The Sunshine Report Sweet Memories and Enjoyment Karen and Jay share thoughts on the many wonderful attributes of pancakes. Who doesn’t like pancakes? Warm, tasty – maybe with a dose of maple syrup. Perhaps a little butter. Great taste. But as good as that taste is, the pancake breakfast ‘experience’ is what it’s all about. Often on a weekend morning. No time pressure. Family all around. Happy memories. Thinking of those times when your mother made pancakes for you. Maybe your grandmother. While at times there may be issues that divide us, let’s unite on one important note – there is a basic ‘goodness’ inherent in the pancake breakfast. Just this past week I had the good fortune of having breakfast with a longtime friend and colleague, something I wish I did more often. As always, it’s quite a dilemma figuring out what to order from the menu. I’m sure you have been there as well. Do I choose something healthy or lite. Yogurt, fruit? Or, wow, that omelet looks great, maybe I should get that. While I was looking through the many and varied options, trying to get my mind and my appetite on the same page, a plate of pancakes passed by me, and the decision was made. Pancakes were one of my favorite breakfast plates growing up as a kid, a love that most definitely has carried into adulthood. There are so many different ways to make and enjoy pancakes. Whether you like them fluffy or light, with blueberries or chocolate chips, doused in maple syrup or simply with a little bit of honey, short stack or a tall stack, there’s an option for everyone. Once my plate arrived, this incredible sense of joy overcame me. Here I was, enjoying breakfast with a close friend and colleague, having a great conversation, all the while eating one of my favorite breakfast meals. Now you may be thinking, Jay, it’s just breakfast and they’re just pancakes. Yet as I enjoyed my pancakes, a flood of memories that I cherish came back to me, from early years as a kid to more recent times as a dad with family and kids all around the kitchen table. Or, moments like meeting and greeting folks at the local community fundraiser ‘pancake breakfast,’ or when my remembering how my grandmother made her special mini pancakes that she called ‘penny pancakes.’ Oftentimes, when we’re in these moments, we take them for granted, including the simple joys that come with them, like pancakes. However, with each bite, I couldn’t feel more grateful simply for being able to have a moment with a close friend to enjoy something so simple, but which truly made the rest of my day. In fact, it dawned on me that pancakes in many ways are a metaphor for the simple joys we experience as we make our way through life – those little things that make life enjoyable and even more so worthwhile. And perhaps for you it’s not pancakes, but it’s something else. What’s important though is that we recognize these little moments of joy in the present as we live them. You’ll be surprised at how much more you’ll appreciate each and every day. Read The Full Report Enjoying Pancakes – New Hampshire Read More Pancake Related Disaster – The Great Boston Molasses Flood Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Hale and Erica Cole-Tucker This week we are delighted to highlight a very special couple – Hale and Erica Cole-Tucker. The Cole-Tuckers are the purveyors of “Tuckers,” a New England style diner – now with six wonderful locations across the Granite State. The motto “Good Food, Great People” encapsulates what has been the secret to their success. There is a positive energy, or vibe, that you can feel whenever you enter any one of their restaurants. Be it in Hookset, New London, Dover, Merrimack, Concord – or even their newest restaurant located in Bedford, New Hampshire – there is an immediate feeling of joy and positivity the moment you walk through the door. To get a sense for this great spirit, here’s a video link that captures it beautifully. Please take a quick look: [link removed] This positive approach also translates into the culture that Hale and Erica have created and continue to nurture. The Cole-Tuckers treat their employees as valued team members, as part of an extended family and importantly, truly as business partners. With profit sharing built into their pay, employees are motivated to not just do a good job, but a great one. Not surprisingly this has led to team great satisfaction, enjoyment and loyalty. And, of course from a customer perspective, such a winning approach ensures an outstanding customer experience. Although Karen and I have enjoyed eating at their restaurants over the years, we first met Hale and Erica back in 2019 when The Sunshine Initiative participated in an awards dinner in Manchester where the Cole-Tuckers were the guests of honor. Their success was being recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration which named them the Small Business of the Year in New Hampshire in 2019. With an expanding business and the wind clearly at their backs, we hope the 7th “Tuckers” is not too far away. Most importantly, we thank the Cole-Tuckers for their positive energy, their entrepreneurial spirit, and for their wonderful contribution to the quality of life in our Granite State. Thank you, Hale and Erica! Quotes of the Week “Give me soft, fluffy pancakes and I can get over anything.” Chrishell Stause Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  ‌ ‌ ‌ Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]