Time

Take the time to read, the time to laugh and the time to relax. Sometimes it's very easy to get anxious with every day pressures. You spend so much energy overthinking things and are always in competition with other people. You have to do what is good for yourself. No one else. Live in the now and remember you should be happy. You are alive and breathing. Stop beating yourself up about things. Instead count your blessings.

The Secret To Cooking

Eating is good for the soul. There is nothing better than a home cooked meal full of love.

Possibly one of the mortal sins of cooking is not adding any extra flavour to their meals. It is dry and boring. 

Food without a bit of spice is like a kiss without a squeeze. Its there but you know something is missing. New cooks often face a dilemma deciding which spices and herbs to add. No need fret! 

I have a secret to share. Buy a jar of Montreal Steak spice. Yes, it's not just for steaks. It works with everything from soup, vegetables to noodles. Now you know. The secret is out.

It is the go to spice for beginner cooks or for people that just need to whip up something fast. Just add it to vegetables or chicken and you'll have a tasty feast. 

So add a bit of spice to your life and don't forget the squeeze!!!!

Being A Kid Again

Becoming an adult is the worst! Especially when we don't take time for play. You need to find time each day to do the things you love. Relax your mind, and stop overthinking the nuances of life . When was the last time you used a crayon? Have you ever thought about taking the time to color? You are never to old to enjoy a colouring book. You can actually print out adult coloring pages online and buy adult coloring books at various stores.
Once you begin to colour you can feel your tension and stress melt away. You stop thinking about your next deadline and find peace and quiet within your thoughts. Now go buy a puzzle. There is nothing better than listening to your favourite music, while trying to fit the pieces together. Be daring, buy a 3d puzzle or how about a dinosaur skeleton puzzle? Dinosaurs are the best! One of the most fun stress relievers is flying remote control helicopters. Get one for you and your partner. Being outdoors is an added benefit! Remember life is fleeting. Try to love every minute. Don't forget to play like a child. It's good for your heart, better yet, for your soul!

Camping For The Soul

We are our own worst enemies. Why do we as humans only remember the bad memories? We constantly replay them over and over in our minds to hurt ourselves. I still remember the time my mom threw me off the bed by accident when I was 6, but don't remember how awesome my themed birthday parties were. My parents always went all out with grab bags, pinatas, balloons and streamers everywhere, but the memory of being accidentally thrown off the bed sticks out the most. Go Figure! Holding on to negative emotions and actions including bad memories and grudges will only hurt you. By moving past a loss you fail to appreciate the blessings in life. I've had friends and family members that would stay cooped up in their houses for months due to depression. What if you just died tomorrow ? Think about that for a moment. It's pretty scary. I'm not saying that you should walk everywhere with a helmet on your head but maybe you should get on that bike and live your life. Think about your story and how you want the plot to develop. You write your own story, it's going to be bumpy along the way, but if it wasn't your life would be pretty dull. Sometimes it's hard to disconnect from negative thoughts, especially if you unfulfilled in your career. When you live in the city you get caught up with the rat race and life becomes a rushed blur. You need some time to disconnect from the every day and create some awesome memories. I highly suggest camping. There is nothing better then waking up to the sounds of the lake in the morning while sipping your coffee, getting away from the constant mechanical hum of traffic and instead listening to the birds sing. Putting the cell phone away for a weekend was, personally, extremely hard. I'm a talent agent and constantly on call. Disconnecting from this umbilical cord put me at ease. Work can wait till after the weekend. Stop thinking about having to do things at a certain time and dont worry about a schedule. Being outdoors actually helped me put things in perspective. I could see clearly the next move for my company. I strongly suggest that you go out on a camping trip and if you're not into roughing it there is always the option to "glamp" or glamor camp. You are in control of your thoughts so come on lets release all the negativity that is buzzing around in your head and think about a great weekend escape.

Retreat To The Mountains

Sometimes you get stuck in the quicksand of the comfortable, everyday life patterns and you don't realize how unhappy you have become. You've stopped doing all the things you love to do, but you keep drowning your soul because you have become completely complacent.  It's so much easier. You don't have to think whatsoever.  Suddenly, the walls fall down on you and a great change begins to happen. You have new choices to make. You can either lay on the floor sobbing for days (being covered in bricks hurts!) or you brush off the dust and decide that it's time to go on a new adventure.

With some luck on my side, Sheri was already heading to the mountains and said that I could tag along with her.  She was on her own journey, too, making a big move to pursue her career dreams.  I was sort of drawing a blank on what I needed to do, but we kept seeing random signs everywhere on walls, license plates, and over hearing conversations from strangers told me that I needed to follow my dreams. 

Sometimes, I would get carried away with different ideas of what I should pursue and focus on. It is easy to compare yourself with other people, but life isn't a competition and you need to focus on what it is that you really want. You can't change who you are; otherwise you get stuck again in that comfortable quicksand working a job that you hate, living a life that is a lie.  

Sheri asked me, "What is it that you want to do?" 

I responded, "I wanted to run my talent agency and write." 

Sheri, "Well do that then."

Seems pretty simple enough. People have always tried to push me into different directions. Maybe it's because they don't understand what it's like to be an entrepreneur.  You have to work for the money you earn.  It's not easy. Sometimes you could go months without getting paid, and that can be terrifying to some people (most people)! Sometimes you have to pick up a few side jobs so you can pay rent, buy your groceries, whatever.

I wanted to create a talent agency that inspires actors to go for their dreams. It doesn't matter what shape, size or look; if you have the passion, the talent, and the drive, then your dream can happen too. I see the sparkle in their eyes and I can't help but say, "Lets make your dreams come true!" It's so exciting to be a part of this!

 It is very important to me that the agency remains a positive one and to keep it like a family, so we can all help each other out, whether it is from training, carpooling to Toronto or Montreal, creating self tapes or just the overall support. When I give the call to let my clients know that they got the part... the feeling is indescribable. It just makes me incredibly happy, and I feel very fortunate that I am able to help people build their dreams and their careers in acting. I also have a great team that helps me with this! It took me a while to find the right people for my team, but when I did it was almost magical. 

I know I'm not a doctor saving people's lives, but I'm a talent agent. My mom still doesn't believe me when I say that or understand what is it I do exactly. She usually responds with, "So what other jobs are you applying for?"

As I retreated to the mountains, I had lots of time to just think for myself. It is just so easy to forget yourself with all the background noise you get from others. You need to surround yourself with the people that support you and your dreams, otherwise you may lose your sense of self.  I mean, it is pretty simple when you think about it. Just do what makes you happy, and not what other people imagine your life should be. Maybe all of us need to go to the mountains. Maybe all of us need to take the time out of our busy lives and go on a little adventure. The adventure of finding yourself again.