Just DO It!!!

Walking, hiking, dancing, boot camp and more... all this summer!

The lesson for me this past week has been... BE. No planning, just doing, "unconstrained as the wind". This is my active lifestyle. Find what you love and keep doing it. More to follow!

Barry

Baaaack, and Revving Up!!!

Wow, it has been a while. My apologies.... the busy-ness of life... but major decisions have been made... and I have been continuing on the path.

Now, I am breaking the rules of convention. I know what my body is like and what it needs. It needs MASSIVE now... no more baby steps. So, this Summer is to be about water, weights, walking, workouts, and woot! The Woot is about Salsa and adventure... a summer of adventure. Risk. Engagement. Action.

My intent is to reach optimal size and shape by August 31, no later.

Hope your journey is picking up steam. Mine is about to take off!!!

Barry

A simple, cool, no-turning-back wow...

wow...

The Virtues Project Global Mentorship 2010 Conference is amazing in its simple real-ness. I am surrounded by great people doing cool things... and deer and trees and ocean and more. This is transforming me... not changing who I am, but moving beyond any "veils" that hold me back... mind, body, spirit, soul.

I will share more upon my return, but it is amazing. Health is greatly impacted, as I hear the birds chirping, see the sun rising and experience time well spent with me. My life will not be the same.

Peace.

Barry

en route....

Travellin' to the Virtues Project Global Mentorship Conference in Victoria BC... going to be a crossroads for me ... mind, body, spirit, soul... the 4 roads. Awoke feeling leaner, like I was ready for something. This will have impact professionally at CNA and in my unity work... and it will have a huge impact on me personally... I feel it, all around me.

My focus on health is even stronger this morning... optimal size, weight and strength by August 31, Period.

Walk with me. ;-)

Barry

265 and 7

I reached 265 in pounds today, my lowest in 12 years... waist size too... I am on track now... but I will be away from blogs for a week. This week I am traveling to the Virtues Project Global Mentorship Conference in BC and it is a bit of a retreat. I will be signing off for a week, but continuing the journey. Let's see where I am in a week. Stay with me.

Barry

B.U.

Today is a very special day, as a Baha'i. It is the Declaration of the Bab.... a most momentous moment on May 23, 1844. If curious, check it out at http://news.bahai.org/story/547 .

Now, on this Holy Day and holiday (it is, after all, Commonwealth or Victoria Day Weekend too), I am "completing" two days of a personal retreat, if you will.

Yesterday, I walked the pond across from the College of the North Atlantic with my cool little dog Panda, and I walked the paths around my home. I reflected lightly and relaxed. I hosted a beautiful little Holy Day celebration at my home. I watched Avatar again. It was a remarkable day finishing with a brief Facebook chat with my dear friend Raven who is visiting Mexico and bringing back some Salsa steps (hopefully LOL).

Then today, I bought a new watch... a funky tribal one, and a new chain for my fox pendant. AND I am getting ready for the Virtues Project Global Mentorship 2010 Conference in Victoria BC.

What has all of this to do with my path to health? EVERYTHING.

Physical health is no island, no silo. It is connected to mind and spirit. That is the purpose of this blog... wholiness, the whole of mind, body, spirit and soul.

I have been reflecting on how I get healthier. I am continuing to lose weight and waist size and I am thrilled. More importantly even, I am getting back to me. Getting back to a "tribal" gypsy me. Still practical enough to live in this world, but less linear and more magical.

I am remembering that I love the freedom of dance, the joy of singing, the elegance of archery, the honour of football, the vision of Star Trek (yup, humanity is noble), the magic of true romance in life, and more. These things tell me something about me. That is important.

So, my path continues but I am picking up speed, but the speed that comes from grace. I am being true to me and listening to "me" inside, in what I eat, what activities I choose, and how I live.

My advice? None, except be true to you.

I continue to live S.L.O.W.E.R. but I also suggest two other letters of importance ... B.U. !!!

Peace and happy days.

Barry

OFF and Down, but Living Healthy....

I am taking the next two days "off and down".

I am going to walk, dance, sing and more... going to relax and live healthy IMMENSELY. I have no idea where it will take me, but I will check in again on Monday and let you know how it went. Have fun and relax this holiday weekend. News on Monday. ;-)

Barry

Runnin' 'round

Sorry, been running around CRAZY busy but I have been running around... very active and still eating right... weighing in after the weekend.... planning a very active weekend. VERY relaxing and active weekend. It's all about activity and eating better. Let's see where that takes me. ;-)

More to follow.

Barry

Peanut Butter and more....

3 walks in 24 hours...

Loving peanut butter too... trained myself with peanut butter and jam over the last week with less and less jam as I went... now liking it. Good protein source. It is all in training our taste buds.

It is all in training ourselves and our bodies to enjoy health.

And it is all in choosing activities that we enjoy.

Keep walking and keep the faith.

Barry

PS

Someone reminded me today of Nemo and the idea of "keep swimming". ;-)

Milestones not millstones.....

77 days... 77 days until August 1.

This morning, after a busy and exciting few days, I have taken a look at my path and created new milestones for weight and waist for June 6, July 4 and August 1.

The bottom line is I am intent on reaching my optimal waist and weight by August 1, 2010. 77 days. 11 weeks. The immediate goal is to be down 20 pounds for the Quarter Pound Challenge by June 6. And that would be down over 40 pounds in total.

I am hoping for your support and encouragement along the way. How? Set a goal of your own. Or make a comment or two along the way. I am 50, and I am no longer prepared to "accept" being this heavy and unhealthy. I am amazed at how healthy and energized I have been at higher waits and am excited about what it will be like when I reach optimal. Wow!

Join with me.

Barry

BE and Balance

As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the balance -- this is the balance -- this is the balance.

Abdu'l-Bahá'

I love this message. And, this morning, I see a reference to my health. If we believe, we are. So, I believe that I am a healthy, strong, agile man. I will eat and live like one. If our actions align with our beilefs, we start BEing.

So BE it.

Barry

Air and Activity

Honestly, today I felt tired... but it change with a short refreshing walk tonight around my old neighbourhood. The fresh air, amazing.

With the weather approaching summer... time to get out and breathe. If we live active, then we get healthier.

Intense activity these next few weeks... putting a push on. :-)

Barry

Oooooops, aaaaagh, jheesh....

Sorry, I missed a post yesterday.

How many of you have ever made an idiot of yourself? I don't mean this in any derogatory or demeaning way. It is not about character but behaviour.

I think we all have times in our lives when we say or do something that is unwise and/or unexpected, the source of which may have been either long dormant and neglected or totally unknown.

Yesterday was a day of regret for me.

But my Baha'i Faith teaches me to take account each day.

I am working on just that.

Which brings me to my health offering today. I have several quotes that I like that are helping me make sense of yesterday, and my health journey. I hope they resonate for you too.

Here they are:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~ World Health Organization, 1948

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing. ~ Larry Dossey

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired. ~ Author Unknown

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990



Keep on your path, as I am finding my way back onto mine.

:-)

Barry

A New Chance...

