STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

Remember the expression "stop and smell the roses?"  It means we need to take time out of our busy schedule to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of life. 

This is easier for me to do at this stage in my life. My business is established. My career is built - I'm not trying to climb the ladder of success. I'm an empty nester. My schedule is crammed with stuff.

Some of my friends are so busy being busy that they don't have time to stop and smell the roses. More so, life is controlling them, not them controlling their busy lives.

I've noticed some people with kids are controlled by their kids. They don't go to movies, or hang out with friends because they "have kids".  It looks to me like their kids are running the show.  (Now, I'm not thinking of anyone in particular so don't think I'm trying to speak to you, specifically, through this blog.)

Other people are so used to being in a routine that they don't venture out of the house. No dates with their spouse, no going to the theatre, or a party, or a concert - they just stay home. It's just easier to stay home, in a boring routine, than doing something. No exercise - just lame TV shows washing over them on the couch.

I hear "We can't get a baby-sitter". Maybe your circle of friends is small?  Maybe, (I'm shouting) because you don't go out of the house and meet people!

To each his own. Maybe staying home brings you joy, in some bizarre, sedimentary kind of way.

I'm in a very fortunate position to be at the top of the food chain in my business - I get to run the show. I have a great staff (that I hired) and a house that's paid for.  Ya, and my kids have a great family, and like Janice and I, God is first in the lives of our kids.

Smart people I met told me when I was younger, to burn. I worked bloody hard, learned lots, met smart people and built a life and career so that at this stage in my life, I don't have to work so hard. I have time to stop and smell the roses.

The roses for me are sometimes social, but mostly meditative.

It's being thankful for the life I have.  Call it luck, or hard work - either. Maybe both. But I'm grateful that I take time to take it all in, like inhaling a huge lung of appreciation.

My message is this: get a babysitter. Go out. Enjoy the life you've built. Get off the treadmill of being busy. You're only busy because you've made it like that.

QUESTIONS I GET ASKED

2018

 As the guy on the radio, once a week anyway, me and my listeners used to have a one-way relationship. I talk, they listen.  But that's changed a bit with social media. I've met many people who have messaged me online and in some cases become we've more than virtual friends. Because of social media, you can now have a relationship with public people.

Here are a few questions, I'm commonly asked.

What was your first job?
I worked at Sam The Record Man in Toronto for five years.  It was the second location after the downtown Yonge Street location - at Towne And Country Square in North York.

What was your first radio job?
I worked part-time for two summers at CHEX in Peterborough, in the studio, but not on air.  My first on-air job was at CKLC in Kingston.

Why Christian music?
My answer is the same as everyone's - it's the lyrics. They remind me of my faith. They remind me of the guy God wants me to be. It re-focuses me when I get distracted.

What do you do when you're not doing radio?
I manage two national recording artists - Luke Langman - a pop/worship artist; and Tom Roe - a country/gospel artist. I also play percussion in Tom's band.

What's something most people don't know about you?
I did professional modelling a few years ago through the Orange Modelling Agency, but the work was sparse for my age group. I learned a lot of visual stuff that I've been able to transfer to LIFE.

CKLC Kingston, about 1983.

Do you miss secular radio?
No. Maybe because I'm still active with a pre-recorded weekly show on CJAI near Kingston where I manage to weave in a few Christian tunes between Supertramp and Alice Cooper.

You wrote a book?
Ya, it's called "Herding Kittens". It's my story of my journey with the Christian rock band Anthem For Today.  We did nearly 150 shows together. I have fabulous memories, an award, videos, number one songs and a tattoo.  I also wrote "Good To Great - The Christian Radio Version". I was written to motivate and teach new radio people how to do radio.

Are you a gym rat?
No, I just work out a lot.

Is there something you'd like to see?
Ya, I'd like to walk across the crosswalk at Abbey Road.

Is there someone in Christian music you'd like to meet?
I've met just about everyone. The one who I never got to meet is Keith Green. That would have been great.

Thanks for asking!