Your Moment of Freedom

Your rushing 

Racing

Ingesting more and more and more 

But never really BEing with anything.

You’ll never be satiated 

Hit the pause button.

Now

A Long deep breath.

Did you actually take the breath or are you still racing through this text

To get to the next


Then the next

Be here

B

R

R

R

E

E

E

A

A

A

T

T

T

H

H

E



I


I

I

N

N

N

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

There you go

The only place where true freedom exists.

This moment

Then this one

Then this one

Feel into your body

Your missing the extraordinary 

For a future possibility

That doesn’t exist

Everything you want is right here now

Your being called to dive deeper

To feel all of life

The magic of creation rushing through you

Stop missing the point

Breath it in

Let it go

Now

You are free

Present with all that is

Grateful for all that is

Inspired by all that is

You are a miracle

Life is miraculous

Its the journey

Not the destination

In every moment 

Come back

When you plan

Come back

When you eat

Come back

When you make love

Come back

When you build

When you distill

When your happy

When your sad

When you walk

WHEN YOU TALK …. PLEASE

When your angry

elated

satiated

When you cry

lie

When you type

When your hyped

When you drive

When you give a high five

When you dance

romance

Feel the trance

BE

Here

Now

The ONLY goal for 2018

I love you

Daniel

Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

Imagine What The World Would Look Like ...

…if we used our entertainment to empower ourselves and our children.

Music has been a major part of my life as far back as I remember.

From being the seed of a musician (my father I never met was a musician) to the John Denver Records my mom would spin, to my first album purchase, MC Hammer’s “Too Legit to Quit,” to my heavy metal days, Dave Matthews Band Fanatical days, Jam Band days to the Mantra’s and Global mood music, it seems to run through everything I do.

Finally, at one point, I wanted to create my own. And I did.

I wrote songs of struggle and sorrow, broken relationships and about my perspective on the world.

I created opportunities to play on some of the best stages, I traveled the US and parts of the world performing.

For most of my “career” in music, it was more about my need for approval and acknowledgement then it was about the music I was playing and the things that I was saying.

When I came out of suicidal depression, which was triggered by my deep identification with the “artist” side of myself, I began to learn and research about the deeper aspects of music, why it is so powerful and the implications of what it can create in the world.

I then traveled to India on a one way ticket. The music that came through began to take a different turn. Songs began to come that healed aspects of my broken mind and heart. Songs that empowered me to be the best I could be and to be of service to the world.

When I finished recording “Brave New World - The Time is Now,” which was a collection of these songs set to the background of the cultures and experiences I was having traveling through India and the Middle East, I realized that I wanted to do something different with music.

I wanted to use it as a transformational tool.

I wanted to go back to the focus and sacred nature of it that moved me so deeply as a child.

I wanted to offer it to the world in a way that could help my fellow brothers and sisters as much as it helped me through my internal struggles.

I (well We) did. We created a Self Development program, "The Brave New World ToolBox," that uses the music as an anchor to take actions to empower your life.

In 2015, I wrote a speech about my story, my learning and the implications of music.

It was denied by TEDx, as it wasn’t PC enough, so I got creative with TEDx and delivered this.

But I knew that I had to deliver this message with or without Tedx.

So in 2016, in partnership with my beloved wife and in collaboration with local community and fellow mission driven musicians and artist, we created a Theater Show that used music and entertainment to empower the lives of everyone whom participated.

From the feedback we received, it opened hearts, expanded perspective. It landed. It spoke. It transformed.

It was the beginning.

We look around at our entertainment options these days and it is full of negativity, self-indulgence and violence.

We deserve better. We are better. We deeply need better.

I have made it my mission to bring entertainment experiences to the world that serve, support, empower and uplift.

Today, I wanted to share with you that speech (Click the image below) and ask you a question.

Who do you know that wants to use music or entertainment as a way to empower and heal humanity? Is it you, lets connect. If it is someone you know, please share this email and put us in touch.

