Events - Do The Daniel

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019

Something To Be Proud Of

With Pride and #PrideMonth literally around the corner, I have come to realize that at thirty five years old, I’ve got some pretty incredible things to be proud of in my life. Being a gay man in 2019 may seem to some as glamorous, but if I’m being perfectly honest, the world still has a lot of growing up to do. I get a bit more into detail in my recent post about #InsideOut19, which funny enough was the press conference that I attended which quite literally brought me to tears.

May 25, 2019May 28, 2019

There’s Still A Lot to Do

It was earlier this year as I began another campaign with the blog for a brand that we had worked with a few times over the year. At the time, I hadn’t decided to put down the proverbial torch I had been carrying on my own for the blog to begin looking for a new career. It was still my all, my everything, and for the most part the only thing that was keeping me afloat. Faced with finding a way to showcase happiness, I made myself presentable, set up the product in my kitchen and shot the campaign photos and video.

I was happy with the results and thought I even looked good in the photos (something I don’t often say about myself while I work on being a healthier version of myself physically, emotionally, and mentally). When the campaign went live, I could never have imagined the amount of hateful and abusive comments I would get online about being a gay man. The campaign went viral, but in the wrong way. The sad part is that it’s not the first time strangers have wished me dead, told me I was evil, and chastised me on the internet just for being myself and doing what I love. Although it is 2019, the fact remains that there’s still a LOT to do.

May 24, 2019May 24, 2019

A Reason To Hope

May 24th is a day that I’ve always gotten confused with May 28th in my mind. I think it’s because my Dad’s birthday would have been on the 28th (he would have been 59 this year) but it’s around the May 2-4 weekend. Who knows – I’ll chalk it up to the fact that I am in desperate need of a vacation. It is also World Schizophrenia and Psychosis Day and it marks the 40th Anniversary of The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO).

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019

You Can Do Anything You Put Your Mind To

My Dad used to always tell me that I could do anything I put my mind to. Be it moving to Toronto to chase my career goals, or going full time for the blog, he was always my biggest fan. He was the biggest hopeless romantic and I like to think in a lot of ways I am like him.

Traditions have become such an important part of my life as I’ve gotten older. Looking back on memories of my Dad, one that always comes to mind is him picking up his LOTTO MAX ticket every week. He would play one ticket with my Mom and another with his coworkers. As I grew up, I took on the tradition and still to this day buy my lottery tickets every week. There’s something in the beauty of it and how it feels like I’m continuing something now in Dad’s name. Who knows? Maybe that possible $70 Million jackpot is meant for me and my family! I know it’s a long shot and I probably have more of a chance at winning some cash if I go onto some new online casinos and gamble my way through. Still, it’s more the feeling attached to it than the prospect of winning that gets me to buy the ticket. And we might just get lucky someday! Starting May 14, Ontarians will have the chance to win the highest single jackpot in Canadian history with LOTTO MAX – and the opportunity to now play on Tuesdays in addition to Fridays.