It has been an interesting day. A great "first" class with Organizational Behaviour students. A short walk in, but a longer drive to clear the cobwebs. All, good for the health.

Keep the faith, and I keep the new habits.

My refrigeraror is on the fritz and needs a new part that will take a week. It was suggested that I defrost the fridge, throw out the food and start afresh... a perfect opportunity to re-engineer my diet, in the best sense of the word.

Stay with me.

Barry

Small Victories?

No walk today. Well not quite. I walked from the College to the Confederation Build and back. I could have drove, but I chose to walk. That is a small victory. They all count.

Still, I had an active day and I did make good choices for eating. It all counts.

Keep on your path, small and big victories alike. Tomorrow, a bigger plan. :-)

Barry

Umph....

This day, amidst the rain... we walked yet again. Felt the focus and determination... umph.

It was a day of working out... mind, body and spirit. Invigorating.

Shooting for 265 pounds by next Saturday. Bring on the week!

Barry

84 Days, 12 Weeks... Bring it On!

Ok, folks.. it is time to BRING IT. For me... to bring it, that is. Really bring it!

I weighed in this afternoon and I have made it. Made what, you say?

Well... back last Summer and Fall, with the help of Courtney Rowsell, Carl George and Mike Nordby and others, I embarked on a journey of weight loss that saw me drop about 40 pounds of net fat. I went from 299.50 pounds down to 270, while working out and adding muscle. I was told that if I lost a net 30 pounds, it probably meant I lost 40 pounds of fat, adding 10 pounds of muscle. Cool, I thought.

Then my plan went off track. I got through Christmas without adding any back, but then went back up to 281. Bad news.

Great news is that I stopped at 281 and held there for a couple of months or so.

BEST news is that I started on this new leg and I am down to 270 pounds again. I have dropped 11 since starting the Quarter Pound Challenge. I am baaaack. I made it back to 270.

So, where to from here?

OK, so this is where I really bring it.

There are 84 days now between now and July 31.

There are 28 days until the Telethon.

By the Telethon, and in support of my fundraising challenge, I intend to shed another 14 pounds at least, to reach June 5 down 25 pounds... and reach 256 pounds... down 43.5 pounds altogether!

Then, by July 3, another 16 pounds... to hit 240. Through walking, hiking, dancing, eating right and more. Being VERY active.

Then by July 31, another 20 pounds with an outdoor boot camp in Mt. Pearl, dancing, walking, hiking, lots of water, great healthy food and more. July, I will be so very active.

My eating habits are cool now... I graze... with one traditional meal a day and allot of smaller meals... basically, I eat when I am hungry but only eat small, balanced, healthy portions. Oh, and lots of water.

I plan to take my first real vacation in 20 years this summer. Two months dedicated to me and my health and a professional and personal trip to British Columbia in there to boot. By that trip, I intend to be my goal health and shape.

I am calling it my Bear Diet... how I eat and live, walking, running, grazing... going.

I have come to the realization that we must do what fits our personality. I will continue to choose healthy foods and exercises, but I will do it my way. Everyone's advice is wonderful, but I know who I work and I need to work it.

Hope you share in the journey. You will not recognize me, come September hah!

Anyway, I will be regularly doing blogs over these next 84 days, including You Tube pieces.

Peace. :-)

Barry

ROCK out....

I sang and danced last night... BIG TIME. I felt so much energy. Now to keep on that!!!

I need to build dancing into my life again, at core. I love it, more than anything. Well, almost anything. My faith, my dance.

I have awakened to the thought that I want to take the next 84 days, 12 weeks... to love and dance and sing and BE!!! And to be in the absolute best shape of my life. That was the original goal. I lost 30 pounds of fat. Gained some back, and now am back to that 30 pound loss... and NOW?

Down to 220 pounds or 110 kilograms by August. That will be an 80 pound loss in total. BRING IT!!!

This will ROCK.

Join with me. No limits but our faith.

Barry

9 in 7

9 pounds down in 1 week.... what am I doing? Darned if I know!!!

Kiddin'. :-)

Without even thinking so much about it, I have been eating when I am hungry but opting to eat smaller portions, healthier foods, and not eating after 7:00 pm.

I have been walking much more and drinking more water.

Of course, we have been Salsa dancing too.

NOW, for the next 30 days... including today up until the Janeway Telethon on June 5... I intend to:

(1) eat when I am hungry but eat smaller, healthier portions
(2) drink 4 liters of water a day
(3) walk every day, EVERY day
(4) daily practice Salsa dance steps in my basement studio (I call my Lair)
(5) do weights at least 3 times a week

I intend to be down at least 20 pounds by Telethon, but shooting for 25... I have dropped 12 now.... DOable.

Bottom line, is I am doing it my way, and extreme... but FUN in the extreme.

My dear friend Raven is supporting me by walking with me and encouraging me.

Find a good friend, motivate each other.

We all can do this!!!

Barry

A Great Day... and Massive Goals Ahead!

Today, I walked... twice. This morning, thinking that my walking partner couldn't make it, I went anyway and had a brisk, beautiful, cool walk. Then my partner indicated she could make it.... and we went again. Twice. So that was three times around the pond by the College... and I ate phenomenally well.

I really feel that I am dead on committed to this journey and have set massive goals for June 5 (The Telethon), end of June and end of July. Massive.

Join me with your own goals. Let's go!

Barry

Keepin' On....

Another good day for health... while I didn't get a walk in, I chose pretty well in terms of food.... with one exception at Papa's for supper. Tomorrow, I double up the walk. Keepin' on, keepin' on.

Barry

RESULTS and INTENT

The belt is down to the last hole, actually the last of 3 holes carved in.... first time in 13 years!

I am down 6 pounds in a week, since my restart. After plateauing for months, I am back on the downward trend. And dancing for hours tonight... Salsa!!!

My intent is now massive and MY WAY. Watch out what happens these next 2 and 3 months... shooting for an outdoor boot camp in July... and down to 220 pounds by August.

Watch me, follow me, join me.

Rock 'n' roll, lock 'n' load!!!

Stay tuned.

Barry

PS

I will be starting regular video blogs with this journey too.

Steppin' Out and Steppin' It Up!

Today was a real roller coaster.

Ups, downs, ups.

The biggest thing was understanding how important it is to take time for a good walk in the fresh air with a friend. A walk around the pond by the College. Great conversation, brisk walk.

Tomorrow Quidi Vidi. Thursday, Signal Hill of all things.

Keeping THAT going, getting healthier, and getting more clear on questions and answers. ;-)

I have decided to only weigh in once a week now, and go by belt size... a better measure it seems.

Hope you keep following.

Barry

Successes and Bumps in the Road

I am down a full 5 pounds, due to increased walking and dancing and eating right. My dear friend and Salsa dance partner, Raven, has agreed to walk with me daily. That is such a gift. Between dance and walking and weights and increased water intake... plus eating much better, who knows where this will go? Rhetorical question huh? ;-)

Anyway, I also am grappling with some questions that need addressing and feeling a little like the Tom Hanks' character in Castaway in the final scene specifically. May looks to be a month to look inward big time, culminating in the Virtues Project Global Mentorship Conference at the end of this month. I believe that I am at a crossroads and that is a good thing.

