Face Your Fears

 

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You know those little victories you have in your life? Those moments that in the grand scheme of things don't change the world but just mean something to you? Last night was one of those moments: I performed a stand-up comedy routine at an MS benefit.

When I'm "on", which is most of the time, I'm very comfortable joking around in a group of people. I'm certainly a hell of a lot more confident around women (I was very shy as a teen and my dating life sucked). Generally I just crave attention and love getting it, as Sandy will attest to.

I've played to larger audiences before at a comedy club in Toronto when I was younger (along with Russell Peters when he was unknown and just getting started) and I've performed a few things since. I'm always nervous before I go up, actually it scares the shit out of me. But I do it anyway.
Last night could have gone better, could have gone worse. I'm always my harshest critic when it comes to performing, I always feel I can do it better. It's never good enough and I don't usually want to watch it afterwards. We all have things that scare us. I was always afraid of speaking in public, still am. But I find the apprehension is almost always worse than actually doing it.

There are few things in life that will make you feel more alive than doing something that scares you and pushing through it. The results are really secondary, the main thing is to look it in the eye and kick its ass.

For me this year is about doing. I'm already doing things I've never done. I want to be more confident, bolder, and do things I'm afraid of. I think it's the best way to grow.

I hope you guys will join me.