We have an industry to transform!

With Love and Gratitude,

Daniel

Freedom is an Inner Game

While many people today celebrate a sold sense of freedom that very few actually experience on a deep level in our country, I reflect back to 17 years ago.

As I watched the first firework shoot into the fading daylight just outside the Las Vegas Strip on July 4th, 2000, I received a call from Hospice that my mother had passed on.

While my friends broke down in tears, I celebrated deeply knowing that my mother had found her freedom from the agony and detriment of 2 years fighting cancer.

To this day, I celebrate her life and I reflect on the journey of personal freedom that I have embarked on since her passing.

I grew up trapped by my own intellect. Trapped and caged by what I thought I was supposed to do or supposed to be.

I fought aimlessly to please.

I strived to fit in and "do the right thing."

The American Dream never made sense to me. It didn't feel free. It felt constrictive and controlled.

The only freedom I felt was when I did drugs, drank excessively or rebelled against society in one way or another. That ended up leading to even more agony.

Then I found mediation and breathing techniques, travelled the world, spent 10 days in Silent Meditation (4 Times), took on a 3 hour daily practice and began to uncover a visceral experience of deep personal freedom that existed inside of me.

Freedom is an inner game. There is truly no free person in our world when they have not found freedom inside of them.

Nelson Mandela only became free locked in a cage.

People all over the world under the most harsh conditions find freedom in prayer, meditation and gratitude.

As I reflect on my Mom, My Personal Journey of Freedom and the Freedom of so many that have found it in the most unlikely places, I pose the following questions ...

Are you truly free?

If not, what could you do to be free now, in this moment?

Then, what could you do in this moment?

How would you BE in the world if you knew that you were truly free?

America is so good as sales, at marketing. Everyone prances around in a state of conceptual freedom while they follow the conditioned laws and ways of a culture designed by control (remember, it started that way, when the first settlers arrived and controlled or killed off the natives. The "Forefathers only set the intention of freedom after that, but the very foundation was counter to the intention and then echoed through the generations with racism, sexism and other isms and still echoes to this day).

And, many people don't even know they are being controlled as the media and advertising agencies have become masters at subtle manipulation.

With that said, there is also the people that are finding their way to true freedom by looking inside. Then, when they start to go outside they relate to the world on their terms and Start businesses and systems that reflect what they truly want.

I celebrate the few that are truly making their American Dream, in their way!

We always have remember, freedom is an inner game.

To keep coming back home to the only place that you are truly free.

That place deep inside that is always at peace.

I wish you the foundational intention of America within you, everyday in every way!

P.S. In the upcoming months I will be releasing a free ebook with the working title "Be Free Now - Crucial Life Lessons for Finding Peace in Uncertain Times" - Stay tuned :-)

Are we Insane?

Today in the morning, I decided to put on Spotify to enjoy some of my old playlists. I opted out of the paid version of Spotify a few months ago for MANY reasons, mostly because they screwed up my account repeatedly and then wouldn’t do anything to make up for it. When the same experience happened with Headspace, the comped me 6 months free. I would think a multi-billion dollar organization such as Spotify would do the same, but then I remembered that they have made ALL their money creating a platform that makes them A LOT of money, and all the Musicians that are on their platform next to nothing. Lets not digress.

So, now I have commercials, as many know from the free version. 

During my Deep Focus playlist the following two commercials came up ...

1st Ad. Burger King promoting a Hot Dog - There was a catchy song, it was dirt cheap and they promoted with both Chili and Regular. Now, aside from EVERYTHING BEING WRONG with Burger King promoting a Hot Dog, I went a step further and, truly, I am amazed that with ALL the health research that has gone on in the world about the implications of eating crap like this, Burger King still has the AD dollars to grab a spot in my ears through Spotify. I am quite certain there is not a person on this planet that doesn’t know fast food is empty calories and filled with harmful toxins for the body. So, either people are insanely stupid, or the additives they put in the food are so addicting, people keep coming back. I am truly looking forward to the day when I hear a prime time ad promoting the latest juicer or better yet, a device that would cure people from taking stupid actions. I guess the world will be a very different place when that is reality #bravenewworld.