Barry

Eureka! I am Awake! LOL

I find myself writing again, today.

Earlier today, I took a walk... but not just any walk... a walk with a new and very dear friend, and my dog Panda. The walk took us through Bowring Park and down by the "duck pond". It was filled with fresh air and friendship and fun.

This might not be "rocket science" to many, but for me it was an awakening... a re-awakening. Despite my claims to the contrary, I found myself realizing how much I had allowed myself to be come linear.

As a child, I was not so. Not at all. I thought differently and truly enjoyed "being". Today reminded me of how I have maintained that in adulthood, primarily in name. What do I mean? I mean that I fully, deeply realized how wonderful it was to be and talk and have no time in mind. It felt like "home".

What has this to do with my health journey? EVERYTHING.

I have read and listened and taken in so much advice and guidance on my path towards health. All good. BUT the best was found within the works of Martha Beck... the idea that we need to "listen" to our bodies, and their unique passions.

So?

Well, my exercises and eating really need to be guided by what I feel and am attracted towards.

Meaning?

My breakfasts will be composed of flavoured shakes with protein (I looooove beverages), and light cereal and a piece of fruit. During the day, I will graze with healthy trail lix and fruit and water. I call it my "bear diet". My traditional meal for the day will be a variety but composed of carbs, fat and protein and will be easy to prepare. My lifestyle and my body speak to me about trying to be "me". I am going to let that unfold and involve.

I am also one who likes to dive in FULLY and I am tired of being hesitant. It is not my style. So, these next 5 weeks will be about me getting healthy the Barry way. I will lift weights, walk, and drink water every day. I will practice dance and rock out every day. My dear friend, has committed to walk the walk with me. I am blessed. And, I am me.

I will be living SLOWER with sleep, laughter, oxygen, water, exercise and real food. I will live it my way. I look forward to sharing with you just what exercises and eating I engage... and the results achieved. Hope you stay with me, and hope you join me.

Barry

Woohoooooo, weigh in followed by weights, walks, water and dance....

This morning, I am down. I am down 3 pounds. Total is now down 13... seeing another 12-15 by June 5 and The Janeway Telethon. The goal is to be down 20-25 pounds for the Quarter Pound Challenge. Yesterday and last night, a number of people were gracious in positive feedback... and that feels great.

I start a 40-day Virtues Project Journal Journey and part of that will be weights, walks, water, and dance (practice or more) EVERY day.... let's see where that takes me.

Still hoping you join me by sponsoring and/or encouraging. :-)

Barry

On the road...

Today, saw me at College of the North Atlantic - Bonavista Campus... early in, late out... early breakfast, late supper... but still a healthy eating day. I did really well!!!

Not so much on exercise. Tomorrow, we pick it up, and Saturday, the hike kicks off a 40-day program for mind. body and spirit, using Virtues Project journal materials.

I will be weighing in on Saturday too. Stay tuned. :-)

Barry

Momentum....

Another good day of eating... wooohooooooo!!!

BUSY day too... activity !!!

My Salsa partner Raven and I are going to back each other up for these next few weeks and beyond. I/we are hiking this weekend, and we will be dancing much more. Upping the activity big time, walking each day starting Saturday.

I can feel the momentum. Join us.

;-)

Barry

And we go....

Quick entry, very late at a night... following an amazing day of eating healthy, working with cool youth, vigorous Salsa dancing, and a long cool chat with a very cool friend. Health... mind, body and spirit.

I am starting TODAY, a 40 day trek to the Telethon... I have a goal and I can taste it. Going to be the lowest weight I have been in 13 years... and ready for a summer of walking, hiking, dancing and more. My first hike is this Saturday. Thanks for the invite, Raven.

Folks, join me.

Barry

Day FOUR

A solid day of eating right. I am pleased. :-)

Tonight, I have made a decision to set aside three times a day for mind, body and spirit.

Starting tomorrow... weights and cardio in the morning for an hour, with some music and prayers. Mid day, a walk. Evening, dance practice (actually tomorrow night it is Salsa!).

It is 40 days until the Telethon... 40 days and 40 nights. Bring it!

Join me.

Barry

On the THIRD Day :-)

Yesterday was a great and busy day... 2 workshops that were physical, and great choices in food. I was very pleased. :-)

Today, here's the plan....

A walk with my dog, Panda. 20 minutes of weights, and 20 minutes of serious Salsa practice.

I also buy groceries on Sundays, and so the mission is real food... balanced foods and diet... and food I like.

My friend and fitness trainer says the best exercise that you can do is the one you love, because you will keep doing it. I say the same for food, kind of... the best food to eat is the healthy food you actually enjoy.

Anyway, off I go. Hope you join me (at the store or figuratively)... sponsor me, encourage me, or join me in setting your own health goal.

I am calling this my 6 Weeks of Separation, separation from bad habits of the past.

Peace. ;-)

Barry G.

Day 2... A Great Day!!!

A busy and great day with training and more... met and worked with great people doing great things... Family Resource Centre and Provincial Airlines ... an invigorating day.

And a very physical day... and I made VERY healthy choices... water and no sweets, fruit and veggies and light meals. Yep, this is a short but great report.

Right now, the virtue that I am practicing is SELF DISCIPLNE... to get traction.

15 pounds in 6 weeks... bring it. Will tune in again tomorrow. Choose YOUR goal and let's encourage one another. Get on board!!!

Peace.

Barry G.

Go! :-)

And we are on...

I just sent an email throughout College of the North Atlantic PPD Campus... my goal is 15 pounds in 6 weeks (see my entry of yesterday). Faron Barnes is running his Ship Shape for Summer program starting May 2 and running through intersession. We are encouraging all to join in... sponsor me and/or set your own goals... and/or join the SSS program with Faron. Imagine a campus with healthier bodies and more energy.... eeeeek. :-)

Will check in tomorrow... for today, more water, and LOTS of Salsa dancing tonight at the Bella Vista. Ole!

Peace.

Barry

Challenging You, Challenging Me... for the Janeway

And we begin...

I am about 10 pounds down on my Quarter Pound Challenge.

Several weeks back, I decided and announced that I would start the Quarter Pound Challenge... an effort to lose weight in support of myself and the Janeway Telethon. A bunch of kind and generous friends and colleagues have signed on to sponsor me at least $.25 a pound of weight loss by the Telethon, June 5/6, 2010.

I am writing this today to say that about 10 pounds down, I am throwing out a 6-week challenge to everyone!

I am asking you to join me, either by sponsoring me and/or setting your own 6-week health goal. Let's see what we can all achieve in 6 weeks.

If you decide to sponsor me, please email me at barry.green@cna.nl.ca with your commitment.

If you decide to join me with your own health goal, subscribe here and chime in with your results over the next 6 weeks.

