The more we try to make sense of chaos, the more we try to hold on to the things outside of ourselves that we cannot control, the more out of control we become.

Community = Experience + Connection

You don't have to inherit your community, you can build it.

What that comes down to when you're looking to build a community and evolve, is opportunity.

In Ottawa and Gatineau [...] we commute and use the bridges. There are four bridges, why not build a fifth one? A virtual one, and meet together and get interest in the other culture.

If we can create spaces where people get out of their comfort zone, get to know their neighbours, and share a meal with someone who's different than them, then that's part of the way to a place where food banks aren't needed anymore.

You cannot be everything to everyone. If you're going to have a community, be specific about what it is that you want to do.

It should really be the intention that we want to live with. The affirmations and the core values that we say, that we value. Because it will help us show up for the people who matter in the way that they deserve to.

We can either bend our morals to fit our actions, or our actions can be informed by what we say we value.

Everyday you're supposed to wake up, and go through sense organ cleansing rituals. [...] You clean your eyes, and to me that says "I'm going to see things clearly today". You clean your ears, "I'm going to hear things correctly today". It's all about having a healthy relationship with reality

You are important; your context: the way you were raised, the way your parents treat you, the way that your friends treat you, whatever your interests are. You need to remember that's what you bring to the table. You are not your title.

Remember that bringing yourself to the table is enough. Sometimes showing up is enough.

Because my influences took these weird paths to get to where they're at, maybe I can do the exact same. And it always started with a 'maybe'.

It's really important that we celebrate the successes of our lives. In games, we have that feedback loop. It tells us when we're doing good, but in everyday life we don't celebrate enough

So we play when we live a creative life. We too, I hope, are aiming to always keep playing.

When I am working on a design and it's not going right, why do I keep working on it? It's because it's pleasurable. So this bigger concept of pleasure encompasses fun. Just as game is a smaller portion of play.

When it comes to craft, and relating to people, and doing your job well, connections are ultimately all that matters in the end.

Because anxiety feeds off of embarrassment and guilt and shame, and if you treat it like this deep dark secret, you're gonna forever live in this darkness.

Anxiety has taught me a very, very hard lesson: that if you don't design the life you want, the world will do it for you.

When I go talk to people, and just to switch things up, I don’t just say I’m a hurdler, I say: “I overcome obstacles for a living.”