2nd Ad. Solar City selling me Solar by means of my wallet. Ok, nice approach, but, what if we went a layer deeper and they actually touched on the point that there is NO POSSIBLE way we can continue as a species if we keep using non-renewable resources to power our planet. What if they hit us where it really hurts the most, the part where your LIFE and your FAMILIES LIFE is at stake if you do not make this shift AND MANY OTHERS. I mean I am sure most of the companies head officers know this but I guess we are so caught up as a culture with glazing over the deeper truths with menial material claims, we would rather be half comfortable then to face the uncomfortable but rewarding feeling that comes when we STEP UP and take action at these deeper aspects! And, the time to step up was YESTERDAY :-)!  

Yes, I know, I am YELLING a bit, sounding judgmental and slightly negative, yes, I know, but honestly, I just cannot sit and watch the world crumble in front of my eyes, because everyone is too afraid to do the things THEY KNOW THEY NEED TO DO, and would rather slowly die in the comfort of instant gratification then sustain the species by doing what is inherently sustainable for the long term. 

I know we all afraid of change, but certain things HAVE TO CHANGE in order for 1. Us to be deeply happy and 2. perpetuate the species in a thriving world.

Like A great friend of mine said, “the power is in the work.” 

Please start doing what YOU KNOW needs to be done now, stop waiting, its too important. 

BE     THE     CHANGE and ...

I LOVE YOU!

Discovering My Dad #3: OMG! I have a sister!!!

After Las Vegas we headed to the Grand Canyon and it was time to make the call to Ariana Gardner Herrman! MY SISTER!

I felt the butterflies in my stomach as I pulled up her name to make the call. It's an interesting feeling discovering I have a sister you never knew of, from a father I've never met... 
The moment she picked up, the butterflies just turned to excitement. I am hearing the voice of my bloodline, and there is something to it, I never quite understood before... I felt a sense of connection different than any I have known before, a connection that drew me in and said 'I just need to be near this person, this person is a part of me!'. Her voice made me giggle (not only do I have a sister, but I have a sister with a thick southern accent!!! Yeah!!!) and her enthusiasm matched and exceeded mine. This was a pure moment.

We wasted no time and jumped directly into what she knew about the man I never met. Piece by piece the revelations of my own story were presented to me. The talent, the creativity and the energy of my life today was revealed along side the narcissism and self loathing of my past. As we navigated the many layers that mirrored my own story, one of my deepest fears was revealed in the tragedy that was my father's end. This sent me into an oblivion of tears. Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Gratitude and Tears of Letting Go. 
Although I am not ready to share publicly what that fear is, it is safe to say that my father's playing out of that specific fear is just the healing balm I needed to erase that possibility from my own story. For that I am sincerely grateful.

We ended our time searching for as many possibilities to see each other as possible along this journey. I trusted it will be sooner then later! and sure enough, it is! We will meet in one week!! This is so exciting!

It's been a few days now, and I am still vibrating from my connection with my sister and cannot wait to fill in more of the banks in person very soon...

The 20 Ways The Ride-sharing services of Lyft and Uber have transformed My life in the USA and how it could possibly do the same for you!

*Right Now Lyft is offering a bonus to take 30 rides in 30 days. (That is about 20 hours) Check it out at https://lyft.com/drivers/daniel16202


MY STORY

When I return back to the United States after spending seven years in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where I lived on a minimal budget and made money performing music, teaching yoga and meditation and facilitated human empowerment work, I didn't know where to put 1 foot in front of the other when I came to stabilizing in the big budget economy of Southern California. I couldn't imagine, though the transformation that I have gone through, working for anyone really. I had established working for myself completely. I searched for solutions as I could see there was something very different emerging in our economy, a rising of a shared economy.

