What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar?

Tags: amateur comedians, comedy, entertainment, Saskatoon, stand-up comedy, The Stand-Up Diaries, trevor dean

What would you do?  How far would you go?  How much indifference, bullshit, bullying or misdirection would you take if there was something you wanted to try.  It doesn’t matter what it is, just think about that premise for a second.

Here in Canada we are very lucky to have the freedom to be able to have choice.  The choices to fail or succeed, or between trying and quitting are choices of a free society that were freely given to us many, many, many years ago.  While most of us weren’t around during the formulated years of this country, all you have to do is turn on the t.v. to see what things are like in other countries, where governments tell you what you can try and what you shouldn’t waste your time on, and these people in government aren’t even elected by the people in most instances!

Three gentlemen I know from my church, along with our pastor recently came back from a missions trip to India.  This is the same India where that young woman was brutally raped and murdered, the same India where Mother Teresa first started her Missionaries Of Charity and the Home For The Dying, the same India that has billions of people in such a small geographical space.

I have seen the pictures and heard what these guys experienced when they went there, and they all talked about how blessed we should all feel to be living in Canada.

I know, you’re wondering if this is a sermon, or a talk about freedoms, but trust me, this does relate to comedy.  Just keep reading…..

Now, you live in Canada, and have the ability to pursue anything you want to.  Whatever you want to accomplish in life living in Canada, there are many resources around you with which to accomplish whatsoever you choose to do.

But what if you try something, maybe you’re a bit out of your league at first, stepping outside of your comfort zone.  What happens when things get tough?  What if you don’t see success right away?  What separates the one who succeeds from the one who doesn’t?

I’m here to tell you.  In the end it all boils down to one thing and one thing only.  

Are you comfortable with who you are?

Our pastor gave a sermon this morning about breaking strongholds that may be over your life.  He mentioned that in order to break these strongholds, you need to know who you are in the Lord.  But while that’s true, I’ll take it one step further and break it down to its simpler form without the “religious” overtones to it.

Do you know who you are?  I mean, when you really sit down and think about it, are you comfortable with yourself?  That  doesn’t mean I’m asking if you love yourself, or if you’re perfect.  It’s more a question of whether or not you believe in yourself.  Do you have issues trusting people, do you let the past experiences serve as a crutch to give up and quit whenever you make the decision to start something new?  Just who are you, anyways?

I’ve been on dating sites before, and met a variety of females.  The one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that there are a lot of women on those dating sites with issues.  BIG TIME ISSUES

Now I’m not here to say that I am better than anybody else, or that I don’t have issues of my own to deal with, because let’s face it, everybody has them!!!!  It’s easy to tell who the ones with the issues are because they are the ones who are super picky, thinking their dream guy has to fit all of their criteria or it won’t work (which is why they have a profile a million miles long about what they don’t want…here’s a novel idea, how about telling a guy what you have to offer first?)

Anyhow, I can tell who has the issues when they take something I say out of context or worse when they jump to conclusions.  I think they do this because they have these issues that are apparently unresolved to the point where each issue that confronts them, means they put up an additional wall around themselves.  Once that’s done, it’s like they have this filter in their mind that is so clogged up with their past, they can’t interpret things properly.

Those issues are unresolved, so even if something good happened in their life, because their filters are clogged up, they don’t take away what they should from it!  Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I don’t have issues, but I am at the point in my life where I now can look at things more clearly and give people the benefit of the doubt and asking questions instead of jumping to conclusions.

I was told recently by a good friend this…..

I think you are unique.  I don’t know of anyone else who would keep going with the comedy.  Everyone else I know would have just given up already.

Okay, okay already!  I’ve jumped from motivational talk, to religion, to talking about dating sites.  What does this have to do with comedy?

If you remember earlier, I mentioned that it all boils down to knowing who you are.  I’m not saying you need to have an ego or be arrogant about your approach to life, but if you have issues and aren’t really comfortable with who you are right now, when difficulties come (and believe me, they will), you will run away and give up completely.  It doesn’t matter who is mentoring you, or how many people you have onside as you attempt this new journey.  YOU are the only one who can instill that belief into yourself going forward.  YOU are the one who makes the choice to give up and quit.  It’s all about you and how you see yourself.

At the end of the day, I am comfortable with myself for the first time in many a year.  I am not perfect, nor do I expect others to be.  I operate with love in my heart and try to exude the characteristics of Jesus as he went about his ministry (quick to forgive, encouraging, friendly, loving, caring, not judging).  I readily admit that I make mistakes along the way, and I deal with them in a positive light, as I know that tomorrow brings a new day with new hope for the future.

My comedy career thus far has spanned 1.5 years.  In that time, there have been many roadblocks put in my way that would have made it easy for me to quit.  But I am not a quitter, nor do I give my critics the satisfaction of saying they were right in the first place.  They don’t know what’s inside of me.  I got into comedy because of the basic belief that I have the tools to be able to succeed.  I always knew I could succeed, and that at the right time, the right tools and people would fall into place allowing myself to succeed!

Before you venture out to try anything new, that might be outside of your comfort zone or experience, ask yourself a question.  Ask yourself if you have the ability to keep going when things get tough.  Asking yourself that question means though, that you have to know who you are and be comfortable with it.  If you can enter into this journey knowing that it won’t be easy and still wanting to succeed in spite of it all, that’s when you have a recipe for success.

Again, God bless you all, and I will write a new posting Monday after my comedy coaching session.  Feel free to comment  below or to follow the blog thru your e-mail.