Positive thoughts

      Got an interview today with SaskAbility for a Custom Employment Mentor position. I'm looking forward to it. It will be nice to have a job again where I'm actively helping people. Also the pay is significantly more than what I'm currently receiving. That's a nice little bonus.
      I've also enjoyed helping people. I believe that I excel in it. It's something that I've loved doing for a very long time--as long as I can remember actually. From when I was very small and telling people (complete strangers) that smoking was bad to my activism today. I enjoy my activism, and I know that it is helping people, but I'm really looking forward for this position because it will allow me to see the results of my help first hand and in real time. Being able to go to sleep knowing 100% that you actively helped someone is an amazing feeling.
     This morning, while brushing my teeth, I actually gave myself a pep talk in the mirror. I've never done that before, and I feel like it was one of the most cliched things I've ever done. But it felt good. Even though I was the one saying the encouraging words, hearing them aloud just felt good. Maybe that's some good advice for today: say nice and encouraging things to yourself out loud in the mirror. Do it at home though, not at work. Some co-workers might overhear and think you're crazy.
      Actually, on second thought, do it at work if you want. Who cares what your co-workers think? You deserve to hear nice things whenever you want! You go do it right now! Look at all this positivity! It's practically overflowing in a grandiose rainbow of joy.
       I don't actually know how I feel about that sentence, but I worked in the word "grandiose", so it's staying.
     If you're feeling down about something today, or every day, take a minute and find the closest mirror (or the front facing camera on your phone), look yourself in the eyes, and say something nice OUT LOUD about yourself. Say something encouraging, give yourself a compliment, something--anything!--positive! It won't make a huge change, it won't instantly turn things around, but it will give you a small amount of positivity. There are days where that's all we get, and some times that's all we need to make it through. Some days, one nice thing is all we need to keep living. Survival is worth looking a little crazy for.
      If you don't want to say something to yourself, if you don't feel like your worth it, allow me: you are all wonderful people, full to the brim with the potential to do amazing things! You are going to make it through this day, and the next one, and all the ones after that. You're going to get up, and you are going to conquer your world, one step at a time. I am so proud of you. You inspire me to better myself. You're gonna make it through this. You always have. No matter how bleak and dark it looks right now, you're gonna pull through. And that makes you amazing. I love you, and I will continue to until the day I depart this earthly realm. You are wonderful.  

The little, unexpected things

      As it's April Fool's Day, I feel like I shouldn't post anything serious, or make any announcements in today's blog. That being said, I do have one announcement that is 100% totally legitimate, honest! Now that you are all thinking that my announcement is going to be a prank, here it is: I'm releasing the channel trailer for WQN today! I actually filmed it last night after work. I was feeling good and confident, so I went and filmed it, and edited it, all before I made supper! And then I edited the majority of today's vlog while cooking! I was on a roll last night. Maybe even a... dinner roll. Get it?Because I did all of it around making dinner? HAH. I'm funny guys, why won't you love me?
      Netflix and IGN released a very mean prank trailer today. It was a trailer for a live action Star Wars series that was going to focus on Darth Maul and was to be released on May 4 (a pun-tastic date for Star Wars stuff). The internet on April Fools is just a mean place. Like, guys. That wasn't even close to being funny.
      I received an email today from one of the people I interviewed for my Queer-al Living article. It almost made me cry. Okay, it did make me cry, shut up. In it, the person thanked me for writing it, and said it was heartbreaking to read about how so many members of the queer community have shared negative experiences with small town life. They updated me about some recent successes they've had with their life, and told me how good the advice at the end of my article was. And then they thanked me for telling their story.
      They thanked me for telling their story. I never, in my life, thought I would hear those words from someone. I never thought that one day I would have the honour and privilege to tell people's stories to the world. Now I have, and the people are thanking me. They're thanking me for sharing their life with the world. I always dreamed of being a professional writer. I always thought that if that dream were to come true, it would be because of my fiction, or my autobiographical non-fiction, not from becoming a journalist. And now my dream has come true, and people are thanking me for telling their stories. That's, obviously, the part that hit me the hardest.
      I wasn't expecting to hear back from the people I interviewed, the thought that one of them might read the article and get in touch with me hadn't even crossed my mind. My god, I'm a writer now. Even got my first fan mail. Damn. You know, it feels really good. 

Getting back on track

     I am making a concentrated effort to get back on track with my filming. I think I'm getting back into the swing of things.. I'm remembering to film, and I am actually getting a fair amount of footage on a daily basis. That said, I am still not comfortable with filming in stores, or other such public places. It just feels a little awkward. It would probably not feel so weird in larger centres, but I'm not in them. So for now, I will just awkwardly film random bits and pieces of things!
     I'm really enjoying being able to film things other than just driving again. It's nice to have time to do that, and to be able to edit. I actually missed editing on a regular basis! Which apparently is a common thing for vloggers. I want to grow as a filmmaker, and being able to film and edit on a daily basis will help me to grow my skills. I want to start experimenting with my filming, and maybe try some different things with my editing. I really want to set up some multi camera shots, but I keep forgetting my tripod at home, and that kind of limits my options for that.
      This got a little technical. I wasn't planning that. Although, I rarely plan my blogs... So I guess that's to be expected? Hmm. Anywho.
      I'm glad so many of you enjoyed yesterday's post! I really enjoyed writing it, and sharing that news with all of you! It feels really good to say all of that, and I am super glad that I can share it with all of you. The fact that these posts are being read all over the world (literally) is staggering! I always wanted to be read by people from all over, and I am. It's incredible. Simply incredible. Man, I'm thanking you guys a lot lately! Good thing I insult you so much in my vlogs to make up for it!
     Love you all! (seriously, I do. It's amazing that you all put time aside to read these and watch my videos, and I appreciate it so much!)