God!

I guess with me writing about all things that matter to me, writing about this was inevitable.

God! Hmmm... well here's what I think.
I believe that there's something that exists in this world that we can't really explain. Its that thing in you that makes you want to be good...just because it feels right. Its that thing in you that keeps love alive despite all odds. Its that thing in you that tells you to believe in yourself when no one else does or will. Its all the beautiful and grand things you know man could never build and its also the incredibly small things that man could never have thought of.
Its the pure love that you share with the one you love and the love that your parents have for you. Its love in the purest sense.

So is God..."it" to me?
Hmmm...why not?! Why should it he or she or even it. God exists and I don't think I am qualified to comment on God's sex or looks. I just believe that God exists and thats all there is to that.

Now religion...hmmm thats a whole other ball game.
Lets pull this up...

re·li·gion
(r-ljn)

n.

1.

a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

3. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Definition one is excellent...and I'm almost tempted to say that I'm religious. But you and I know that, that is NOT what people think religion is all about.
For most people it is 1b), 2 or 3.

The point of bringing up that definition was just this.
Me, I don't believe I need an institution or a set of rules or a messenger or protocol of any sorts to talk to or believe in God. I believe in God...and it ends there. I can sit in my room, sing a song, love my parents and friends, read a good book, watch the sunset, see mountains, see the sky and the starts and the big puffy clouds. Well see anything at all and find God there.

So yeah, I believe in God but I don't care too much about religion.
However, I believe that it is a personal thing. God is a LOT about faith. In fact if you don't have faith there's really not much of a chance finding God is there? So if some people need rules to acquire faith...its up to them. I don't judge. If someone wishes to do some things on a daily basis to feel the presence of God in their life...who am I to refuse them that joy.

So to me, its just like a lot of other that I don't choose to do. Don't force me to do something or believe in something I don't do or believe in and you are free to do pretty much ANYTHING you want.

God is a personal thing. Its what keeps us ticking...its what keeps me ticking. I feel it and I get it. And I am grateful that it exists. I know that I sure as hell wouldn't be as positive and optimistic if it wasn't for God at times.

So to put it mildly...Thank God for God!

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Meeting "Stars"

I have been very fortunate. In the last two and a half years, working with radio, my magazine and other publications, I've had the fortune and the pleasure of meeting several of my favourite musicians.
Lets see...whom have I met so far. Well there was Engelbert Humperdinck, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Adams, Joe Satriani, Deep Purple, Ronan Keating, Michael Learns To Rock, Shaggy, The Rasmus, Flipsyde, Alan Parsons and Freak Kitchen (I may have missed a few others). I'm hoping to meet Buddy Guy soon and I can't wait to see him!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not writing this to tell you that its really cool to meet all of these guys (and it was cool, there' s no denying that). For me however, it is almost like living my dream. I love music...I always have. I've grown up listening to some of these guys and to meet them in person, talk to them, spend a little time with them...well just getting to be with them for a bit is a brilliant experience for me.
Its akin to an artist getting to meet say...Picasso or Da Vinci.
I think of myself as a singer first and then all of the other things I'm doing. For me it is such a incredible thrill to meet these guys who have been doing what I SO want to do for all of my life. There's something to learn from all of these guys. You know what, I don't even care if I didn't get to interview them...but then I'd probably never get a chance to meet them. So interviews started off...and the thrill is not in getting the interview...for radio...or print or whatever. The thrill is to meet these men and women and maybe find something from them that I'd like to incorporate in myself and believe me, I've learnt a lot.

You may have a whole lotta talent, but it'll just take you so far. There's so much more to being a super performer or a "star" than talent alone. There's poise, there's dignity, there's grace, there's decency, there's kindness, there's generosity...there's class.

I've known a bit about these things thanks to a few simple, normal people I've met and known very well...and I've learnt of many of those things from some of these "stars".

So yeah, I'll keep meeting these people and keep learning from them...and who knows maybe, many many years from today when some kid like me, some where in the world comes up and meets me, not because I'm a "star" or anything like that...I mean if he just comes up and meets me...maybe, just maybe, I'll have something to pass on to him too.

Well, I'm off to see Alan Parsons play live in a bit. Isn't it just brilliant! I mean music is just so wonderful. :)

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