gratitude
An “August” Trilogy
Recently, we posted the broadCAST for August, on magnificence. It is worth a read, we contend. In it, 
and at its beginning, we say “The word august references ideas such as deep respect, reverence, awe, dignity, wonder and magnificence.”
With that in mind, and the Benny and Jarry blogs to date… we begin a trilogy of sorts; three blog posts for August 14, 21 1nd 28. The first is simple, short and 
hopefully sweet. Here, we will briefly chat on a friendship retreat we and another great friend, Karen, are taking over the coming few days. The second will be a deconstruct on thoughts and even revelations after such. The third will be a launch into a whole new era with the Benny and Jarry blog, around which we are very excited.
So and first, yes over these next few days, we engage a full on retreat, as great friends. There promises to be music and fires and food and great conversations with so very little planning. There promises to be soulful conversations and laughter. There promises to be a retreat and advance. The retreat is physical and mental, getting away from the patterns of life we all find ourselves in to one extent or another. The advance is in advancing deeper, cooler friendship and dreams.
That is the beautiful promise of this time ahead. Stephen Covey once asked, “Have you ever been too busy driving to stop for gas?” We suggest that this is a poignant, powerful little question. Life is life, and we must live it at life’s speed. It is the ultimate role play and impromptu. Still, it is vital to disconnect and step outside of the play that we are in… to almost become an observer… to connect soul to soul. Why? Well, there are many thoughts on same. We suggest, therein, we find a deeper joy. We can get real and raw. Therein, we connect with our dreams. Therein, we find our gas stop. Therein, we get to Soul; the spiritual odyssey understanding life. 🙂
For us, this gas stop will probably involve singing and dancing, soulful and beautiful conversations around the fire, (God willing ) starry nights, good food, wonderful smiles, dreams, lots of laughter, the odd (or maybe more) selfie, and the best of friendships. It will not involve agendas and itineraries nor excessive expectations. It will involve three friends being friends, trusting in the safety, synergy and simplicity of our friendship. We look forward, but will live present. And, we will share on the memories created and ideas born.
Our question to you is “When is the last time you truly retreated with great friends?” A follow up might be “When and how can you plan your next?”
See you soon, and after. 🙂
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
- broadCAST: Magnificent
- Plead the 5th, July 2019
- AukWords: Clarity and Conviction
- Deliver: State Your CASE
- Leaducator: Another “DC”
- Developing Character Leadership
- The Character of Leadership
and our MULTIVERSE of online forums and offerings
Benny and Jarry
Jenny Dearing speaks to love in action. She brings talent, experience and learning around love, 
trauma and care. With a passion for Child and Youth Care and Addictions, and a background in same, she connects, and memorably so. Her work spans children and youth care with addictions, personal and senior care, respite work, and business leadership; delivering on all. Jenny is a Certified Virtues Project™ Facilitator, with professional training in child and youth care with addictions support and home support services. With certification in ASIST Suicide First Aid, Autism Awareness and Understanding, Trauma Information Care and Child and Youth Care Practice, Jenny brings it, with zeal. On top of all that, she loves singing, and is an accomplished multi-media artist … and brings both to her work. Artistry is a path to love and healing. Jenny knows it. She believes in it. She drives it.
Barry Lewis Green moves the needle on character leadership and unity building with joyful ferocity and thoughtful zeal. Barry helps leaders forge strong, united cultures at school, work, business and community. Joe Calloway says, “I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary.” With 39 years in education and leadership training and development … and work in the private, public and community sectors across Canada… and as a speaker, educator, master facilitator, coach, writer, singer, dancer, and cartoonist, Barry stokes the fire on together strong.
The Practice of Love
We have started a new chapter with Benny and Jarry. With that, we have already shared on From Jenny, with Love and then Love and Character. Indeed, and over the coming months, we intend to expand into PODcasts of what we are affectionately calling the Benny and Jarry Show, exploring real and raw on love and character and how they make for better living, working and playing. Stay tuned. 🙂
As a conclusion to the opening 4 rounds of this new blog adventure (with much more to come), and for this week, we thought to share on practice.
Jenny on Practice
With practicing self-love comes health benefits. You will see that self-love is simply about owning our 
own power and acting from a place of kindness toward ourselves. It helps us let go of blame, shame, and anger. We invite ownership and power into our lives, while becoming completely responsible for our own lives; along with recognizing that we are the source to our happiness… the source to the power to change our futures, careers, relationships, passion, compassion, empathy, and authenticity.
