LOVE is the answer.... Let It Reign ;-)

A great day.

Today began with time at the Provincial Student Leadership Conference at St. Kevin's High School in the Goulds. I opened the day (their last full day of events) by facilitating the "pump" session.... 15 minutes to ready the entire group of 400 high school students for a great day ahead. We had a blast! We did a simple but fun networking exercise that really worked. The energy was palpable. And then, it happened.

Inspired, I felt the need to finish by teaching these 400 youth a dance that they could use at their closing dance tonight or in flash mob situations, motivating others to dance (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLfAL7Lgpw for an example on the Oprah show). The kids ate it up. So did I. What I witnessed was the synergy of pure joy and enthusiasm and encouragement. It brought a deep, rich smile to my heart. It was powerful, practical LOVE.

Then, it happened, again.

I had the privilege to hear Micheal Gaultois (www.michaelgaultois.ca)speak of his journey from burn victim to survivor and more... a powerful message of hope, effort and working together. It resonated with me and my passion for unity and leadership. It spoke of LOVE.

This was followed by 2 breakout sessions with over 50 youth and teachers, on Global L'Attitudes (my keynote on the attitudes and actions of success)... the youth were so engaged. It was immensely encouraging. The future is in great hands, if we can let it go to them soon enough ;-). But again, these sessions were about LOVE.

Love, yes LOVE... I shall explain... in moments.

The day then turned to my Chinese lessons and a new recording of SLOWER and HEALTHY LIVING You Tube Show with Allison Martin (my massage therapist) as guest.

Why do I cite all of this?

Last night, I left karaoke unusually early, stating that I was not "into it". Strange. Curious. Intriguing. I somehow felt disengaged.

Today, was my answer.

What was the answer?

I have been feeling a change underway for sometime now. I have experienced this only several key times in my life... moments where two forces were pulling, with the inevitable "winner" being the force of purposeful change. I have been feeling the forces at work for a while now, again. It has been a challenging and gratifying year. It has been a time of trial and triumph. It has been a time of certitude and uncertainty.

With the events of this day and last night, came a peace... a peace born of acceptance. As a Baha'i, I know that Baha'u'llah says "Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity." On some level, I understood this to be true and important. On a deeper level, I did not fully "get it".

I get it.

Now, I get it.

Finally, I get it.

Life is life.

All things pass.

Our truest happiness comes from within, and is choice. Micheal Gaultois spoke of this today. All sacred texts speak to this. Detachment from results. Attachment to love, real love.

Today, I felt an awakening. My chosen brand The Unity Guy became more clear. I believe in love, honour and unity. I believe in LOVE... looking within for our strengths, finding opportunities to use them, creating a vision in our heads and hearts of the way our part of the world will positively change when we use our strengths, and engaging it by doing it. I am the L.O.V.E. Warrior, encouraging myself and any and all to L.O.V.E. daily.

Bottom line, today has been a day of authentic experience. My advice?

LOVE.

Love your work. Love the people you encounter. LOVE your life.

Look inside yourself for your truest, deepest strengths. I call them virtues.

Seek out real opportunities to use these strengths for good.

Have a motivating vision in your mind of how doing this will help you and others.

Engage, by taking the action. Just do it.

Have a day of L.O.V.E.!

I am grateful.

Barry G.

PS

Love is the answer...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94hxfJEw-o

Let it rain, LOVE...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHj8SrH8LSU