Several years ago, I traveled to Arlington, Vermont to do a TV story on a unique recording studio.

A gentleman named Joshua Sherman had taken an old candle mill and transformed it into a state of the art studio for recording artists.

During my visit, I met a Grammy award winning engineer and playing the piano was a talented young man named Benjamin Lerner.

Benjamin is the great grandson of the legendary music composer Irving Berlin, but that’s not what impressed me about him. I learned Benjamin had overcome addiction and was trying to help others do the same.

In the years that followed, I watched from afar as he continued his sobriety, started a radio show where he offered advice to others who are struggling, and I believe he even welcomed to child into this world.

He also recorded music.

I woke up this morning to see he’ll be doing a big show live on stage.

My social media feeds are filled with nonsense and noise and items that the media seems to think I should care about. Things like the Jeff Bezos wedding last week in Europe.

Forgive me if I roll my eyes at the phony, silliness of it all and stand and applaud when I see someone like Benjamin staying on the path of sobriety and making the world around him a better place.

I don’t really know Benjamin personally, seeing I’ve only met him once. That said, I might sound silly when I say that I’m proud of him.

Keep doing what you’re doing Benjamin best of luck with your show.

-John Gray, Emmy Winning Writer