Ok,
It’s hard to believe two weeks have gone by already, time really moves in the blink of an eye. I actually heard somebody say once that time moves faster when you’re older. It’s true, I guess we are having too much fun as little children and not really thinking about all the other stuff in our lives that we have to do, pay for, or see.
My goal for this two week period was simple. Take small steps at first, adopting the kaizen method by the Japanese I figured it would be easier to do it this way, their philosophy was that small changes lead to big ones.
So I asked myself a couple questions.
What is my bliss?
Doing Fucking Crazy Shit
Be more specific Mark
Well, I like doing things I have never done before, I love things that give me adrenaline rushes, playing my guitar and singing (that’s always fun), I love writing short stories, reading things that are completely out there, I have always wanted to try sky diving, I love working out and playing, helping others, extreme sports, alternate forms of health and healing, learning how to use my imagination, etc
Am I living my bliss right now?
Organizing the event yes, but I can’t sit around on a computer for 10 hours a day.
My activities need a boost.
What is stopping me from living my bliss fully?
Fear and money
What is a small step to change that?
Watch videos of things I want to do, do those things once during these two weeks.
So what did I get up to you ask?
Aside from organizing my event which I am hoping that the city approves of on May 10th. I signed up for a Brazilian Ju Jitsu Class, went Sky diving at Niagara Sky Dive, did a set on my guitar at an open mic at the Casbah and did some breakdancing at Steel Gold and when I was drunk enough did some Free Style Battles with some actual rappers (WTF was I thinking?).The help and support I am receiving for A Midsummer Night’s Dream is incredible, and the support is coming from the most unexpected places. I now have a video producer (10:47 productions), an amazing assistant, and a web designer. Please give me approval SEAT, this will be the most epic experience Hamilton has ever seen.
However I did not want this event to take up my entire summer and life. My initial idea was to make a living at something I love doing and get excited about, as well as not missing out on the things I have been interested in or would like to try. The first step was skydiving.
Initially I just said “fuck it”, what’s the point of doing this experiment if I’m going to tip toe around the bliss, the Imaginary Foundation suggests “Dive In”, well I took that as jump out of a plane. I have watched so many wing suit videos that I myself have felt like I have done it already. The experience is nothing short of exhilarating, if anybody wants to do this, DO IT! It is the greatest rush ever, free falling at 120 mph is something I will do for the rest of my life. To the one’s reading this that have already done it, I know what you mean and I’m happy to join the club. The guys at Niagara Skydive are awesome. Tim the manager is crazy and helpful, I felt totally safe during the entire process. I would definitely jump again and would go back to Niagara Sky Dive to do my solo certificate. After your first jump you also get a 50 dollar coupon for your next jump. From a 5 year heist craving to go sky diving I finally did it, it was worth every penny. I plan to take the solo jump course and get my solo ticket, wing suits watch out! (Video to be uploaded shortly)
The best part is I was blissin out during all my experiences, even through my mistakes. The first Wednesday night of every month the Casbah lounge host’s an open mic, I decided to do it. Tim Ferris wrote “To have an uncommon lifestyle, you need to develop the uncommon habit of making decisions, both for yourself and others.” So off I went to sing and play again. I wanted to go there without seeing anybody for my first time, as soon as I walked in the door “Hey Mark,” DAM! I mean I like the guy, but I didn’t want to see anybody, after the initial conversations I went in the back room, practiced a song, and made sure my guitar was tuned. After waiting patiently for an hour and sitting through one guys set who said before playing his last song “This song is a sad song, it’s actually sadder than the other two songs I played,” oh great. Finally it was my turn, I took my guitar on stage in front of about 15 people to play my first song “Old Man” by Neil young, I strike the first chord and I realize my guitar is really out of tune. I play the FULL SONG with the guitar out of tune. I apologized to the crowd and actually went off stage to tune my guitar. After that everything went smoothly, I even met some dudes from Monkey’s with Machetes who want to jam. They introduced one of their songs like this, “This is just a simple protest song, it’s called Fuck the Government.” I instantly liked them. Maybe Joseph Campbell was onto something here?
The next night I remember that there is a breakdancing competition at the Casbah, and it’s hosted by my friend Sam and the event is called Steel Gold, I invite a couple friends out with me we hit the show, not only can I not break dance, but rapping on stage is not my forte either. I only went there to watch, but good ol Markalius El Sajatoro come out to play this evening.
I start the night off with the canoe on the dance floor before the competition starts. Taught to me by Master Sensei Brockalius El Sajatoro, hat’s off bro, hat’s off. The night was awesome, and it was really cool to see an underground hip hop scene emerging right here in Hamilton. Break dancers came from Toronto, Kitchener, Brampton, and of course Hamilton. The crew prolific was there, and the next night they were featured on Much Music. During the set, all night I was doing C-walks, cart wheels, somersaults, headstands, and lot’s of shoulder shakes. But, the most epic moment came when I went on stage to free style, keep in my mind, I am on stage with people who have record contracts. I get up on stage while people are killin it, I get on the mic and give a big shout out to the Casbah, I can feel the eyes and the opinions saying, “O WOW what is this guy gonna say.” Without further adieu I open with “Yo, I was scared about comin on the mic, cause I would look stupid, but I gotta secret to tell you, I’m friends with Cupid.” OHHHHHH the crowd gives me so much love, as I continue to rap about how I was kicked out of pre school at the age of two, and other things I can’t remember.
Over all, the first week of my Bliss Experiment has gone pretty well, I have things planned, but I can’t give them shits away. Stay tuned fans.
Much Love,
Mark
(P.S Breakdance Pics Coming Soon)