Here is my goal:

15 additional pounds down in 6 weeks. That would get me to about 25 pounds in total for the Challenge... and about 40 pounds down from my max weight last year!!! I intend to do this with daily weights and dance practice and walks, lots of water and eating right... each day.

AND, I will be weighing in here with words each day... and a video each week.... all to let you know how things are going and encourage you along your way. Let's create a healthy conversation here for 6 weeks... for you, for me and for the Janeway Children's Hospital.

Hoping you join me.

And yes, we begin!

Peace.

Barry G.

My SMASHING Week

A short entry this week.

7 weeks until the Janeway Telethon. Eating is on track and I am becoming more active. This is going to be a SMASH THROUGH week. Intensity is the key here, this week... to blast to a new level of weight and wellness. I will be upping the activity and bettering the eating. AND, I will be living SLOWER. Yep... sleep, laughter, oxygen, water, exercise and real food.

Less talk, more action.

Check out my hUmaNITY Unity Blog too this week.... www.theunityguyblog.com.... all about Living in the Future.

Peace.

Barry

8 Weeks

8 Weeks.

8 weeks until the Janeway Telethon.

Today, Carl George and I re-launch SLOWER and HEALTHY LIVING on You Tube. Yes, it is the return of Carl.

More importantly, for me, it represents a milestone.

I had dropped almost 40 pounds months back, and hovered for the last 4 months. Hovering is good as it represents, to me, that I was sustaining some good habits. That isa good and great thing. But, this morning, I weighed in for the first time in weeks and I am up 9 pounds from my lowest on this path.

The milestone? Something kicked in.

I realized I hadn't Salsa danced in 2 weeks, and that my overall level of activity had dropped. My thought was "Enough!"

Enough.

This morning, I decided.

This morning, my Quarter Pound Challenge takes on a new purpose. I am asking you all to support me by sponsoring $.25 a pound dropped by the Janeway Telethon. Either way, I intend to participate in my 23rd Telethon by unveiling a leaner, stronger Barry... one people will say "Wow, who are you? LOL.

I will make this FUN, but more importantly, I will make this happen... and ask for your support and encouragement. It will help me and it will help the Janeway Children's Hospital.

Tune in to our show, follow on Facebook. Join in... we will "make it so".

To all of those who have helped me thus far... thanks. You knwo who you are. Now, I am on to a new level of intent, honouring your support and never going back to where I was.

Hope you join with me.

Peace.

Barry

Some Thoughts on Soul....

On this Easter, and with news of friends who have "lost" loved ones... I suggest that we do not "lose" them but are separated for a time. This is NOT wishful thinking for me. With my understanding of various sacred texts in all faiths, the message is clear. We exist beyond THIS life. This is not THE life.

Consider words on the soul from Baha'u'llah (www.bahaullah.com)... "Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter."

Here are some things I glean from these choice and beautiful words.

First, "After its separation from the body..." ... hmmmmm, so we are not our bodies. While I think that we should treat our bodies with the respect and love they deserve. They are gifts to us, each. Still, we are not our bodies. We are not defined by their attributes.

Second, we do not die. Wow, the scared texts speak of a time when death is no more. I do not believe that this refers to our bodies, but to the fact that once we realize THIS truth, we fully understand that there is no death. We transform. We do not die.

Third, we continue to progress. I love this. No clouds and harps. Progress. We continue to progress. I do so love this.

What this says to me is that our souls are truly impervious to the changes and chances of this world. When my father manifested Alzheimer Disease, a wise and dear friend said to me... "remember Barry that your father has a mind, a body and a soul... as his body and mind give way, his soul always knows and understands". In the closing hours of my father's time in this world, this became gloriously obvious to me. In his last few minutes, in particular, he clearly sent a message to me that all is OK... not one iota of doubt in his or my soul.

Love to all my friends of all faiths and none. May this Easter bring renewal.

Peace.

Barry G.
The Unity Guy

Can Barry Come Out to Play?

My unity blog hUmaNITY has an entry this week which I call Child's Play?. Have a read at www.theunityguyblog.com. It might nudge some thoughts and ideas.

Essentially, I have been spending time on going deeper, and yet NOT. I have been seeking a level of simplicity over complexity... feeling a calling towards that.

These past 10 years, in particular, have been an interesting journey. Two marriages and a path of personal discovery that has proven scary, challenging and exhilerating. I probably will share more as I get even more clear on thoughts and ideas.

For now, I have come to an intuitive thought. While I have long felt that I was pretty much "me", I have felt that something at core has been missing. These past few days and weeks, I have been thinking back to when I thought much less and just was, acting upon my true self. We all have those times, our earliest childhood.

What did I discover? A child that dreamed about unity and diversity. A child that dreamed BIG, was an incurable idealist. Audacious. Unconstrained as the wind. I loved wholly. I was fierce with that. I loved thunder and lightning and nature and open skies and big places. I played games that centered around diversity and strength coming from working together. I loved the virtues of love and honour and vision. I was noble, and knew we all were at core.

As I write this, I smile. This is still ME.

So what does this mean?

My adult life has had glimpses and more of this, but it has been constrained too. Still, my adult life has brought skills, talents and abilities that can serve my core passions of the child that was Barry. The shyness is gone. The faith is both emotional and rational now. There is a return to an earned innocence... a belief that the idealism can be so very real.

What does this really mean?

Look out. Be warned. It is going to be an interesting rest of life. :-)

I challenge you to go back to your future. Listen to the early child. Partner the child with the adult and make your life YOURS.

See you on the coolest path. Happy Easter.

Barry G.
The Unity Guy

PS

Check out The Circle on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/group.php?gid=345338239133&ref=mf

Choice!

We have an amazing power. Choice.

When Gandhi spoke of being the change we want to see in the world, there was a presumption of choice and the power in it.

Still, we often think of choice in large and grand ways. Every moment is a choice. Many of our choices are almost on auto pilot. Conscious living does not pre-suppose serious, dreary living. Our choice to be happy, our choice to live healthy, our choice to laugh and learn, and our choice to forgive... all can be liberating and deeply joyful. So many choices, and their collective power and result can be our destiny.

My choice today is to go inward. In my prayers and meditations today, I kept hearing that my path lies within... and I am hearing much is "under my nose". As a planning guy, it is interesting to hear this... challenging even. Yet, I am understanding that having goals does not run contrary to living daily. I am understanding that having authentic goals is cool, and living and learning and listening daily gets me not to where I want to go but where I need to go.

What does this all mean? I have my vision. But, I now choose to live one moment at a time... as best I can, observing, learning and acting upon. AND letting the rest unfold.

So, today I have. So be it. More to follow. ;-)

Barry L. Green

Choice?

Maybe it is me, but I am noticing a deep need around me... a deep need to insist on "choice". Which side are you on?

Some years back Rik Emmett, formerly of the band Triumph, wrote a song for his CD Absolutely. The song was called Middle Ground. I had forgotten that song for quite a while, but it was and is an athem for me. You should check it out.

