gratitude
Love and Grace
We think that we are lighting a cool fire for ourselves… and hopefully you. 🙂
Last week, we embarked on a month of exploring thoughts on taking better care of ourselves… with The Long, Cool Road. We humbly suggest it might be a short, cool read.
Then, earlier this week, through The broadCAST September 2019 (our monthly news and views blog with some 15 contributors), we took the dive a little further. It too, we recommend.
Now, we take it a little further…
Jenny says…
As I wrote in The Long, Cool Road, “This summer has been full, beautiful and extraordinary. So many positives, yet I am pooped. I am a strong believer in self-care. A huge believer. But even in the moments of self-care, my mind is in full speed, thinking of all that I need to do in the next five years of my life. Which in all honesty does not help or benefit me in the slightest.”
As I shared in The broadCAST September 2019, “I am currently reading a Brene Brown book called Rising Strong. She is a phenomenal writer and I find myself relating to most of her writings. I have to say it is taking me a LONG time reading because of that thing we call life. I take all the moments I can spare to sit and read for a bit. But let’s be real, I also have a million other things that I want to do. Be lazy and watch Netflix, eat cheesecake, do my nails, hang with my boy, maybe just do absolutely nothing while scrolling through Pinterest. You know, all those important valid things. Which I think at times we need to do. I think it is a part of unwinding and letting ourselves breathe for a moment in time.”
I also suggested, “I feel like moments of relaxing, taking a nap, going to a spa, or getting your hair done, may have been considered more of a selfish act. When really it isn’t. It is taking little moments to love yourself.”
So, here is my thought this week…
Because this is not such a natural act, I get stuck in moments of self-care, with little imprints of caring for others or thinking about the million things I need to do. That is not self-care at its finest. I know how difficult it is to completely unwind, allowing your mind to compartmentalize the important and not so important things we need to focus on at that time. I guess therefore I have been left exhausted. I have been doing things for myself amid chaos these past few weeks. But clearly, I have not allowed myself to detach and let go of everything I have no control over in that very moment. If I can’t fix it now, then get into that little box inside of my head so I can push it away somewhere until I can address it or accommodate it.
Can you relate? I have some more considering to do, and will share again next week.
Barry says…
I love where Jenny is going with this and can soooooo relate. As I embark on the busiest semester of my teaching career (full time teaching, taking two courses, building the second order of Epic Engage™ with Jenny, and finding balance in and amongst), I am aware of my honey badger mind.
The honey badger is an intensely strategic creature; curious and always going it seems.
So is my mind. 🙂
It serves me well as an educator and entrepreneur but the challenge is the pace of grace. Linda Kavelin-Popov (Co-Founder of The Virtues Project™) wrote a book on such, called A Pace of Grace. I need to go back to it. But, for now, three thoughts occur to me.
- First, what would the practice of the Virtue of Grace look like for me? I have to ponder on that.
- Second, in relation to that question, what would a full on “day of rest” each week look like.? This is the original concept of a Sabbath, a wise and ancient practice in the face of the 24/7 and too often worshipped hustle of life.
- Third, and in the spirit of a book Richard Bolles (of What Color is Your Parachute? fame) wrote called The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them (I have a 36 year old copy)… what would it look like if I worked some, learned some and played some each and every day?
Robert Fulghum wrote of this in “All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten“. He wrote:
- All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school. These are the things I learned. Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living. Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
I have to munch on this, this week, as I prepare for this amazing, crazy 4 months. Thanks Jenny, for triggering my own thoughts on finding Grace. I love you bestie! I will have more to report back on next week.
TOGETHER
As we said last week… “Together, we are committed to living a joyful life and work. Best friends do that. Together, we will explore our own perspectives on love and character and how they can build a life of work, play and service that is right for each and all of us.”
We do indeed think this will get ever more interesting; and out of this will come many cool, long road beautiful moments from the Benny and Jarry experience.
So, join us, stay tuned and engage us. Our lives matter.
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love and Character
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
- broadCAST September 2019
- A Labour of Love
- AuKwords August 2019
- Deliver August 2019
- Leaducator August 2019
PLUS…
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 Long, Cool Road
In our last blog, Be Open, we spoke to just that; being open. To follow on that theme, and through September, we thought to explore openness to life, as it is.
