool in the beginning to demonstrate that Don is experiencing sadness, while at the end, the rain is bringing renewal and new beginnings. So, while every day won’t be sunshine and rainbows, how we take the good and the bad and choose to act on them is what makes all the difference. Sometimes our emotions can get the best of us. Let’s face it, they’re incredibly powerful and like the weather, can sometimes be impossible to alter. Yet I’m reminded of the phrase ‘April showers bring May flowers’ in this case meaning that without the rain, we don’t get the beauty that it has the potential to bring. Similarly in our own lives, it’s important to remember that when we’re feeling down or at a low point, it’s often those times when we learn and grow the most. So, in short, if you can embrace the rainy days like you might welcome a sunny day, with a full heart and as an opportunity to learn or grow, you too might just find yourself ‘Singin’ in the Rain!’ Read The Report Singin’ in the Rain – The Story Behind the Movie and Song Read More The Old Farmers’ Almanac - The Ultimate All-Weather Guide! Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Al Kaprielian – the Ultimate All-Weather Man! This week we are delighted to highlight a true Granite State legend. A man who has educated, informed and entertained us with his meteorological and performance genius – weatherman extraordinaire, Al Kaprielian. The wild New Hampshire weather patterns, with sudden and extreme changes, is often cursed. However, it is hard to deny the excitement of a good old fashioned Nor’easter snowstorm, or a strong line of thunderstorms rolling in on a warm July late afternoon. Al Kaprielian, the veteran weatherman is well known throughout the Granite State for his unmatched energy and enthusiasm during his on-air segments. He has truly leaned into some of his own highly engaging and sometimes a bit eccentric personality traits and has brought a unique style to broadcasting weather that has made him a beloved staple of New Hampshire news. With his nearly patented high-pitched description of “hiiigh pressure,” and his jovial on-air presentation that often has included quick and sudden movements, and even once displayed jumping jacks during a broadcast, Al Kaprielian has made the weather segment interesting and has made people smile. He has become truly famous here in ‘Live Free or Die’ country and even landed in the lyrics of a Jay-Z parody New Hampshire rap song that has over 2 million views on YouTube. Over the course of his career, he has also been awarded the title of Best Weather Forecaster, Best Media Personality, and Best Weatherperson by various news and media publications. “As far back as elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a weatherman,” Al expressed, in a recent conversation with one of our Sunshine Initiative teammates. He fondly remembered his first job opportunity as a weatherman back on Labor Day of 1983. And now, with 30 years of teaching, observing, and broadcasting weather, he is still engaged in his passion, recently starting a part-time position with a media outlet in Lowell, Massachusetts. He highlighted a sentiment that runs as a deep and consistent truth here in New Hampshire; authenticity will always remain a beautiful and respected commodity. “My passion and enthusiasm for the weather was always sincere, and I think people recognized that” he stated. “Severe summer weather, snowstorms, hot weather for the beach, you name it, I loved reporting on it.” In an age where so many people often overwork themselves to fit-in and conform, maybe we all can take a lesson from Al Kaprielian. He has pursued his passion with an “all-in” spirit and has courageously opened-up and let New Hampshire viewers see his genuine excitement for all things weather. Al is currently a resident of historic Merrimack, NH, and a graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont. Despite his statewide stardom over the years, he has often found time in his schedule to visit local schools to teach students about science and meteorology. He continues to mentor young aspiring weather forecasters today. Al Kaprielian is arguably a New Hampshire weather legend, whose positive enthusiasm and unabashed excitement for changes in the atmosphere will not soon be forgotten! Thank you, Al, for all that you contribute to our great Granite State! Quote of the Week "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]