I find that we are asked to choose between religion and science. We are asked to choose between creation and evolution. We are asked to choose between liberal and conservative, government and opposition. I choose not to choose between. I believe that authentic religion and science explain two sides of the one reality... and that they must agree. I believe that evolution is real but that so is creation... two reflections of physical and spiritual realities. I choose not to take sides as if I were part of one camp versus another. I have chosen to leave my political life years ago. No more.

I grow weary of this Cartesian-Newtonian view of the world. Choose. Black vs white. Right vs wrong.

Do I believe that some things have abosolute truths? Oh yes. Still, I believe that much of what we consider to be the "realities" we are expected to choose between are simply constructs forced upon us by the forces of extremism.

We are individuals, and we have paths... and we have experiences. Living our lives is not about one day waking up and knowing clarity in all things. Our faith, our perspective, is challenged by our experience.

Why do I say this?

I had an amazing couple of conversations last week, with 2 dear and wise friends. Since then, I have found myself living my life more as process, and authentic to my spirit. Tonight I MC'd an event for Skills Canada and then headed off to karaoke. In both, and during today, I found myself listening for my deeper voice and acting upon it.

We are created unique.

We are expected to be our best, OUR best and be respectful of others. I more deeply understand the golden rule this day. I more deeply understand that unity comes from us being who we are at our best and allowing others to be the same.

Do I have the answers? Not a chnace. But, I am not expected to have them. I am expected to LIVE and LOVE, truly.

I choose my faith. I choose to live. I choose to love.

As I prepare for sleep, I am left with the thought that I am here to love and shine...courageously and fiercely. I choose to answer that call.

How about you?

Barry

Naw Ruz.... and Letting Go :-)

Friends, here begins the next leg of my personal journey and journal.

It is a New Year for me. Having just completed the 19-Day Fast of my Baha'i Faith, I found myself on a journey inward unlike anything I have encountered thus far in my life. I do not try to be dramatic. The questions I posed to myself in prayer and fasting were difficult and deep... and, at times, scary. They were not scary in terms of horrible or horrific. They were scary because they challenged my attachments.

In my praying and fasting and reading the work of Martha Beck, I kept coming back to this notion of attachment. Then I had a dream last night that was clearly all about the "letting go". CLEARLY.

In Revenge of the Sith, Yoda says to Anakin "fear of loss is the path to the dark side". I believe that he is talking of attachment; the kind of attachment that is born of comfort... and not the comfort that is heavenly... but the one based on avoidance of fear and uncertainty.

I had not realized how insidious that fear could be.. how subtle. For all intents and purposes, I have been striving and working towards new goals and dreams. I have been moving on a path of "success". Still, I was not realizing that I was somehow not letting go of old attachments.

During this past Fast and into Naw Ruz (my new year), I prayed and meditated. I had cool conversations with great honest and audacious and loving friends. I allowed myself to just experience... the way a child experiences, without preconceptions. I opened mt heart and head to observance, pure. At times it was daunting. At other times, mesmerizing.

Without belaboring, here is what I found myself writing this evening... and upon completion, I smiled... the kind of smile unforced and deep.

Barry Lewis Green

I am a Baha'i... living, praying and reaching, devoted to Baha'u'llah... a pilgrim literally and figuratively. I find my joy in Salsa and singing... in football, cartooning, writing, creating, archery and improv. I find my joy in peaceful mornings and starry evenings, in ocean views and on drives... and with my dog companion Panda. I am a virtues student. I am a man of house and home, and the open road by car and cycle. I serve the world in founding Lhu Global and Lhu Local, and in my work as an educator at College of the North Atlantic. This is me, now. This is who I am.

My suggestion?

Spend time with you. Meditate. Pray. Listen. Experience. Then, articulate you and your true joys... those things where you "remember" who you are. When I engage in these activities I have noted, I lose myself in time. They are moments of bliss for me.

What are yours? Who are you?

In my passion for unity, I contend that the truest unity starts with us each finding ourselves and knowing that we all count... we all bring something cool to the table.

What will you bring?

Love, honour and unity folks.

Peace.

Barry G.

PS

Check out my hUmaNITY blog at www.theunityguyblog.com.

So Close.....

Days away...

The new Lhu Global site is up at www.theunityguy.com and the new Lhu Global blog (hUmaNITY)is up at www.theunityguyblog.com.

We are officially launching this Saturday, March 20... and I am thrilled.

It's all about unity.

With Day 13 of my Baha'i Fast, my reflection and focus are sharper. I have had a look at my goals and tweaked for greater authenticity... more to follow... for now, I encourage you to check out the site and blog, and even subscribe (dare I say).

This Saturday is Spring to Life! Speaker Showcase and I am MC... come out to the Sheraton, St. John's and enjoy a day of greatness.

Go to www.nlaps.ca to register. Going to be cool. ;-)

Barry

A Unity Guy's Prerogative

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Well, the new Lhu Global site is up at www.theunityguy.com and the new Lhu Global blog (hUmaNITY)is up at www.theunityguyblog.com.

Due to delays with the sites, Lhu Global is now officially launching on March 20, 2010... and I am excited. The work ahead on fostering the coolest, deepest unity, is my passion.

That being said, I thought it wise and appropriate to maintain a personal blog here at Wholiness, filled with thoughts and ideas along my personal journey. I hope you stay tuned and sign up for hUmaNITY as well.

That is it for now... it's going to be cool though.

Peace.

Barry

Transition

This is short and sweet... and a sign off.

Today is my 50th birthday, and I am celebrating a life past and one ahead. Within days, I will be launching a whole new website and blog, aligned with my authentic passions. There will be a link from the new blog to these as archives. But there will be a new blog, and I will advise once launched.

For now, I simply offer 2 things.

First, my 2010 goals remain and are on track.

I am fully launching Lhu Global now on March 20, 2010.
I will complete my personal M.B.A. by December 31, 2010.
I am going on Pilgrimage to Haifa December 20-28, 2010.
I have prepared and am using my Prayer Room daily through 2010.
I am continuing to master Salsa, and picking up new dances throughout 2010.
I will be purchasing a Honda Shadow 750 in June 2010.
1 have prepared and will be using my Green Room studio weekly through 2010.
I will commence my application for CSP during the Spring of 2010.
I will maintain a House and Home in accordance with my spirit in 2010.
I will learn conversational Mandarin by December 31, 2010.

Second, in journaling this morning, I identified 8 things to characterize my SECOND HALF. I call them my F8 (fate)... faith, fierce, friendship, focus, fitness, fun, fantasy, and force. I will walk with faith, live fierce, cherish friendship, practice focus, be fit, have fun, enjoy fantasy (imagination), and manifest force (impact). Feel free to use your F8.

Until soon, stay tuned!

Barry

Change and Changing....

Change is neither good, nor bad. It is. It just is.

Barry L. Green

Change. We react to it. We debate it. We fight it. We embrace it. Often times, we forget that it is not unlike a river flowing. The water keeps moving while the river remains. It is part of the flow of things. When we understand the importance of the flow, we start to live, truly live, with change.

Now, changing is something a little different. It is our reaction, or our action. We change. Or we die, maybe slowly. It is really about growth. It truly is about evolution and, sometimes, revolution. Change with a purpose... to not only survive, but thrive.

