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10 Lessons and 10 Highlights from 2017



"I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it only complicates our problems. All of life is grist for the mill. Paula D'Arcy puts it, 'God comes to us disguised as our life.' Everything belongs; God uses everything. There are no dead-ends. There is no wasted energy." - RICHARD ROHR

 10 Lessons

 Self worth dependant upon success is an insatiable pursuit.

 How you spend your days is how you spend your life. 

 Dualistic thinking is at the heart of much of our problems as a society. Non-dual thinking embraces nuance, paradox, and mystery.

 The internal pressure I am capable of is more inhibiting than anything else. 

 God's gaze is the only constant.

 If you work hard enough and pursue your dreams anything is possible. <- This is mostly a lie

 Self-actualization is given way more credit than it is due. Individualism is not the goal.

 Existential brooding is not action.

 Intellect doesn't help you much as an actor.

 Our echo chambers are programming us to be less tolerant and more self-righteous. Us vs. them thinking permeates liberalism, conservatism, religion, and economics.

 Some big influences this year: Everything Belongs and The Naked Now by Richard Rohr, The Liturgists Podcast, The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Cambell, The Robcast, Notes on Directing by Frank Hauser, Carl Jung, Pete Rollins' pyrotheology, What Is The Bible? by Rob Bell, Ideas Podcast, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, The Magician's trilogy, the docs Accidental Courtesy, Saving Capitalism, and Requiem for the American Dream, this sermon by Lance Odegard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xkq7waxuheowhco/20170406.mp3?dl=0
10 Highlights

 Dating Cayleen Martens - an absolute gem who embodies kindness and gentleness and brings me back to earth when I get lost in the clouds.

 Directing Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley - one of my absolute favourite scripts about two broken people helping each other towards some form of hope. Directing was a thrill.. I may have to do some more.

 Sailing a 50ft schooner up the Sunshine Coast - five days of paradise aboard a beautiful sailboat with great guys, good books, and stunning scenery. Princess Louisa Inlet.. whaaaat.

 New Friends - this year has brought some really incredible people into my world.

 Digging into a more contemplative form of Christianity - discovering some invigorating new ways of engaging with God, faith, the true self/false self, and the harmful us vs. them narrative present within religious, political, and social structures.

 Cave Canem 2.0 - another year of shenanigans living with these hilarious guys. This year we took things to a whole new level by moving into a villa in a fancy pants neighbourhood of Vancouver and starting Cave Canem Productions. Check out  www.cavecanemproductions.com or @cavecanemprod

 Shooting more My True Story - had a riot shooting the remainder of a web series with great friends that will be released at some point in the future... keep an eye out @sidelightpictures

 Coaching actors - as a technique nerd this was a lot of fun.

 Gabe & Myeesha - my folks took in two amazing foster kids this year and it's been inspiring to witness the way that this has impacted their lives.

 Acting in and producing The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh - much of my year was spent working on a darkly hilarious and oddly touching Irish comedy with some of my closest friends. We put together a killer team and laughed the whole way through. Not to mention the most fun I've ever had on stage.
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Comments

  1. Doug Wiebe6 March 2018 at 16:21

    Appreciated your journey and all your insights. I hope your message will be received with increasing favour in 2018.

    ReplyDelete

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