This past week has been eventful from … flu to fierce work; from trial to triumph.  Last week, I published this on An Invitation to Bucket.   Among other things, I noted a vision for my 60th birthday, February 20, 2020 (20022020) that went…

  • It is 20022020, and I am a master and lifelong student of the global body of work around character leadership and unity building.  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.

It covers 5 “buckets” of my own choosing.  As noted last week “I have opted to combine mine down to 5.

  • Educational, which will include my MBa, Mandarin, French and even spiritual
  • Joyful… which will include emotional, and inspirational
  • Work and Service… including vocational, and social
  • Physical… my health
  • WEALTH… including material and financial”

Yes, EDUCATION, JOY, WORK and SERVICE, HEALTH and WEALTH are my core buckets as I work towards that vision; as I live it even now.  Since crafting that vision, I have been following through and learning along the way.  Indeed, I have recorded thoughts in:

Ultimately, what I am hearing has to do with what I call the Fortitudinal Virtues… Strength, Discipline, Certitude, Trustworthiness and more… and the power that Optimism has in fueling same.

  • Helen Keller said, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
  • Colin Powell said, “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”
  • Lucille Ball said, “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”
  • Martin Seligman said, “Positive thinking is the notion that if you think good thoughts, things will work out well. Optimism is the feeling of thinking things will be well and be hopeful.”
  • In a prayer I love, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “O God!  Refresh and gladden my spirit.  Purify my heart.  Illumine my powers.  I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.  Thou art my Guide and my Refuge.  I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God!  I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me.  I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
    O God!  Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.”

John F. Kennedy had it.  Indeed and amongst my earliest memories of his funeral at 3 years of age, I remember the sadness … and the optimism that he engendered in a generation.

We need that again.

I want to be part of that.

I intend to be.  I am, already.

Fiercely and humbly so.

I have another 485 days left.  This is my Everest climb, minus the physical dangers.  But the view at the 20022020 will be spectacular, if I but climb every day.  That requires character.  That requires the truest form of Optimism.  I will bring it.

My suggestion is that you ponder Optimism.  You explore it.  You process it.  You own it.  Then rise up.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

BLG

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™

PS

For more on thanks… and courage, check out the broadCAST for October 2018.

PPS

Here is a beautiful video on being thankful for movies, from a student of mine.