I write this with my 10 in '10 in mind.

I write this with my Hard Walk in mind.

Part of my Hard Walk was to start praying and listening and acting upon what I "hear". Truthfully, there have been days of late where I centered on some pains. To be very honest, I am a blessed man. But we, too often, can still be tempted to focus on what we do not have. No less for me, than any of us.

In going through this time, I was and am reading Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck. I stumbled across the notion of fear, grief, anger, and joy as 4 points of a compass... my own personal take on the material, if you will. If we understand what brings fear, grief, anger and joy to us, we get closer to our essential self, our authentic "us". As I pondered on this, it occurred to me what I was "hearing"... and it came back to my 10 in '10.

My goals and milestones, and yours... should center around what brings us joy, real and sustainable joy. Martha Beck suggests that finding our deepest joys move us quickly to our North Star, our purpose. I agree.

So, I looked at my '10 in 10. And, I have chosen to evolve.

So, without further adieu, I introduce you to my authentic, joyful '10 in 10.

1. Lhu Global

My work, my service, my legacy. As of February 20, 2010... Lhu Global will be born... with 3 key components... Lhu Global, Lhu Local and my work with College of the North Atlantic... all centering around my passion for unity, leadership, youth and spirit. This work is about moving us all from the motions to the mission, understanding our capacities and talents and how to bring them together for collective prosperity. This work is deeply personal and joyful for me. February 20, 2010 is the birthdate, and my 50th. A new website, new blog, and more are coming. This is a BIG joy.

2. Personal M.B.A.

Hand in hand with my work is my personal MBA... Master in Barry Advancement... I have selected my own curriculum and texts and am studying to strengthen my expertise and understanding in unity building, moral leadership, youth engagement and spirit. This is a year long process with sights on December 31, 2010, culminating in commencing an international course in community development in 2011.

3. Pilgrimage

I have been accepted for Baha'i Pilgrimage to Haifa Israel for December 20-28, 2010. This will be a ground shaking time for my life, and I have waited so very long.

4. L.O.V.E.

I have established a prayer room, a "home" to pray, meditate, study Sacred Writings, with candles and couch and pillows and prayer rug. Sanctuary. I will use this space daily to "listen" for my heart of hearts. Year long to look back by December 31, 2010.

5. Salsa

To "master" Salsa with my wonderful dance partner, Raven... to enjoy the passion and "smooth" of Salsa, the joy of dancing and to cut the floor with magic. By and through Summer of 2010.

6. Shadow

To purchase and ride "my" Honda Shadow 750... by Summer 2010. Joy in waiting since childhood.

7. Green Room

I have created a Green Room I call my Pseudio, my studio... a place for my creativity... out of here I will create my Cartoonumn and other projects yet unimagined. Another year long process for December 31, 2010.

8. CSP

I will commence my process for achieving Certified Speaking Professional by March 31, 2010.

9. House and Home

I will consolidate house and home as sanctuary, a place of Barry... to invite friends to spend quality time within, by and through Spring 2010.

10. Mandarin

I will learn conversational Mandarin by December 31, 2010.

And so, my markers are adjusted, for greater joy. There is still work, to be sure. But, I suggest these 4 points of compass are something to consider. Look at those things that create fear, anger, grief and joy. Better yet, pick up the book Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck. I continue to read.

Engage and enjoy the day.

Barry

PS

This may be the last or second to last entry in this version of my blog. As noted, a new blog is in the works... will advise.

What a Difference Some News Can Make....

This week, I received news that had a jarring and inspiring impact upon my life. I don't know if it was so much a new perspective found as it was a case of being turned to face "home" and see, again, a truth I needed to see.

On Thursday, I found myself on an elevator when a student informed me that a young man I had come to somewhat know and know of on campus last year had taken his own life. I do not know what led him to that point. I do not know what was in his heart. I do know that there were times when I wanted to ask him. There were times a year or so ago, when he walked our corridors, that I felt the "need" to chat... but did not. I felt it none of my business.

Now, I do not sit here and wonder if anything I could have done would have made a difference. I have no idea about that. I have no real idea what was in his heart or his life, or was not. I do know that the news awakened within me a realization of my deepest passion, my truest message.

We all count.

My love of unity and the coming together is based on the belief that we all count, we all matter, we all have a reason for being here. For me, this means that unity is based on recognizing our own value and applying that value in a way that makes our lives and our world better.

With this news on Thursday, my focus is so much more tangible, taste-able.

I am the unity guy, and I believe that our path to unity is through love.... l.o.v.e. .... looking inside ourselves for our talents and capacities and virtues, finding opportunities in the world to apply these to make this a better place, having a vision in our heads and hearts to know how things will be better, and simply engaging the process... doing it.

With that in mind and this coming weekend... Sunday, February 7, 2010 from 10:00-4:00... we are hosting Healthy for Haiti and it is going to be remarkable. Watch our You Tube videos for more information. Email me at barry@onepower.ca.

From last week, I wrote... With all of this in mind, my brother (Randy) and Carl George and I met this morning and thought about how we could really help in this time of crisis in Haiti. We thought about issues of burnout and sustainability, and creating a lifestyle of generosity and health. We are working on the possibility of an event on February 7 called HEALTHY for HAITI... an event open to all, family wide, encouraging sustainable health... with speakers and trainers and more... and entrance/admission is a sacrificial donation to Haiti. More details to come, but we are putting together something that can positively impact our individual and collective response to life. Watch the next SLOWER & HEALTHY Living video going up this weekend, and stay tuned. It is going to rock!


That possibility is now a reality.

It is about l.o.v.e. in action.

Hopefully, we will see you out for this wonderful day.

As I end this entry, this week, an update on my '10 in 10... and where are you with yours?

(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010.

New website and services and alliances are forming to create Lhu Local and Lhu Global... two initiatives all about encouraging love, honour and unity as vehicles for peace and prosperity in our youth, schools, organizations, companies and communities. We are right on track. The new site will be ready within 2 weeks. Alot is happening in early February and will be announced this week, no doubt.

(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010.

I have my Green Room Pseudio (creativity center) ready for February and have ideas formulating as I write. The first issue will be out by February 20.

(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010.

I will be looking for information on motorcycle training this week. I visited Honda One last week and sat on a beautiful 2009 Honda Shadow Aero... it felt like I was "home".

(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010.

My travel agent is checking on best prices. I should hear within 2 weeks.

(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010.

Two sessions of Salseros Dance Co. in, and Raven and I feel great about where we are. It is quickly becoming very smooth. More to follow.

(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development by December 2010.

I have organized my "curriculum" and have started with my first book by Martha Beck. I am onto Chapter 4 and loving it.

(7) Initiate my application for CSP by March 31, 2010.

This is set to start in February.

(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin Chinese by December 31, 2010.

I have had to re-establish lessons in Mandarin, starting in February but they will be starting. Looking forward to it VERY much.

(9) Make LOVE my goal... at work, service, play, and life throughout 2010.