It’s then that we begin to believe in our power. What matters is how we feel about ourselves, rather than others’ opinions. Practicing self-love puts us at peace. We accept our strengths and weaknesses. Unconditionally. All the self-love that we are now providing ourselves, allows us to show up and live our destined purpose… thus allowing us to let go of loneliness and embrace a deeper connection with the world… and attracting harmony, peace, spaciousness, and significance in relationships.
The more we look at ourselves with love, the more we practice love and acceptance towards others; accepting mistakes and failure and inviting vulnerability into our lives. We accept that we are enough. That there is no room for comparing ourselves to others.
When we love ourselves, we give birth to creativity, inspiration, and openness. Reality is accepted rather than blaming and fighting it, while, accepting failure knowing that it is one step closer to growth.
Allowing ourselves to grow gives us more energy to spread love and joy. Your positive love for yourself shines naturally and good things gravitate towards that energy. Lastly, we feel safe knowing that we will always be there for ourselves (Cynthia Belmer, Mind Body, Jan 2014).
Jenny Dearing speaks to love in action. She brings talent, experience and learning around love, trauma and care. With a passion for Child and Youth Care and Addictions, and a background in same, she connects, and memorably so. Her work spans children and youth care with addictions, personal and senior care, respite work, and business leadership; delivering on all. Jenny is a Certified Virtues Project™ Facilitator, with professional training in child and youth care with addictions support and home support services. With certification in ASIST Suicide First Aid, Autism Awareness and Understanding, Trauma Information Care and Child and Youth Care Practice, Jenny brings it, with zeal. On top of all that, she loves singing, and is an accomplished multi-media artist … and brings both to her work. Artistry is a path to love and healing. Jenny knows it. She believes in it. She drives it.
Barry on Practice
Character is about practice. We are not born with Patience. We practice it. We are born with all virtues, in potential. Potential becomes practical when practiced. Courage and Confidence can be practiced. Empathy and Compassion can be practiced. Discernment and Creativity can be practiced. Love can be practiced. Indeed, in our last post, I suggested:
- … that L.O.V.E. is about the practice of character. LOOK inside yourself for your strengths of character. Identify them. Name them, Claim them. Then, seek out OPPORTUNITIES where they are most needed. Discover what work, jobs, careers and vocations require them. Discover what services and hobbies demand them. Yes, identify your strengths of character and to where they are most called. Then, have a VISION in your head and heart as to how the world, or your corner of it, will be better when you do apply your strengths to those opportunities. Then, simply ENGAGE. Do it. That is how we L.O.V.E. our work. That is how we L.O.V.E. our service, and play and school and community and life. We look inside for our strengths of character, seek out opportunities where they are needed most, have a vision of their impact, and engage.
The late, great Stephen Covey suggested that love is an action. I suggest that it is a virtue, accessible to us all; and that it is accessible to us in our actions, through practice. When we look inside ourselves for our strengths (virtues, knowledge, skills, abilities) and then find opportunities to serve the world (or our corner of it) with those strengths, while having that vision of service in our head and heart… and we engage the process… we LOVE. We LOVE our work, our business, our school, our family, our friends and ourselves. We LOVE our life. And it is a practice.
Jenny provides examples of that above, and the benefits of doing same. I suggest that practice makes permanent. The more we practice, the better we get. The more we practice any virtue, the more body memory we create in knowing how to live it. In the days and weeks and months to come, I will continue to share on the art and science of character, and it’s relevance to L.O.V.E.. And I will be practicing, for life. I need it.
Barry Lewis Green moves the needle on character leadership and unity building with joyful ferocity and thoughtful zeal. Barry helps leaders forge strong, united cultures at school, work, business and community. Joe Calloway says, “I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary.” With 39 years in education and leadership training and development … and work in the private, public and community sectors across Canada… and as a speaker, educator, master facilitator, coach, writer, singer, dancer, and cartoonist, Barry stokes the fire on together strong.
To You, Our Friend and Reader
Jenny and I (and Benny and Jarry) are so excited about the conversations and content ahead. We hope you are too… and we thank you for joining us on the journey.
