#BreakItOff Day 7 – It’s Getting Easier & Thank You!

What up kids?

Just wanted to stop in and let you know that hard things can be done and can be made a lot easier with the support and love of friends and family.

I’m on day 7 of the non-smoking and I feel better than I have so far in my nicotine free week. I’m getting more energy at times when I didn’t before. I’m saving cash. I’m not drinking less coffee (that one is in every one’s best interest). And I’m not gaining weight.

I’m also giving out a ton of support to Rannie who quit smoking this week and is tracking his path with the #BreakItOff app. Feel free to tweet him and tell him that he can do it!

There are still cravings. I just had one right now. And they still suck. But I’m learning more and more that they do go away and I can get through them.

If you have a chance check out the tweets that are using the #BreakItOff hashtag. There are a few people flashing it around and doing a great job. I feel pride for all of them!

I wanted to say some thank yous today so I made a video – check it out.

Alright y’all. It’s time to check out for now. There’s stuff to do.

Have a great weekend! Be awesome!

The Reviews Are In – 2011 In Review!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for The Reviews Are In.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 25,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Movember Journal 2011 Day 30 – Giving Thanks!

Sean, Jay and I are 3/4 of The Whittskers!

Well friends, It’s the last day of Movember and I would be a fool not to take the time to thank everyone that has made my 30 day journey possible.

First of all I need to thank my team, The Whittskers. Sean, Jay and Andy have been awesome with the tweeting and facebooking and generally just spreading the word about Movember and why we’re raising money.

Without a doubt I can tell you that I would join a team with any and all of them again for Movember 2012.

Personally this has been my 3rd Movember and I think my favourite so far. My ‘stache grew in a little less creepy than it has in previous years and I even got a few compliments on my facial hair growing efforts.

Side Note: The best compliment was my fav barista telling me that I looked dashing with my mustache.

The highlight of the month was most definitely the Movember Challenge Karaoke event that was held on November  Movember 24th at Grindhouse Burger Bar.

Thanks to all of the #loserkaraoke regulars, our friends, random droppers in and our sponsors we were able to raise $1,116 to add to The Whittskers’ team total.

Prize sponsors included:

• The Abbott of Parkdale
• Mazz Salon
• Toby’s Famous Eatery
• Grindhouse Burger Bar
• Jason Rolland

I have never been happier with the outcome of an event as I was when I left Grindhouse at 2:40am on the 25th.

I would also like to thank my personal sponsors:

• Shayla Wyche
• Kate Dawson
• Kelly John Rose
• Shannon LeBlanc
• Dave Church
• Trish Cassling
• Dominique L.
• Samantha Fraser

You’re all awesome and I mean that so hard.

Side Note: If you haven’t donated to a mustache yet and would like to you can click this link -> http://mobro.co/phjoshua <- and donate!

Thank you again, all of you, for putting up with mustaches good, bad and ugly over the last month!

See you next year.

MoChaKaTO 2011

MoChaKaTO 2011

Big Huge Love & Thank Yous

Sometimes Thank You Doesn't Seem To Be Enough

I know I’ve written similar pieces to this in the past. But I can assure you that I am writing this now because it needs to get out.

I’m a very lucky guy. I lead a very charmed life. Over the years and through my life there have been a lot of ups and downs. I’m sure it’s the exact same for every one of you. What amazes me daily though is how incredible the ups have been and continue to be and how many people have helped me to experience them.

I’m not here to name names and pat backs individually. I would either be writing forever or forget someone and we don’t want either of those things to happen.

I do need to thank my big, confusing, blended, extended, unique family for having my back. Through smart decisions and bad ones and hard times and good they have been with me. They are awesome. Even when it feels like we are too far apart or haven’t spoken in forever, I know that they love me. And I love them.

I also have amazing friends all over the place. Whether I’m back in Port Hope, east in Ottawa, here in Toronto or trolling the interwebs I have an amazing support system. Each of you offers something I need. Be it reassurance, a place to sleep, emotional support, answers to questions, jokes, pictures, coffee, beer, a ride, hugs, smile or high fives – the bases are always covered. I give you all my sincerest thanks for your caring, love and support as I stumble through life. You forgive me when I make my mistakes, you console me when I’m a mess and you push me forward when you see opportunity. Only lucky people can say those things with the truth that I say them.

Thanks also goes to Him. Enough said.

I’ll say it again, I’m a lucky man. I’ve lived my life to this point with too little planning and foresight and yet I have never been left cold, hungry or alone. That’s good luck.

I hope that all of you can feel half as lucky as I do every day. Because if you can I know you’re doing alright out there.

Final thanks goes to everyone stopping in here. I appreciate it immensely. You are all Awesome!