(This will be a series of blogs on the lessons I’ve learned over different stages of my life. This blog is from my early years.)                                                      I was born in a Universe, a long long time ago, a place called, Lampman Saskatchewan. A village with a hospital where I was born on a cold Winter night on December 30th. Apparently, according to my mom, I was induced because the Doctor wanted to be in the big city, “Regina,” on New Years eve. I’ve always felt cheated. December 30 is a horrible birthday. It’s at the end of the holiday season, after Christmas and before New year. Everyone is partied out and broke. If I wanted, lest say, a road race set for my Birthday I’d get something like a brush with a racing stripe. I’m not trying to get anyone feel sorry for us bottom of the pickle barrel Capricorns, I’m just trying to tell you what happened.

I remember once I was by myself, I was 2 ish, and reaching into a pond for a tadpole. I was literally squatting on the edge of a 30 foot abyss into a certain death, trying to reach this frog and my mom sunk up behind me and pulled me back and beat the tar out of me. Why is it something like a near death experience is less painful than the life lesson that comes with it?

One of the earliest dreams I remember was when I was 3 and in the dream I was standing by a fast moving river. There was a large orange and brown dog standing next to me. I think it might have been a memory from a past life. I don’t know if it’s true past life. If I’ve lived past lives, shouldn’t I be as least a little smarter than I am, you know, carry over knowledge?

I have a lot of stuff I can’t explain in my life. When I was six, my parents would find me under the stairs whispering to something. I thought it was a yellow kangaroo. That’s what it looked like to me. It would visit me at night and tell me things; obviously nothing life changing, like the heads up on Microsoft stock, or buy Google. Nope, nothing. All’s the yellow kangaroo gave me was ‘stigma,’ My sister swears it was an alien. Really?

My point is, even as a boy I had a story. We all do. What I learned from my early years was, “be curious, explore, take a risk, dance to the beat of my own drum. I was a sensitive kid that turned into a sensitive adult, (some will say toooooooo sensitive.)

I think I’m a spiritual person, I believe that when I’m vulnerable and live through my heart I emit joy and this happiness attracts my purpose. Fear and anger repels opportunity. I know it sounds simple but the boy that I was, is still a big part of the guy that is writing this blog.

I was honored to be given a Canadian Service Medal for “The Courage To Laugh,” in recognition of teaching stand up comedy. If you’re interested, my next award winning class begins August 28. E mail me for information. Also, E mail me and tell me what you thought of this blog.