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
- broadCAST: Magnificent
- Plead the 5th, July 2019
- AukWords: Clarity and Conviction
- Deliver: State Your CASE
- Leaducator: Another “DC”
- Developing Character Leadership
- The Character of Leadership
and our MULTIVERSE of online forums and offerings
Love and Character
In our last post, From Jenny, with Love, we commenced a journey; a new chapter with Benny and Jarry (aka Barry and Jenny lol).
Going forward, we will write on character, love, unity and excellence as it relates to living and working and serving and playing our lives away; whether as educators, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders or anyone looking to get more out of life by giving more to the lives of themselves and others.
Each week, we will offer up thoughts on the journey of Love and Character. We suggest that Character + Love = Unity = Excellence. We contend that Love and Character combine to produce palpable, powerful, practical Unity at school, work, business and community… that advances Excellence.
And we share thoughts here.
JENNY says
As I sit here tonight, with my freshly washed face and hair in a ponytail, I reflect on this beautiful, life changing week. My heart is happy. Although it has been for a couple years now. That being said, it has been a journey. A journey of awareness, of self-acceptance, of hardcore, no pussy footin’ around kind of honesty with myself and others. It has been joyous, and raw and real. And I continue to see the world through different lenses… the more I love myself, the more I am loving everyone else.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times I want to lay a smackdown on some people, but guess what??? This new and improved Jenny 2.0 has patience and awareness that I never thought I would be armed with. I am unstoppable.
Ok, let’s get down to the nitty gritty here.
I WAS NOT always this way, believe me. I never knew what it was to love me completely. Until these past few years. It took a swift kick in the ass for me to see who I am and all I have to offer. I guess what I am getting at is that I would ideally love to say that it only takes a few easy steps, but no I am not going to pussy foot around with you either. It is tough.
It is tough. Your self-doubt and self-loathing will test you. Will scream loudly the moment you begin to think “Hell ya, I am worth it.” It may even kick you down and throw dirt in your face time and time again. But that is just a small little piece of what will make you the kick-ass warrior that you will become.
I have no doubt that if I can achieve this love within myself, anyone can. I want to share my journey with you, I want you to share yours with me. I want you to know how damn important that you are in this world. That YOU are worth all of your own love.
We give so freely to others. And it is a beautiful thing. Don’t ever water that part of yourself down. But start loving yourself the same way. Be empathetic towards your life experiences. Don’t judge yourself in such a harsh way. Be gentle with your heart. You are so precious.
And I hope that this blog that I am just starting helps guide you to that place somehow. This is a journey, for not only me, but for all you beautiful souls reading this. This may not flow, each week I might have a different topic. But there will always be a taste of self-love, appreciation for yourself and others, notes on how to work on becoming more in tune with all your loving qualities, and just random messages on love in general.
What we so desperately need in the world.
So, join me on this journey of falling in love with everything life has to offer, including ourselves <3
Jenny Dearing speaks to love in action. She brings talent, experience and learning around love, trauma and care. With a passion for Child and Youth Care and Addictions, and a background in same, she connects, and memorably so. Her work spans children and youth care with addictions, personal and senior care, respite work, and business leadership; delivering on all. Jenny is a Certified Virtues Project™ Facilitator, with professional training in child and youth care with addictions support and home support services. With certification in ASIST Suicide First Aid, Autism Awareness and Understanding, Trauma Information Care and Child and Youth Care Practice, Jenny brings it, with zeal. On top of all that, she loves singing, and is an accomplished multi-media artist … and brings both to her work. Artistry is a path to love and healing. Jenny knows it. She believes in it. She drives it.
Barry says
I love the message Jenny brings. I love the fact that we are writing together going forward. I love who Jenny is and for what she stands. I love our incredible friendship and the work and play and life that unfolds from it. Indeed, I love my life. I get to teach business at the college level. I get to do this beautiful work with Epic Engage™. I get to speak, teach, facilitate, coach, consult, create, sing, dance, write, blog, vlog and more… and with Jenny. I love it, all. I love my #bestlittledogintheworld Panda, 
and my modest beautiful little home I call The Greens. I love my life.
