YouTube has been going through a lot of changes over the years and it seems like it’s starting to take a toll on a lot of channels and videos. A lot of people who make a living on YouTube have had their share of thoughts and opinions about what youtube’s been doing to not only the website, but to the creators who make videos. To make a long story short, it’s not as fun as it used to be. I started posting videos in 2006 and I know that it doesn’t seem that long due to my oldes

I was 24 years old when I moved out of my parents’ house into a basement suite. My mom thought it was the right time. She wanted me to learn how to be more independent and living with my parents wasn’t going to help with that, but I knew that I wasn’t ready to move out even through when it was time I did move out, I didn’t want to be that close to my parents because I felt like the closer I was to them, the better chance that I would rely on them to help me with day to day st

Brandon. July 29, 1989 - February 1, 2006. When I was in grade 9, I became stage manager of the junior play at my high school and during rehearsals; I got to know the cast and crew. Every year, the same group of actors came back to be in the plays. We would hang out in the theatre, either rehearsing or doing set design. There was one cast member named Brandon, who I began to take a liking to because he had talent. Acting was easy for him and as time went on I didn't know he

March 5, 2022 marks 40 years since the world lost a shooting star. 40 years ago today, John Belushi departed this earth with only the memories of what he left behind in the world. John had everything. He had a number one album, a number one TV show and a number one movie all by the time he was 30. He was well loved by everyone around him. You knew that he had so much, but his time on earth was not meant to be for long. He came into our lives with a purpose and before we knew

When I started my first blog in 2009, I thought I was going to make a living off what I wrote. I thought within a few months, I would have a small following of people who would like and comment on my posts. I thought I would meet people and make friends. I was wrong. I had my first blog for 11 years and it never took off. Towards the end, I had given up on it because I knew that it wasn’t going anywhere, and I felt like I was writing just for the hell of it. Nobody was readin

Every writer is different, every writer has a different story to tell. Everyone wants to write for a reason and with purpose, but there are things that writers should know when it comes to wanting to write full time and for the rest of their lives. It’s not an easy thing especially if you want to become successful. It’s Going To Take Time Are you writing because you think it’s easy? Do you think you can write something, post it online and hope that it will go viral? If you th

I wrote this back in high school and I had to laugh. I thought it would become a big deal back in the day, but I had nowhere to post it online since social media and blogs weren’t really a thing when I was in high school. It was just sitting there in a bunch of stuff that I wrote. I didn’t think it would ever see the light of day again, but I was thinking about it, so I dug it out and wanted to share it with you. Who knows, Ron Howard may say and get a laugh out of it. It’s t

Sleepovers are weird. I’ve never been a fan. I’ve had them, I went to them, but I never felt comfortable. Even when the person was my best friend, I just wanted to sleep in my own bed. There are a few sleepovers I had as a kid that made me think. “What was I thinking?”. The one that sticks out in my head was one I had for my birthday. At some point during the night, I went upstairs and slept on the couch leaving my guests downstairs to fend for themselves. I was over it and

In 2008, Vancouver Canucks co-owners, Paolo and Clara Aquilini founded Canucks Autism Network also known as CAN. They were inspired by their son who has autism. They want to be able to provide programs to individuals who are on the autism spectrum. They also want to promote acceptance and inclusion through engagement in the community and training initiatives across BC and beyond. https://www.canucksautism.ca/ There are so many young people in BC with autism and they feel lik

I’m known to go to the book store and buy books. I have stacks of books that are on my to-read list and I don’t know if there will be enough time in the world for me to read every single book I have, but it’s a challenge I’m willing to accept. I need an intervention. For as long as I could remember I’ve always been into books. I would spend a lot of time in high school hanging out in the library. One of my classes in grade 12 was a librarian assistant where I would check out

My mom has this story where I was upset about getting an iPod for Christmas because I at first didn’t know what an iPod was and secondly, I wouldn’t have been able to listen to my discman. I wouldn’t have to worry about batteries or having to listen to the same CD over and over again. I wasn’t upset about the fact I didn’t know what an iPod was, I knew what it was. I was used to listening to my discman and changing over to a device that was smaller and more convenient was som

I do have to admit that I let fear hold me back. I let fear take control. When I have doubts about something, I convince myself of its fear telling me that I shouldn’t do it even when I know that I should at least try before I walk away. Anxiety plays a part in it too. Sometimes I think they go hand in hand in some situations. If I’m talking myself out of something, I think fear is there to convince that its a scary thing and then the anxiety tells me a whole bunch of things

