Ever wondered how writing can inspire the journey of a professional performer? I'm excited that today my friend, Gabriello Pitman, is “Speaking From the Heart” and sharing his experiences with all of us. 

Gabriello is a performer, an entrepreneur, and a professional coach based in Toronto, Canada. I met Gabriello before he became an entrepreneur and was pursuing his PhD in Physics at the University of Toronto.  We met and became friends as we were both residents of Wycliffe College's graduate residence.  You can check out the story in his own words on how he discovered his calling here. Gab used to come in the television room at the residence and perform card tricks for us.  I had to ask Gabriello to be involved in this series as he continually inspires and encourages me on my journey.  Plus, he is a fun guy to be around, and has quite the range of facial expressions (as do I :)).  Read his interview below.

Why do you believe self-expression (speaking from the heart) is important?

The main reason I think self-expression is important is to share with others one's experiences that they might be able to relate to. If expressing one's self can save someone else from having to learn "the hard way", then it's a win-win.

How has writing empowered you in other areas of your life?

Writing allows one to self-reflect. Self-reflection helps one learn. It's a uniquely human quality that we must make use of.

How did you find your authentic voice through writing?

I'm still trying to find it. lol.

How did you develop the courage to stand tall (i.e., get the courage to share your writing)?

Act as if you have the courage. Fake it until you actually have it. It will become real.

When you have a hard time writing, what do you do to work through it?

I constantly write down ideas; so whenever I have a hard time I look up my list of ideas. Something is bound to jump out at me. I also think it's ok to keep it short. There's no need to write an essay when a succinct piece will do.

How did you find your support group?

Find people who are like-minded by doing things you enjoy. Take classes, go to events. Do it all.

Any advice for new writers/authors?

Just write. There's nothing else you can do except write your thoughts down. Even if you think what you wrote is garbage, keep at it. Gems will emerge. 

Thanks for speaking from your heart and empowering others, Gab! Keep up the fantastic work! Congrats again on your engagement to Felicia! You make such a beautiful couple.

What lesson(s) did you learn from reading Gab’s interview? Write the lesson down and your thoughts on the topic (i.e., why it spoke to you). If you met Gab, what would you like to tell him. Have any questions for him about his writing process that you’d be curious to ask? One question that came to my mind after reflecting on what Gab said was, “Why is perseverance important in the writing process?”

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!