We just completed an incredible retreat centering on the work of The Virtues Project™… exploring the 5 Strategies for building lives and cultures of character (I will share more as the weeks and months go by). I often suggest that Love is a virtue. It is an emotion. And it is action. I suggest that L.O.V.E. is about the practice of character. LOOK inside yourself for your strengths of character. Identify them. Name them, Claim them. Then, seek out OPPORTUNITIES where they are most needed. Discover what work, jobs, careers and vocations require them. Discover what services and hobbies demand them. Yes, identify your strengths of character and to where they are most called. Then, have a VISION in your head and heart as to how the world, or your corner of it, will be better when you do apply your strengths to those opportunities. Then, simply ENGAGE. Do it. That is how we L.O.V.E. our work. That is how we L.O.V.E. our service, and play and school and community and life. We look inside for our strengths of character, seek out opportunities where they are needed most, have a vision of their impact, and engage. Indeed, that is the Epic Engage™.
I have been in this work of leadership training and development for 39 years. I have earned my stripes the great, good, bad and ugly ways. I have L.O.V.E.d every minute of it. The errors have been teachers, getting me to consider what strengths of character I better needed to practice. The successes have been teachers in celebrating those I have practiced. Character has its teachable moments and L.O.V.E. requires character.
In times of trial, I have asked myself what strength of character were either missing or not being 
practiced, with the notion of putting them into practice. In times of triumph, I have asked myself what strengths of character were present in order to replicate, going forward.
Character is the soil from which the tree of behaviour grows. Pay attention to the soil and the tree will take care of itself. Ask yourself, in any given situation, what virtues were present or what were not. Ask yourself what do you need to continue practicing or start to practice. Character is about practice. Practice makes permanent. Challenges teach us when we practice character. Successes celebrate our best selves when we practice character.
My life has not been easy. Very few of us can say life ever truly is. Life has its challenges. It also has its growth, resulting from same. It has joy and love and so much more. It certainly has for me. Going forward, I will be sharing examples of L.O.V.E. in action. I will be writing, with Jenny, on love and character and their twin powers to advance real, raw and results driven living. This will be a sincere and simple exploration of the role character plays in our lives. I am excited to explore. Hope you are!
Barry Lewis Green moves the needle on character leadership and unity building with joyful ferocity and thoughtful zeal. Barry helps leaders forge strong, united cultures at school, work, business and community. Joe Calloway says, “I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary.” With 39 years in education and leadership training and development … and work in the private, public and community sectors across Canada… and as a speaker, educator, master facilitator, coach, writer, singer, dancer, and cartoonist, Barry stokes the fire on together strong.
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
- Plead the 5th, July 2019
- AukWords: Clarity and Conviction
- Deliver: State Your CASE
- Leaducator: Another “DC”
- broadCAST: Dominion!
- Developing Character Leadership
- The Character of Leadership
and our MULTIVERSE of online forums and offerings
From Jenny, with Love
In our last post, A New Chapter with Benny and Jarry, we announced just that… a new chapter with Benny and Jarry (aka Barry and Jenny lol). Going forward, we will write on character, love, unity and excellence as it relates to living and working and serving and playing our lives away; whether as educators, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders or anyone looking to get more out of life by giving more to the lives of themselves and others. But first, let us introduce ourselves for this next chapter.
Jenny Dearing speaks to love in action. She brings talent, experience and learning around love, trauma and care. With a passion for Child and Youth Care and Addictions, and a background in same, she connects, and memorably so. Her work spans children and youth care with addictions, personal and senior care, respite work, and business leadership; delivering on all. Jenny is a Certified Virtues Project™ Facilitator, with professional training in child and youth care with addictions support and home support services. With certification in ASIST Suicide First Aid, Autism Awareness and Understanding, Trauma Information Care and Child and Youth Care Practice, Jenny brings it, with zeal. On top of all that, she loves singing, and is an accomplished multi-media artist … and brings both to her work. Artistry is a path to love and healing. Jenny knows it. She believes in it. She drives it.
Barry Lewis Green moves the needle on character leadership and unity building with joyful ferocity and thoughtful zeal. Barry helps leaders forge strong, united cultures at school, work, business and community. Joe Calloway says, “I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary.” With 39 years in education and leadership training and development … and work in the private, public and community sectors across Canada… and as a speaker, educator, master facilitator, coach, writer, singer, dancer, and cartoonist, Barry stokes the fire on together strong.
This week, Jenny offers up…
The reality of self-love is very important to our living our best lives. Our body is our home; we simply can’t live in it peacefully if we continue to destroy it. We need to be openly accepting our flaws because the reality is at the end of the day, the only person you truly have is yourself. And we need to be stronger for ourselves (Alyssa Lexine. Thought catalog. Aug 2016).