For a year and danced around social reform websites like Task Rabbit and Fiver, but they didn't do the job and sustaining large amounts of sustainable income. Occasionally, I received donations from family members but knew that those resources were coming to an end and it was time to take the next step.

Before I would take that step though, I was invited to Israel to spend time with my beloved family as well as I was invited on an Alaskan cruise to perform musical meditation. We arrived home with some resources from our family and cruise, but we knew that they would be gone very fast.

Before Coming back, I had heard about the Ridesharing services of Lyft and Uber and was very interested, even though I did not have a car. When I returned home from Alaska though, I noticed, For some reason, magically, even though I was gone out of the country for seven years, My credit score was about 750!

Two days after returning home from Vancouver after the Alaskan cruise, I decided to randomly walk into a car dealership. Five hours later I walked out with the Prius V.

The next day, I signed up for Lyft. I was amazed at how quick The process was of getting on the road. So I did, and I did a lot. I made more than $5000 in the first month. Then I signed up for Uber and for the next year these two incredible inventions, which are a sign of our collaborative economy, provided many many opportunities for me to transform my life, my finances, and my businesses (which also changed through the process). These are the many ways that Ride-sharing has completely transformed my life, And, how it could possibly play a part in transforming yours as well ....

THE 20 WAYS RIDE-SHARING TRANSFORMED MY LIFE AND HOW IT COULD YOURS AS WELL.

1. CONNECT TO REAL PEOPLE - we spend so much time nowadays connecting to people virtually. When we do that, we lose that incredible feeling of connection that we experience when and physical contact with another human being. If you're willing to break through possible barriers of intimacy and really take each and every ride I need to never opportunity as an opportunity to connect, this alone will transform the way that you walk in the world and how you operate in the businesses that you pursue. I highly recommend this for every person to just get out there and take a few rides in the driver seat, because it is much different and much more humbling and being in the passengers. And we could all use a little bit more humility :-)

2. RELIEVE SOCIAL AWKWARDNESS - if you are one of those people that is socially awkward with new people, get behind the wheel of your car. It is a one stop shop to relieve that anxiety. It may start of Rocky and awkward but, once you get in the groove, you may find that you just love this socializing and connecting.

3. CREATE NEW CLIENTS - if you were in any type of service business or entraprenuer that depends on clients, customers, or people, well I guess that's just about anyone, then why not get paid to create potential client opportunities. You never know who is going to get in the backseat of your car, well hopefully the front seat, and is going to need what you have to offer. I have 3 long term one-on-one coaching clients that I have met through Ride-Sharing.

4. CREATE COLLABORATOR RELATIONSHIPS - are you a musician, actor, producer, etc. or involved in any type of creative collaborative venture? Well, again, you never know who's going to show up in your car. There are countless stories of people that of come together and created magical things in the world I meeting the ride-sharing.

5. GET TO KNOW AND LOVE YOUR HOME CITY. - now I did my work exclusively in Los Angeles, and I have lived in Los Angeles for most of my life. But the places that this took me, the places that my riders requested to go, so many of them we're hidden gems that made me love this town more than I ever have before. So many pockets, so many parks, so many places, so many people, so much dynamics. Many times I would just stop some random area, find an coffee shop, a park or a hike on a beach or forest and just enjoy a brand-new place. So much to explore right in front of us that most of us never knew about.

6. SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME - we all can use a little bit of extra cash. Even if you have all your odds and ends taken care of, what's a little extra money? :-)

7. LEARN A LOT OF NEW THINGS - people know things, when you engage in conversation you never know what you're going to learn about them, about life, about yourself. Each time you drive is a A beautiful opportunity to learn something new.

8. MEET FRIENDS FOR LIFE - I have met people over the last year that I know I will share moments with for the rest of my life.

9. STAY ON TOP OF CURRENT EVENTS - want to know what's up with the latest technology? Want to know who's who and what? Want to know what cutting age in the world? People are great resource for that information. It's been a quite amazing way for me to stay on top of everything that's happening in our speedy world!