I am praying daily and listening to how I might "love" each day. Amazing things and feelings are manifesting, continuously.

(10) Confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic.

First stages of discussions and consultations have taken place... more in February.



And so, that is it for now. Know your core message in life friends. For what are you here? Live it.

God bless...

Barry

The Long and Winding Road

Well, it has been a remarkable week to say the least.

The news out of Haiti has been both horrific and heart warming. Stories of death and disease and disaster, intertwined with stories of survival and service and support. Then, to look at the response... both locally and globally. My students amaze me with their ideas. Those who would deny that we are heading to a united world, witness!!!

Are there problems ahead? No doubt. Will we take steps backward along the way? My God, yes. But, 100 years ago, we would not have felt this connection to people we do not know in some country we really gave no thought of before this. There is a spirit afoot, and it will win.

I regret if you feel differently, but I understand. Already, I hear people talking of burn out and that is understandable, but avoidable too.

How do we avoid the supposedly "inevitable" burn out of Haiti and horror.

Let me suggest a number of things.

First, go into this latest crisis knowing that this is really a hard walk. www.hardwalks.blogsot.com It is not a moment. It is a call to our collective and sustainable shift in spirit. It is an alarm signaling our need to understand our world citizenship. We need to understand that we live on some very small blue speck in the universe without any knowledge of life elsewhere (as yet, anyway). Haiti is a call to our heart to understand that we are connected. Let that sink in.

Secondly, I go back to a religious concept called tithing. Whatever your belief system, I challenge you to "tithe"... dedicate and focus a percentage of your resources to helping your community, locally and/or globally. Do not do it simply as a tax benefit. Know that for those who have received much, much is expected. Some of my "wealthiest" friends know the power of sacrificial giving.... giving that tests us... giving of our hands and/or our money.

Thirdly, budget. Make a portion of who you are and what you make go to service. Karma does exist, whatever you might call it. We reap what we sow. This is scripturally true in all faiths.

Fourthly, work together. It is not about us each saving the world. Join with like minded and hearted souls and stick with them in serried lines, small armies helping to create sustainable change.

Finally, I refer to one of my favourite passages by Baha'u'llah, Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith. "The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct". We are NOT responsible for the world. We are responsible for our corner of it. Live it. Shine. Be the example for our kids and others. It is a simple formula. Truth often is.

With all of this in mind, my brother (Randy) and Carl George and I met this morning and thought about how we could really help in this time of crisis in Haiti. We thought about issues of burnout and sustainability, and creating a lifestyle of generosity and health. We are working on the possibility of an event on February 6 called HEALTHY for HAITI... an event open to all, family wide, encouraging sustainable health... with speakers and trainers and more... and entrance/admission is a sacrificial donation to Haiti. More details to come, but we are putting together something that can positively impact our individual and collective response to life. Watch the next SLOWER & HEALTHY Living video going up this weekend, and stay tuned. It is going to rock!

In closing, let me say that my vision is unfolding. As I continue to keep my eyes on the prize and walk resolutely, saying "GO".... much is happening. Consider:

(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010.

New website and services and alliances are forming to create Lhu Local and Lhu Global... two initiatives all about encouraging love, honour and unity as vehicles for peace and prosperity in our youth, schools, organizations, companies and communities. We are right on track. More to follow.

(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010.

I have my Green Room Pseudio (creativity center) ready for February and have ideas formulating as I write.

(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010.

I visited Honda One today and sat on a beautiful 2009 Honda Shadow Aero... it felt like I was "home". The vision got much more clear. I found out about equipment and training needed. OMG, this is going to cool, and sooooooo me.

(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010.

My travel agent is checking on best prices. The dates are set at December 20-28, 2010. Wow, I am so beside myself. :-)

(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010.

I joined the St. John's Salesros Dance Co. We (Raven and I) have about 12-15 steps down, and feeling like it is really coming together. We keep going and Tango is on the horizon. Yum. ;-)

(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development by December 2010.

I have organized my "curriculum" and have started with my first book by Martha Beck.

(7) Initiate my application for CSP by March 31, 2010.

This is set to start in February.

(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin Chinese by December 31, 2010.

I have re-established lessons in Mandarin, starting January 30, 2010.

(9) Make LOVE my goal... at work, service, play, and life throughout 2010.

I am praying daily and listening to how I might "love" each day. Amazing things and feelings are manifesting. More to follow.

(10) Confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic.

First stages of discussions and consultations have taken place... more in February.



In ultimate closing, find your sustainable generosity and live it through living. Know your vision and keep your eyes on your prize. Serve the world and serve yourself and you will serve the Creator.

God bless...

Barry

GO!

Well, what a week... and in the best of ways!!!

Authenticity breeds focus, and focus breeds action, and action breeds results.

That is my lesson learned this week.

You might remember my list of milestones. I crafted these after a time of deep reflection during the Christmas Season. I prayed and pondered and listened... and remained open, with no expectations. Indeed, I detached from the world and attached to my heart. The following list was the result.

(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010.
(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010.
(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010.
(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010.
(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010.
(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development by December 2010.
(7) Initiate my application for CSP by March 31, 2010.
(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin Chinese by December 31, 2010.
(9) Make LOVE my goal... at work, service, play, and life throughout 2010.
(10) Confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic.

Authentic, to me.

The focus it created was not only amazing, but natural, because it was authentic and truly heart felt.

I immediately started acting upon it, not becauase it was a list of things "to do" but because it was my heart's desire. It is not lost on me that desire means "of the Father"... of the Creator. That is the level I sought and feel I have reached with these milestones So, the motivation is deeply natural. The focus is crystal clear.

And it caused action, and results.

What results? Have a look...

I have my dates for Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010. In connecting with the World Center in Haifa, the response has been amazing. After 8 years, I am at the top of the waiting list. After 18 years of living Baha'i, I was given a choice of dates... and there on the list was what I had been dreaming. December 20-28, 2010... during Christmas week, I will be walking God's Holy Mountain and its gardens... Mount Carmel. I will be walking amongst the Shrines and places of burial of Baha'u'llah and The Bab... I will be praying and walking the land They walked. I will be praying alongside Their resting places. I shudder even now. BUT, for this blog, the importance is that the dates are now set. Yummy. :-)

Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010. My darling, youthful, devout dance partner, Raven, and I have joined the St. John's Salseros Dance Company and we are back at Salsa with a fire. Even talking learning Tango!!! I have Salsa shoes now, and we are intent. Yum, yum.

In completing my own personal "MBA" in community development by December 2010, I have established my own curriculum of choice.. books and materials I have purchased for study and development of a new level of expertise in unity building. Studies start this week.

Also, in confirming my space and role at College of the North Atlantic, I have prayed, pondered, reflected and initiated conversations and feel that increased clarity is around the corner.

Make LOVE my goal... at work, service, play, and life throughout 2010. I have been living what I call my daily PLOWERS, a process of living each day with greater love. It means pray, laugh, oxygen (breathe), water (drink), exercise, (eat) real food, and (get) sleep. All with the intent of loving myself, my work, my students, my colleagues, my friends and family, my life... more and more unconstrained. I am calling it my gypsy heart. Yes, YUM!