We need to be kinder to ourselves, allowing room for growth and error. Giving ourselves permission to mess up and make mistakes without chastising the person that matters the most; You, your own self.
We are beings of light and love. We so often freely love others, but we hardly take the time to recognize it for ourselves.
We are so quick to say when someone doesn’t love us the way we wish to be loved. Why are we waiting for them to step up and love us? When in all reality we have the power to do it on our own. We get to set our own standards on how we deserve to be loved, and by doing so we don’t have to accept anything less from others or ourselves.
Now to start this journey of falling completely in love with ourselves; realizing the importance of self-love is the first step to bettering your life. Here are just a few tips to get you started.
First and foremost, define your own beauty. Love yourself now by first accepting yourself the way you are. Change your focus to the thing that is most important. Start with one small thing about yourself and decide to love it. You don’t need to be perfect, but it’s uniquely you. Maybe begin with your eyes because you have seen so many beautiful things, while enduring all the tears you have cried.
Next, change your self-talk. That little voice in your head that drags you down needs to be changed. You wouldn’t speak that way to someone you love, so what makes it okay to say it to yourself? Replace that negative self-talk with something uplifting. When you make a mistake, try an encouraging phrase like, “It’s ok! I’ll try again.”
Also, don’t forget to pamper yourself. When your feet get wet, go home and put dry socks on. Be more aware of your physical condition and do things to comfort yourself. Warm up the water before washing your hands. Sit down when you are tired.
These are small ways to let yourself know that your comfort and well- being are important (Wendy G, Brookhaven, April 2017).
Don’t forget to spoil yourself regularly. Have a bath, do your nails, put on a face mask, wear your sexy underwear for yourself, or take yourself on a date. Act as if you are completely in love with yourself. Speak, eat, drink, dress and treat yourself as if you were your most loving fan, best friend, and lover all at once. Finally, take things lightly. Don’t be too serious. Make sure to laugh and have lots of fun. Even if you just fake it in the beginning, you will reap benefits. Fake it till you make it. (Lea, Life Coach, Feb 2015).
In the end (and the beginning, and throughout), love matters. Love directed to others matters. Love directed to ourselves matters. Going forward, I will be sharing thoughts on perspectives on the who, what, why, when and how of practicing the strength that is Love.
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
A New Chapter with Benny and Jarry
Last week, I posted on My Summer CAMP. In it, and among other things, I suggested that, “My thought to you is four-fold.
- Cleansing of mind, body and spirit requires honesty, openness and courage.
- Doing so is an investment.
- Doing so requires us to be open, adaptive and relentless (your OARs in the water).
- The return is high, on Clarity and Confidence.”
Such as been born out this past week, with changes coming to Epic Engage™ and how and why and with whom we work it. One of the first changes is to this blog. Going forward, much of my own work will be with my best friend and comrade in arms, Jenny Dearing. You will learn more of Jenny in the days and weeks to come but our work together is driven by the advancement of character, love, unity and excellence. What does that mean? You will find out soon.
For now, let me suggest that I am personally more clear than ever on what Epic Engage™ stands and works and serves for, going forward. Here, the blog will be known as Benny and Jarry, to represent the combined work of two best friends with passions and capacities for work that matters to both of us. More important for now, it is a reminder that my question to you last week still stands.
How can you see yourself cleansing and getting to the essentials? How can do CAMP? How can you have those cool, meaningful conversations with those you deeply trust… to explore who you are and what has most meaning. How can you take actions needed to align in accordance? How can you meditate on such, nay even pray? I am thinking July and August will continue to be CAMP, for me…. as I get ever more clear on the work, service and play ahead.
Stay tuned for the first of Benny and Jarry, and look forward to a fierce and fun mission and service as we move forward together, stronger.