10. FIND A NEW BUSINESS PARTNER - It has happened .... many times.

11. FEELING OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS (YOU ARE THE BOSS). - are you somebody that's thinking about starting your own business but don't know where to start? This could be a great start, as you ARE running your own business. You don't pay taxes upfront, you design your own hours, And you keep up with all the expenses and income. It's a great place to start to get organized into creating a life where YOU ARE THE BOSS.

12. EXTRA MONEY FOR HOLIDAYS- we could all use it and if you sign up today you'll get an extra $100 or even more after your first 20 rides :-)

13. GET OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD - eight years ago I spent more than a year of my life suicidally depressed. Residue of that still lingers even today and occasionally I will dive down into the rabbit hole. Interestingly enough, many times when I would start to sink into my own self indulgence, My worries, doubts and fears, simply getting behind the wheel of my car and connecting to another human being was all I needed to climb out of that hole. More often then not I would actually have a conversation with somebody and use all the wisdom knowledge that I have learned through all my travels to help that lift them out of a similar situation and that would give me all the answers I needed for myself to lift me out of my situation, thus, getting me out of my own head.

14. CHANGE A LIFE, CHANGE THE WORLD - One of my favorite questions to ask my passengers is "if you had all the resources in your life and all you had to do was serve others, what would you be doing with your life. " most times this question would lead us on a journey of self exploration, and being a proficient mentor and coach, those conversations, have changed many lives, Which, in turn, changes the world.

15. SPARK NEW IDEAS - people are full of ideas and insight and unique ways of looking at the world. They have their own perspective and their own colors to add to the pot of life. Imagine how many ideas of your own can spark in a simple conversation with somebody else who may have a very unique perspective.

16. SEE THE SIGHTS - I have been raised in Los Angeles my whole entire life, excluding the 7 years overseas. During the year that I got behind the wheel of my car I explored so many places that I never would've imagined going to in my life. Many times after a ride would take me to an area and I would stop in a local museum or art gallery, walk down the major streets or even ask somebody what is the best thing to do in town, and then do it. :-)

17. SAVED LIVES - this is just a blatant fact. Ridesharing has saved millions and millions and millions of lives.

18. MAKE PEOPLE SMILE - spread the joy my friend, you and the people around you need it :-)

19. BE A PERPETUAL TRAVELER - being a traveler for A great deal of my life, the one thing that I truly love about it is that I never know where I'm going to go or who I'm going to meet. This keeps his present to life what is going on in the moment.When you flip on that app, and somebody pings on your phone waiting to get picked up, You never know where you're going to go or who you're going to meet., Thus making you a perpetual traveler and someone whom is Present to where the road leads.

20. BECOME A PROFESSIONAL LISTENER - we can all become better listeners in our lives and this helps us in relationships, business and practically everything that we do in our lives. By listening, we are telling another person that we care, that we are here, and that we are human just like them. This creates a sense of love and compassion that humanity is really yearning for this time.

If any of the above mentioned things could at all assist in your journey of life or the journey of life of another person, all I'm suggesting is just to give it a chance. Ridesharing could be the best thing that humanity has ever seen to connect us at a human level,. And there's money in it too :-) and we all know that a little bit of extra money is always a good thing!

Go out and give at least 20 rides, it may just transform your life the way that it did mine!

*If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email or connect on FB.

Again, PLEASE USE MY CODE WHEN SIGNING UP https://lyft.com/drivers/daniel16202

With my deepest love and gratitude,

Daniel

Discovering My Dad #2: Show me who you married, and I'll tell you who you are :)

Las Vegas was the first stop planned on the #HolidayGratitudeTour. As it happens, it is also the home of the fabulous Heidi Thompson, whom just happens to be my dad's ex-wife... 

