Way back in August of 2025, I last posted here on Live Your Nebulae. In it, I noted…
- “Today, I am seeing my Life as an unfolding Cosmos, where I get to seek out new Life and new civilizations… to boldly go… to see the gas and dust and the Beauty produced, if that makes any sense. It does for me. The gas and dust matter in forging new Beauty. At this stage and age, I have much still to explore… speaking, teaching, facilitating, training, educating, coaching, mentoring, conversing, sharing, learning, singing, songwriting (Insh’allah), dancing, writing, blogging, vlogging, cartooning, boxing and creating. I have much to serve, and enjoy. And, I have still much to learn.”
What Gets in the Way is the Way
I also said that I would be blogging here monthly. While I have been active on LinkedIn throughout that time, Life and an episode with finding a tumor on a kidney got in the way somehow of being here. The surgery is now done, and recovery is currently engaged. As I engage such, I am reminded of the words of Marcus Aurelius in his saying, “The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way becomes the way.”
I suggest that that impediment in the form of surgery and recovery (plus a couple of other recent changes) has forged The Way… for me. My sense of both Memento Mori and Amor Fati as forces for a more Compelling sense of Purpose… has been strengthened.
That said, these past few weeks have reminded me of the vital importance of “seeing my Life as an unfolding Cosmos, where I get to seek out new Life and new civilizations… to boldly go… “… and last evening I had some fun getting clear on my sense of Spirit and what is most important to me at this stage and age of Life and living it.
Seneca said, “If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
Marcus Aurelius said, “Life is short—the fruit of this life is a good Character and acts for the common good.”
Bahá’u’lláh said. “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.”
He also said, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens” And… “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its Unity is firmly established.”
All of that is to say that the impediments have given me the opportunity of time and reflection to remember that I do see myself as a World Citizen and what I affectionately call a Stoic Baha’i. The impediments have reminded me that I like the notion of living as a Simple Man… and that I am increasingly seeing myself as a Boxer, and cannot wait to return to The Bag upon recovery. I have been reminded that I am a Vocalist… and The Unity Guy with Epic Engage… and that my Just Cause is Humans Together Strong. These are constants for me… and currently, I am working with a highly respected and trusted mentor to sharpen the blades on ever more clearly articulating my work and Service forward. Right now… I simply say that I am a Speaker, Educator, Facilitator, Coach, Podcaster, Cartoonist, Writer, Vocalist, and Creator… helping emerging Leaders build Character, improve Leadership skills and develop Cultures of Clarity, Commitment, Integrity and Service. Bottom line is that the impediments and obstacles (those challenges of the last 2 months and particularly these past 2 weeks) have served up opportunity to remember who I am, and intend to be.
Consolidating Time
That said, I am consolidating now… and up until March 21, 2026 (Naw Ruz). I know that I am intent on building an ever better world. I have long said that I will not change the world but I will be the 900 pound Gorilla who has the backs and hearts of those that do. The way I see it, Gorillas are humble in the best of ways. They have no need to constantly prove themselves unless it is needed. They know their Strength and carry themselves accordingly. They are the epitome of the Strength of Character that is Meekness where they walk with humble Confidence… Humble Swagger if you will. I strive for that. Again as I see it, if the “meek” shall inherit the earth, it means we each need our quiet and grounded Confidence. The world needs more quiet Confidence in the face of the obnoxious and arrogant bullying. So, I am spending this time reclaiming and strengthening mine, in this Consolidation. That said, in my most recent posts here, I have noted that Seneca said… “As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what flees.” I am feeling this deeply now. Maybe it is the episode with Cancer, compounded by memories of a Stroke 10 years ago. That is indeed part of it. But there is something more. Life forces are moving me ever closer to my Just Cause and the work I most need do… to seize what flees. That is a huge part of this period of Consolidation.
Thoughts on Calling
The Calling I have consistently heard over the years in a whisper of a scream, is growing ever louder and louder. It was Frederick Buechner who said on Vocation…
IT COMES FROM the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work a man is called to by God. “There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, say, or the Super-ego, or Self-Interest. By and large a good rule for finding out is this. The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you’ve presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are you’ve missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you’re bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a) but probably aren’t helping your patients much either. Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
I am feeling that gladness and hunger. I am hearing the growing loudness of The Call. Indeed, I am feeling called to those 6 arenas I noted in my sketch above. With that, I am feeling the need to ever more deeply dive into TUGtv… and its mission to build a better world, one conversation at a time.
A Global Conversation
That in mind… I humbly offer our recently recorded and produced annual Summit Show filled with conversation and ideas around the years past and forward from David Gouthro, Catherine Panilla, Hilary Bilbrey, Christine Ayling, Tammy Joy, Elaine Dunphy, Russell Zehtab and yours truly. It was engaging and rich and fun.
Discernment and Wisdom
With that in mind and heart, I am reminded that Epictetus said, “The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…”. Discerning is the path to Wisdom… and Discernment is the practice of Wisdom requiring work. Discerning on that over which we have control and do not is a fundamental piece of Wisdom. Epictetus admonishes us all to place our energies in the spaces where we have control, within ourselves and through our actions.
Pour Moi
For me, in a world in grave need for genuine and high functioning Unity, there is much out of my control. But, I can be that 900 pound Gorilla advancing the notions of Character and Purpose for a better world forward. I can be TUG, The Unity Guy… championing that better world; Humans Together Strong. Therein, I find my power; through my choice of thought, will and action. All of that is to say that I hold that finding Solid Purpose matters. Going forward, I will indeed be posting monthly as I am embark on this next Leg and Chapter. I now quietly and affectionately refer to this Blog as Barry’s Little Bold Blog lol. And, here… I will be sharing on my own Studentry around exploring and advancing our best selves for an ever better world and future… for us all. Onwards.
Peace, passion, purpose and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.
CONSIDER
Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ― Anne Frank
“Waste no more time arguing over what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” — Bahá’u’lláh