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
My Summer CAMP
Last week, I published Summer Cookin’ with the AL’s. I am holding true to it. I have met with 
Felicia Newell and Jon Butler on plans for my health this Summer and into the Fall of 2019. And, I am excited about same. In a nutshell, and drawing on my last post, I reiterate my vision:
- SpirituAL … I am a spiritually connected man, and Baha’i
- EmotionAL… I am a Simple Man, best friend to my #bestlittledogintheworld Panda
- PersonAL… I am a singer, dancer, cartoonist, writer, archer and storyteller
- PhysicAL… I am a man of 36″ waist and 100 kilos
- MateriAL… I am a man of simple beautiful home and car, with new bed, telescope and wardrobe
- FinanciAL… I am a man of healthy WEALTH, not extravagant but allowing me to do the work I love and love the work I do, to live the life I love and love the life I live, and support the causes and people in which I believe most
- VocationAL, ProfessionAL, OccupationAL… I am an educator, for life
- EntrepreneuriAL… I am The Unity Guy™ of Epic Engage™, the global Character Leadership Company
- EducationAL… I am a master student and teacher on character leadership, education and unity building, able to speak in English, Mandarin and French
And, now, I am taking 6 days to disappear and cleanse. I will get more clear, with a much deeper dive. Some niggling things demand such. I will pray and meditate. I will pray and meditate, and act. I will be that spiritually connected man, Baha’i.
I will pray and meditate on what it means to be that Simple Man, and best friend to my #bestlittledogintheworld Panda. I will pray and meditate on what is speaking to me about singing, dancing, cartooning, writing, and more. I will pray and meditate on my physical vision; a man of 36″ waist and 100 kilos. I will pray and meditate on my simple beautiful home and car, with new bed, telescope and wardrobe. I will pray and meditate on being a man of healthy WEALTH, not extravagant but allowing me to do the work I love and love the work I do, to live the life I love and love the life I live, and support the causes and people in which I believe most. I will pray and meditate on my work as educator and entrepreneur.,, as The Unity Guy™ of Epic Engage™. And, I will pray and meditate on being a master student and teacher on character leadership, education and unity building, able to speak in English, Mandarin and French.
Yes, I will pray and meditate; and be open. Shoghi Effendi once said that there are 5 suggested steps to prayerful problem solving:
- Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.
- Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.
- Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step.
- Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the fifth step.
- …lastly, ACT; Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel for the Divine power to flow through you.
You can find more, here. Most importantly, I will act on that clarity that comes from such prayer and meditation; as the advice is given above. I will enter such with open mind and heart. I will be relentless. I will carve out my own best truth.
My thought to you is four-fold.
- Cleansing of mind, body and spirit requires honesty, openness and courage.
- Doing so is an investment.
- Doing so requires us to be open, adaptive and relentless (your OARs in the water).
- The return is high, on Clarity and Confidence.
How can you see yourself cleansing and getting to the essentials? For me, I have done much of such this past year, but, of late, I have come to see that I need this one big push… to truly get back to me. It may not radically change things (or it may). But, it is always best to get on your best path.
So, I am disappearing for a week. I will have conversations 
with those I deeply trust. I will take actions needed. I will meditate. I will pray.
It is CAMP, for me. 🙂
See you on the other side.
In the meantime, and in related news, consider the latest Leaducator July 2019. It has relevance, resonance and links worthy of consideration I humbly offer. Engage and enjoy.
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
Keep Walking
Last week, I wrote on GROWTHeries, CDs and Problem Solving. This week, I have little to add except I feel a slimming happening, and I am 8 days away from my first milestone of 44″ waist. I am excited. I am working towards my vision.
In so doing, I reference this collection of thoughts heading into Summer… for my own inspiration, ideas and initiative.
We keep walking. 🙂
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka
Engaged!
Last week, I wrote on Simple, Man. This morning, I wrote on LinkedIn on D4: Discernment, Detachment, Decisiveness and Discipline. In it, I suggested a three step process of:
- STEP ONE. Discern and Detach.
- STEP TWO. Decide
- STEP THREE. Do with Discipline
I strongly encourage a read of both posts. Either way, and this morning… I am understanding, better than I ever have, the importance of execution.
Those goals have been discerned and decided with a detached spirit. They have been through the ringer of reflection. In them, I am clear, courageous and confident.
There is no more work left in gaining clarity. There is work in further discerning on progress. But, the real work is in execution; in DISCIPLINE.
GOING FORWARD
Going forward, these personal blog posts on Barry’s Blog will center on effort and progress up to and including February 20, 2020 and my 60th birthday… and will focus on the role character plays in having the Discipline to achieve these well discerned, detached and decided goals. It will be focused on realizing and living that original vision:
- It is 20022020, and I am a master and lifelong student of the global body of work around character leadership and unity building. I work with noble minded and hearted leaducators, communitrepreneurs and emergents in advancing same. In so doing, I have learned conversational Mandarin and French to bring that work more global. I have also engaged a deepened level of spiritual studies and practice through The Ruhi Institute, and more. I am living a life filled with love, song, dance, cartooning, writing, epic stories, archery and more of what and who I love. My #bestlittledogintheworld Panda is by my side in enjoying it all. I am teaching business leadership at College of the North Atlantic, in class and online; and doing my global work of Epic Engage™. I am loving it! I am 110K in weight (slim for my body structure) and benching same; healthy and strong. And, I am financially ready, willing and able to support special projects in which I deeply want to invest and contribute.
