I got to sing with Madonna ...

I'm still reeling ... I just got home from the Madonna concert and at the end she gets people to sing the chorus of Give it to me ... she saw me singing and got me to move close to the mic and sing and did I ever ... it was this really great moment and encounter of two people ... that was SOOOO MUCH FUN! I also thought only the people around me would see it ... actually it was on the BIG screens at BC Place so I guess it was an intimate moment with 60,000 people .. A memory that will last an eternity ... more pics to follow.

The finer things in life ...

Like a cute guy wanting to give you your order for free at at a coffee shop. I was on my way to my agents to go over demo tape stuff and wanted to pick up a cup of tea for him being English and all. So I get to a coffee shop close to the agency and I am served by this uber cute dude, and ask him how his day is going.

"Fine" he says "except for our debit machine is down."

I'm like "Oh no, I'll run and get some cash cuz I was going to pay by debit." He then asks me what my order is. I tell him and then he proceeds to give it to me for free. Well ... I don't know if it's because of all the chanting I'm doing these days but it just didn't seem right. So I took the stuff and told him I would be back. I also had to think of what to say so I wouldn't insult his random act of kindness.

So I did my stuff with Andy and went back with money in hand and basically told him "Please don't take this the wrong way or be insulted, but I just don't want you to be short on your cash. It was really sweet what you did for me and made my day. What's your name? Ben. Hmmmmm."

I told him mine of course and we just left it at that.

Oh yes, the finer things in life. The kindness of strangers.

Break on Thru.

Well it's been a hectic weekend to say the least, I've been helping organize this Buddhist exam for the youth. Buddhists have exams you ask? Yes, but it's not just about remembering jargon and facts - the learning part is about how you can really make concepts such as courage, compassion and wisdom really make sense in your everyday life. Not at all theory. As this is all happening ... craziness in regards to renovations in my home, trying to find work and feeling of rage/anger/doubt/insecurities started to rise everywhere in my life. It was so overwhelming sometimes I just wanted to quit. But I didn't I just kept on going reminding myself to put one foot in front of the other and to talk it out with friends and family.

As well, Less Than Kind premiered and was at least happy with that. I really chanted and prayed that I could keep having the opportunity to work on the show. I think it's a great project and the best way to look at human's imperfection is by having a sense of humour about it. And it hasn't been totally confirmed but I'm probably coming back on the show ... fingers crossed. I'll just be happy to be learning from such talented people.

So we just have to keep moving forward.

Talking it out with friends ...

It seems like most people that I've talked to of late seem to have not been talking to people of late. Like they've gone under and just recently have been coming back out and connecting with people. Even in the past couple of days, it seems like I've just been having great dialogues and chats. I didn't realize I've been missing that connection. It makes struggles and challenges more bearable when you share the journey together with friends.

Today's class was great. People talked about what they wanted in class. Also, Less Than Kind premiered last nite. Lots of people seemed to genuinely like it and were entertained by the show. I was happy with my work ... proud although I didn't see my name in the credits but I really moved past my ego about it and just decided to go with grace ... as long as I know who did it. My name really at the end of the day doesn't have to be plastered all over the show. I lived it. So I got over it. I am so grateful for the experience and no one can ever take that victory away from except myself and I sure as hell won't.

And the Oscar goes to ...

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been doing this exercise where my students do their Oscar speech and it's been producing AMAZING results in terms of confidence.

It gets them to really think about who they want to work with, who they appreciate in their lives and that it's not such a pipe dream as long as they have courage, confidence and work hard. It makes success real and not dependent on something outside of themselves but more that it begins within themselves - try it sometime in front of a group of friends.

Also, that there is no time for our neuroses, doubts and fears. I mean, we're human and we have them but the faster we get them out of the way, the better. If not, then we walk around in a bit of a trance - suffering, miserable, not present. No matter what, we just have to keep moving forward - even if it's a baby step.

I also remind people that amazing moment that they felt when doing they're speech - their Oscar moment ... well, every moment can be an Oscar moment, even in our scariest, most challenging/depressing times. It's up to us to choose.

Look ma ... we're starting a farm.

Ok ... here are the latest pics of the warehouse, there are a little things that need to be tweaked but it's basically done. My parents are counting the days til they get back home. Me too. This is where most of my money has gone to. I'm proud of it, at times not even believing that something like this has manifested. The whole experience still scares the s**t out of me, but what else is one going to do with their life?It's the heart, soul and hope of a whole village. The beginning of something and something I'm proud to be part of.