A mentor of Barry’s once said “life is best lived, living it at it’s own speed”. This pic and post from Jon Tesh stumbled 
across our radar last night. Barry posted it on Facebook, and added, “Strength is in living the story as most nobly you can…”. Ultimately, we are all positively challenged to live the long, cool road as best we can.
Still, we often either rush or resist the forces of life, choosing drive over flow. Here, and for the next few blog posts, here and on LinkedIn, we explore thoughts around love, character and flow.
Here, we begin to digest on thoughts around love, character and living. In the broadCAST for September, we will continue the exploration, and into our September Benny and Jarry posts. It promises to be real, raw, reflective and re-creating. For now…
Jenny says…
Hmmmmm…. Where do I begin??? This Blog may very well be all over the place in thought. As I have been these past couple weeks. I don’t mind saying it like it is, as you probably have noticed by reading my last blog, I am quite up-front and honest.
I am usually very positive and upbeat. But guess what, I am human like the rest us, and I am exhausted. I have been pushing myself to the limit in every aspect of my life. I have been trying to be a kick-ass Mom, Friend, Partner and Student. Well I only have so much to give.
I guess what I am saying is that in order to fill your own tank, you need to do things that you love. Even then you can find yourself drained and depleted. I am a prime example of that this past week.
This summer has been full, beautiful and extraordinary. So many positives, yet I am pooped. I am a strong believer in self-care. A huge believer. But even in the moments of self-care, my mind is in full speed, thinking of all that I need to do in the next five years of my life. Which in all honesty does not help or benefit me in the slightest.
While most structure their lives around schedule and organization, my life just doesn’t work well that way. Or at least I don’t think it does. Lord knows I have tried. I am a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I get things done, and if I don’t, I clearly didn’t think it was needed in that particular time, or in that particular order. I know I am not the only one that lives like this. Other people may think it is chaos, 
where I find it comfortable. It just works.
Rather than getting into how it works, which I don’t think really matters. We all work differently. I want to talk more about doing the best that we can with what we know. And finding what fits and benefits your life. In the upcoming broadCAST, I will explore some thoughts around that. For now, I repeat, “We all work differently… We all work differently… doing the best that we can with what we know… finding what fits and benefits your life.”
Barry says…
Jenny brings up a great point and one around which I have been, myself, thinking on this past week, probably unbeknownst to my bestie even. Just yesterday was my first day back into the College year, and I posted this on Day One. In it, I suggested:
“On this first day of the College year, I find there can be elements of overwhelm. For those passionate about teaching and doing our level best, it is a 10 month journey every year, standing in front of and with 15-30 souls at a time and engaging learning in the best of ways. For my speaker colleagues, it is not unlike 24 keynotes a week. This year, I want and intend to take it up another notch and the next 4 months in particular, for me, are going to be truly filled. Filled with delivering courses, studying character leadership and education, co-leading on Epic, learning basic Mandarin, enjoying song and dance, and getting into optimal health and shape. It will be filled, and today is the first day. Day One. :)”
First, I suggest a read of that post. Second, and even last night, I ran into my own overthinking brain. It caused my own sense of racing, and I knew that this cannot be maintained over these next 4 months of growth. Strategic thinking and planning is important, but there is a time and place. I have done mine.
Now, it is about execution… and execution is in the now. Knowing what is important now and in the 
future allows me to prioritize on the go. I choose those things that will serve me in the now and going forward. It is about flow over drive. A wolf does not spend countless hours considering and planning. It knows what is important to it, and it goes and does that, as needed, when needed… from rest to hunting, and everything in between. It is true throughout nature.
Over these next few weeks, and starting with the broadCAST, I too will explore thoughts around being as the best form of doing.
As children, we knew what was important to us… and I am not simply talking about play. I knew what “causes” were important to me. The work of this company is grounded in those, but I find I get distracted with what Stephen Covey would call the smaller rocks…. and sand. My own exploration this month will be about the aspects of character needed to beautifully and fiercely focus on the big rocks so that we live in the now and look forward to the future.
TOGETHER
Together, we are committed to living a joyful life and work. Best friends do that. Together, we will explore our own perspectives on love and character and how they can build a life of work, play and service that is right for each and all of us. We think this will get interesting; and out of this will come many cool, long road beautiful moments from the Benny and Jarry experience. Join us, stay tuned and engage us. Our lives matter.
Peace, passion, prosperity, and a whole bunch of Love and Character
Benny and Jarry
Peace, passion and prosperity…
PLUS…
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.
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…
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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
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