This will be a milestone journey for me on many levels; journaling the exploration of my sense of character in striving to be the person we best are and want to be. I will be drawing on my own expertise, experience and exploration in doing so.
In some important ways, I am considering myself the proverbial figure within the stone that Michelangelo referenced as his approach to sculpting. Such a model incorporates the twin notions of being and becoming because we are simply carving out. This will be such a process for me, and I invite you to follow and engage the road. Who knows what we might learn?
Could be applicable at school, work, business and community.
As Jean-Luc Picard might say, “Engage”.
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
- broadCAST May 2019
- Leaducator March 2019
- Developing Character Leadership
- The Character of Leadership
- CHECK OUT OUR COACHING
Simple, Man
Last week, I wrote on Simpler and Honester. Wow, I did not realize how much that would impact me, consciously and otherwise. Over the last year in particular, I have been purposefully reflecting on meaning for me in and for what I keep calling “the next chapter”. Specifically, back in March of 2018, I wrote on Aim High. It considered 5 areas worthy of questions, answers and reflection. And I wrote The Book on Happiness in that month. In April of last year, I wrote on #FTS… F$%#K the Script…. and Find Your Simplicity… and What is Your Ikigai? In May 2018, I wrote on 5 Questions for Clarity… and Finding Your Script… and your fit. The blogging continued on a variety of topics related to my work (including purposeful reflection) and in January 0f 2019, I wrote on The Tr’a’at is Talking…. Manifest, Oh! and Do the Work. In February, The BIG Cool Work and Our Universal Three… about Remembering who you are, Readying yourself every day and Rising in action and service. Indeed, this meandering exploration of me heated up with A Birthday Wish and:
- D5: For What Do You Care? (February 2019)
- The Four Horsemen of Disruption (February 2019)
- A Strategic Four (March 2019)
- Confidence of the Kid (April 2019)
- Testing for Narrative (April 2019)
- Language Matters (April 2019)
It might seem that this is all I have blogged on, but I write a lot of blogs. 🙂 That being said, and in and amidst all of this reflection and journaling (out of the seeming complexity of same), two things arise for me.
- FIRST, I suggest meandering has a purpose. It is called exploration. Indeed, I suggest any and all of the reads above to nudge your own meandering reflection.
- SECOND, by traveling the road or river and all its meandering, you invariably arrive at a destination point of sorts for at least that leg of the journey. For me, that has just happened.
The Next Landing Point
These past few weeks in particular, I have had questions asked of me randomly that have surfaced some 
realizations and remembrances. I have had huge and heartfelt disappointments and wondrous surprises that have done same. And, with it all, there has been almost a bubbling up or boiling down of some simple truths. Recalling passions, purpose and more.
Specifically, the other day, in a conversation around age of all things, someone asked me how I might describe myself in terms of age. My answer was quick, forthright and lovingly forceful (and unplanned). I said that I consider myself a “force of nature”.
I don’t give a “rat’s arse” what number or category you want to apply. I am thunder and lightning with the “and” in between. Well, that got me thinking; that and those other direct and unexpected questions along the way. Actually, it got me realizing some undeniable truths for me. Undeniable truths are the destination point for reflection. You are trying to get to them, in terms of your very soul. Everything else is wishy-washy. So, what are my undeniables? I include them here as to what my soul screams in a whisper and not necessarily as how I have been living or not living it of late.