And although I have never met my dad, just talking to her on the phone got me thinking, anyone who married such an awesome, dynamic and talented woman has to be a pretty cool guy :)

Heidi invited us into her (Coolest Christmas Decorated) home for some food and conversation. I learned that my dad was a spiritual seeker. He studied Holistic Living, Kinesiology, Acupuncture and dabbled in Scientology amongst other things! Super duper cool!!! heheeh! Never been there myself, but awesome. I also learned that he was a great salesman and was a very charming, likable and playful guy.

She shared pictures, life stories and more and really we just connected, as she and her beloved are just an amazing people! A woman after my own heart :) We connected on love, relationships, music and life. One happy family really. It was super enjoyable. 

When I was looking at the pictures, I noticed that I have seen this man before. I truly felt like he had been in my life. Maybe he did. He lived in cali for a while..Hmmm... 

We left with music, laughter full bellies, full hearts and a few more pieces to the puzzle. I am very grateful for the opportunity to explore!

This is the Video of us first meeting:

And the journey continues...

Oh, and here's a funny video from one of their projects together: Tekno Penguins - Mandroid the Android

Discovering My Dad #1

Today I am very very grateful and thankful for my father, Rich Gardner. (Yes I did just say my father smile emoticon and today would have been his 65th birthday)

THE STORY

For many of you who know me, the first 38 years of my life when people would ask me about my father, I would tell them that my father was killed by a drunk driver in front of the Forum in Los Angeles a few months before I was born. He was a bassist and a lead singer for Hard Rock band called Buzz Bone and they released a single called "Magic."

The only person whom questioned the story was my beloved and super intuitive wife Mai Segev-Pohnke . So, over the years, she slowly begin to seek out and learn information about my father. I remained clueless and was not ready to go there as that was the story that I had told my whole entire life and that is what I believed.

Last May, with tears in her eyes, my beloved aunt sat me down and delivered the news that my father never passed away. Really, he never even knew I existed, as my mom, with the purest intentions, made the decision that it was better for him not be in our lives.

After a few long deep breaths, I let go, called everyone from my family and forgave them and opened up to the great possibility of having a relationship with this man!!

Two days after I found out, my aunt, my wife and I were sitting around a table and we decided to do a YouTube search for Buzz Bone "Magic." We had done hundreds in the past but today, A new video popped up!

In the description it stated that after 38 years, Shroom Records (Love the name) re-releases Buzz Bone "Magic."

With all the anticipation you could ever imagine, we watched the video of all the original members stream through in front of our eyes, pointing out player after player and wondering which one was my father. At the end of the video the names showed above the players, and with the picture below, you can see that the resemblance was uncanny!!

So we called the company and asked if they knew where Rich Garden was. They told us that he as the only member that they could not find.

So we continued to search for a while, uncovering many clues (special thanks to Si Thacker), but kept hitting roadblocks. Then, we decided to let go.

As we were beginning to prepare for the upcoming ‪#‎HolidayGratitudeTour‬, we realized that we would be going to Houston, Texas, which we discovered was his place of birth, and dig around a little bit and see if we could find some leads.

Then, three weeks ago, we are sitting and having dinner for my cousins birthday party and we find that one of our family members is a private investigator. She immediately latches onto the story and is excited to uncover the mystery. She took the information (may I add, very well research information, I think my wife could be a private investigator herself smile emoticon), and did her magic.

A few days later, we received phone calls, messages and texts uncovering pieces of this story. I have a sister in Dallas. I think I have a brother in California. I have an aunt in Houston and tomorrow, the first day of our two-month tour, our first stop will be at one of my dad's ex-wife's house, who, from our brief conversation already, said my Dad was an incredible musician!

Tomorrow morning, we will begin to uncover another story of this fun and wonder filled life!

I Truly am Looking forward to all the possibilities and very grateful to be alive and to share this with you, my dear friends and loved ones, many whom have shared this story of the first 38 years with me, and many new friends who share the new story.

Supposedly, he died two years ago, but I won't know for sure until I uncover each and every piece of the story. Stay Tuned at #HolidayGratitudeTour smile emoticon

Let the journey begin...