When I tell people about my dream team, they ask what it is and who’s on it. My dream team is a group of actors and musicians who I’ve respected and admired for years. I hope to one day meet them and thank them for the impact they have on me. If you know about my old blog, One Goal, One Mission, you will know that I wrote a blog in hopes that it will land in the hands of the people on my dream team. Anything, but Ordinary is just like that. I'm writing not only for my dream t

When I was 16 years old, I was trying to get my learners permit to drive, but I didn’t pass. In fact, it took me fifteen tries over eight years to finally get my learners. Looking back on my first few attempts, I felt like I was pressured into getting my driver's licence because my classmates and peers were getting theirs and I felt like if I got mine, I would be part of the group that got more independence because I was able to get behind the wheel of a car. I realized now t

I’ve been on numerous trips in my life, but I’ve never been out of the country let alone the province by myself. I’ve always traveled with someone like family or a friend. That doesn’t mean I can’t travel by myself. I can do what a person without an autism spectrum disorder can do. I just haven’t felt like it was the right time to travel solo. Sometimes I feel like my autism shows and I don’t want to come off as nervous going through security and having them like I’m hiding

I can’t remember when it started, but it always seems like I had anxiety. When I think I’ve done something wrong, I can’t stop thinking about it. I tend to overthink it. If I don’t speak up and get it off my chest then I feel like it’s going to stay with me. If I tell someone what’s bothering me even when it’s something I didn’t do, I’ll feel better. It could be something I’ve said in the moment or something I could have done, but I panicked and didn’t do it like I should hav

It’s not every day that someone reaches out to me. I never know who is reading my blog or watching my YouTube videos, but every so often, I will get a comment on social media in regards to my Asperger’s or just autism in general. Melissa Lushington came across my YouTube channel. She mentioned on one of my videos that she writes a blog about autism advocacy, independence, and acceptance. She then sent me a heartwarming email about how she is a 25-year-old woman who is on the

Motivation for me comes and goes. Some days, I want to change the world. Other days, I ask myself if what I’m doing is really what I’m supposed to be doing with my life, but when I really think about what motivates me to keep going with my writing is the fact that hopefully one day it will inspire someone to do good in the world. If someone is having a bad day, I hope that I can make them feel better by reading what I have to say. What motivates me is knowing that something g

I always knew I wanted to write a book, but I never knew where to begin. I didn’t know if I wanted to write what it’s like to have Asperger’s and my experiences with living it or if I wanted to take one of the millions of ideas that have been floating around in my head and write a full length fiction novel, but I thought that maybe writing about my life experiences in my blog would be a lot easier than spending months maybe even years writing a book that may not even get publ

When it was time to create a blog about my experiences with Autism and being on the Autism spectrum, I knew what I wanted to call it. I had this name in my head for years and if I were to ever write a book about my journey, this was what I would call it. Anything, but Ordinary came easy. I got the idea from an Avril Lavigne song. It fit perfectly. It was a name that I knew I wanted to use, and it felt right. People with autism aren’t ordinary, we’re anything, but ordinary. I

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow. Between the crosses, row on row. That mark our place; and in the sky. The larks, still bravely singing, fly. Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago. We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie. In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw. The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die. We shall not sleep, though p

It's Not The Length Of Life, But The Depth Of It. This quote was on my friend’s nexopia page in high school. Unfortunately, my friend passed away in 2006 at the age of 16 and this quote has stuck with me since then. It really does say a lot. It doesn’t mean how long you live, but how much meaning a life has. Life is meant to be lived. Give it depth and experience what it gives you. I Won’t Let Fear Clip My Wings And Tell Me How High I Can Fly. - “One Way Ticket” by Leanne Ri

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I woke up that morning like any other day. I had just begun grade 8, my first year of high school just a few days before. I got dressed and went downstairs. Like every morning, I turned on the TV and sat on the couch. I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on at the time. I was busy getting ready for school. I remember seeing one or maybe even both towers in flames, but I didn’t really give it a whole lot of thought.

For years I always debated about going to Walt Disney World for various reasons. The flight to get there from where I am is 6+ hours direct or I can take numerous flights making the travelling day over 14 hours. Who really has time for that. Then there’s the thing about wanting to mess with the original. I like to call Walt Disney World the sequel. Everyone knows that sequels are crap. Nothing compares to the original. It's how Disney started, but I wanted to at least check o