- In the work I do and the life I live, I am a force of nature, unconstrained as the wind. I live to create, learn and teach for a damn freakin’ better world. I am an outlier and a misfit who loves humanity. I revere the human spirit, reveling in it. Humanity rocks. Inhumanity rots. I am accountable to and unapologetically confident in humanity; and my deep desire to live and serve it. I am not perfect, nor do I believe in it as a noun. I have made and will make doozies of mistakes. BUT, I damn well sure believe in perfect as a verb. Perfecting and raising my character is not part of me. It is me. In that, I have got a “four let word for I don’t care… a whole lotta drive to get me there“. I do not care about fame nor fortune, but I live for fierce. I will work, live, love and play with what I call “activants”; those people who do not want to change the world… they are doing it by their very living in it. No kumbaya. All, bring it. I love and live fiercely. Untempered. Unconstrained, Unconditional. Period. Force of nature. Dangerous. In the best of ways. When I am fiercely honest with myself, I love and live like a weapon when the order is “fire everything”. In life and work, I love the extremes of inward, slow and gentle to gregarious, fast and forceful. I am a creator, student, teacher, singer, dancer, writer, cartoonist on all things character. I fiercely contend it is the path to vibrant, dynamic, exciting and future driven unity. And, I loooove that. I am Barry (Lewis Green). I am The Unity Guy thing.
This will always evolve in terms of articulation and vocabulary. But it will not in terms of spirit. That being said, have I been living this fully? No. I have been tempered for way too long, hoping to be comfortable for as many people as possible. Comfort is good, but it can also be cowardly and complacent. I want neither. Never have, though I have tempered myself. This past year, and over the 4 years since stroke, I have been slowly but steadfastly getting to a space where the shy but immensely creative boy merges with the confident, “successful” but somehow overly-responsible-to-the-wrong-things-and-people man. It is what drives my nine milestone goals for this year ahead of my next birthday. The result is and will be some new best of both worlds. This silly boy and fierce man are one.
Now, many who know or think they know me might say that that is what they see and experience right now, but it is not. 98% pure water is not pure. And pure is what my soul craves. No tempering or tampering down.
Does this mean no mistakes? Hell no. It does mean I am choosing to get back to and even move the needle on Hell Yeah. It does mean a rediscovering of an energy buried a bit, for too long. It does mean a new found kind of boom.
Quite recently, I have been introduced to the music of Damien Rice, LP, Zaz and Brass Against… among others. Each time, I hear a song that touches my soul, I know. I don’t have to think about it. I freakin’ know. Each time, I meet a person who does the same to and for me, I know. Each time, I run across a cause that does the very same, I know. I know. You do too. You just have to tap in and open up.
Look, conformity for conformity’s sake is numbness. Conformity for not rocking the boat, is repression and oppression. Conformity to fit in is a slow death. I want neither. I am not in favour of strife nor contention. But being who you are is not about trying to offend. Trying to offend is another form of posing. Asserting your voice is simply finding your place. As a kid, I knew my voice, all the while learning to speak it.
For You
For you, who might be reading this… here, are my humble suggestions. First, try out some of the blogs noted and start dabbling or diving in. Second, practice Courage and Honesty in doing so. Third, understand that the goal and eventual reality is that you will come to a simple understanding and that is that knowing who you are is right under your nose around about where your heart is found.
In one of my blogs, I suggest that the stars are the Soul, the captain who sets course by the stars is the heart, and the navigator/helmsman is the mind who figures out the way there. The ship itself is the body. Understand that and let your soul be your guide, your heart make your best decisions, your mind figure the way, and your best body carry you there.
That is this simple man‘s plan. Everything else is settling. To Hell with that.
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
Every Day is Judgement Day
Last week, I wrote on Pulling Back the Bow. In it, I wrote that:
- “Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art and his thoughts on resistance come to mind. The closer we get to moving, the greater the resistance, not unlike a bow. I am there. And now I need most to pull back on that bow of health. It will support all of the others.”
This week, I wrote on Facebook…
- As I collapse on the bed… getting through a second very busy day while living with these lungs right now… a totally unrelated but somehow related thought occurs to me on judgement … of all things. There are two ways to think of judgement. The first is about making good and sound decisions for our own lives. The second is about looking at other people’s lives, thinking we somehow know them or know better, and judging them on their actions. The former is wisdom. The latter is ignorance by it’s true definition. Live the former. Let go the latter. As I crash here, I realize no one knows my life and I know no one else’s. My responsibility is to live as best I can … and not judging others. My responsibility is executed by practicing sound judgement in my own decisions. No idea why that popped into my head and heart but I am glad it did.
Judgement is making sound decisions, and I am making them. As leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and livers of life… as students, mentors and more… good and sound daily judgement matters. That requires wisdom and even sacrifice.
Practice that kind of judgement. I am. It is mine all mine. 🙂
Make every day, Judgement Day.
Seems like a Van Hagar kind of day, lol.
Peace, passion and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