This week, I will continue on the above, but also...

I will work on my business model/plan for Lhu Global and the Cartoonumn by February 20, 2010 and visit the Honda cycle shop to look at owning and riding my blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010. And, I will confirm the start of my lessons to achieve effective, conversational Mandarin Chinese by December 31, 2010.

Then, in February I will be looking at initiating my application for CSP by March 31, 2010.((9)

So, what is the significance? Well, it is a journey and it does not end.

A friend, Mike Nordby (www.globalyouthmentor.com).. the Whether Man with his daily ocean dips and weather forecasts.. has had to make a trip back to care for family and it starts today. Some of his friends and colleagues, myself included, have chosen to take these same next 6 weeks and work on our Hard Walks... each of us commtting to doing something hard that we need and want to do, alongside Mike's Hard Walks, continuing his journey. We are establishing a blog (see the side links) and a You Tube Channel... and we are inviting you to join us... pick something you really need to achieve by March 1, 2010. Join us... myself, Joel Sweeney, Geoff Eaton, TA Loeffler, David Norris, Paul White, Michelle Snow, Steve Callahan, Justin Dearing and others (see www.nlaps.ca)... on our Hard Walks... make one for yourself... something that will rock. My Hard Walk is two fold... exercising body and spirit 2 hours a day... I will exercise at least 1 hour every day and I will pray (1 hour) and listen and act upon any answer I get every day. How about you? Join us in spirit.

Folks, I have been getting a word in my head and heart these days... "GO". The time for planning for me is done. It is now about action. When I sense something I need to do, I will GO.

What do you need most to GO on?

Hoping you join us. GO!!!

Much love to you all...

Barry

Watershed

In my last couple of blog entries, I wrote of the future and milestones planned. I deeply and honestly believe in the importance of four "elements" to achieving our most real dreams. As I have noted before, nothing replaces a clear vision, deep passion, hard work and purposeful flexibility. We need to be like a river flowing home.

That all being said, today's blog is a bit of a watershed moment for me. It is about a look back, before we return our gaze to the present and the future.

I do not believe that it is healthy to dwell on the past. It no longer exists. All that exists is what we take from it, and that is a matter of perspective. Our past is a mine from which we can discover rock or gem, all depending upon that for which we are looking. If we wish to validate our action or inaction in any area, we can find reasons from our past. That is not to minimize the pain that all of us have experienced, to one degree or another, in our past. It is to say that it is about what lessons we learn from those moments of trial and triumph.

And so, here I am, looking back at 2009 and, indeed, the last decade. I am pondering all of the messages of authenticity I hear these days. It is really becoming quite the "hot topic"... being ourselves and moving beyond the mask. Truthfully, I agree with this. We, far too often, live lives of facade, showing what we think is what our corners of the world expect. We wear roles like robes. Indeed, there is value in being able to "switch gears" and put on our "game face". There is also, and probably even more, value in being true to who we are, when we are, where we are.

What do I mean?

I do not mean that we should be living our "Dr. Phil" moments for all the world to see. I believe we need not confess to any other but our Creator. We can confide in friends, ask for forgiveness from those we have hurt, but confession is not something for public display. That is my core belief. Sharing our story to inspire is one thing, but confessing another.

Either way, I digress.

What I do mean can best be demonstrated by my own look back.

2009 was a year of introspection and deeper learning for me. That is not to say that I was locked away and disconnected from the world. I had one very busy and productive year. It does mean that I took time to think upon my life, especially this past decade. There were trials to question, lessons to learn.

It was not easy. In many ways, it required me to spend time with me, alone... a scary proposition for many of us.

In 2008, a marriage in which I had placed all of my trust, ended. I have spent much of my adult life somehow looking for "love". Whatever the reason, I have always believed that I could take on the world and needed nothing other than one soul in which I could find my solace, my sanctuary. After years of looking, I thought I had found that, but in 2008, it ended. It did not end with a bang or with conflict and contention... it ended with both of us wondering what had "happened".

Personally, I spent considerable time questioning my faith and my trust of my own instincts and intuition. I had my moments of real doubt about my ability to feel what I feel... and know it to be true. I will not lie. It hurt. It hurt alot. My heart felt, at times, like a hand had taken hold and was squeezing the life out of it. It confused me. I had believed in this marriage. I was wrong. It said to me that I could not trust my very soul.

Nonsense.

Looking back on these past 10 years, I realize how much I had moved away from my core and who I was and am, at a deeper level. As a child and youth, I believed in what my cousin and I called being "tribal"... connected, understanding that there really was more than the eye can see. I believed in love, a deeper love, a royal love, a love that is of true magic... not fairy tale, but authentic magic, miracle, honour, and more.

Somewhere, along the way, I became much more practical and pragmatic. I would rationalize and convince... and I can be very convincing. I would ignore any signs of incompatibility in order to see beyond and "understand" that all things are possible.

Actually, I believe all things are possible, if they are right.

I do NOT believe that the "universe" answers our every call, and that it is some wonderful order taker. I do believe that, if we choose our cause and our passion carefully and deeply, all Heaven will support it.

This is what I forgot!

I started forgetting it as a young man who had "parenthood" of sorts placed upon him, who was expected to be responsible and take care of things. That is not about blame. It is what it is. I started to forget it when I saw, around me, that many of those in my life were compromising and settling. I started to forget by buying in...

I am opting out of that purchase.

My spirit, my soul, tells me, this day, that we all need to claim our own independence day. Today is mine.

Independence from what?

Not from other people. We are interdependent, and I am glad.

Independence from the world of false expectations.

As I approach my 50th birthday, I have received the greatest gift of all... my truth. I believe that there is absolute truth. guiding who we are together. I also believe that we have our own truths, of who we are, and who we are to serve and love.

I am Barry Lewis Green... bold and bounteous, loving tornado. I am larger than life. I am life. I am unconstrained as the wind and water. I have a gentle, loving center. I think BIG. I love. I love, I love. I am tribal, a believer in magic, dreams, romance, dance, song, joy and service. I believe that being human is a noble calling. To be human is to be noble... when we debase ourselves, we are not living truly human. I believe in honour. I am a world citizen and a follower of Baha'u''llah (www.bahaullah.com and www.bahai.org).

I believe that followership is as important as leadership and I practice both. I am a student and teacher. I am a friend, who makes mistakes but always intends the best. I am the Unity Guy. I believe unity is created in diversity, and appreciation of both. I still believe in "her" wherever she is. I no longer "look" for her. I look for me. I have heard the voice inside that says "as you find you, she will find you".

I believe.

Now, will I have more lessons to learn? I sure hope so. Still, this lesson is seminal for me. It is watershed. It took much to get to this place... including a willingness to stare the monster in the maw... to look at my fears as well as my strengths. The result? In many ways, I have returned home. I will continue to grow and change, but now realize, fully realize, that serving the world and serving yourself are not mutually exclusive... to love your neighbour as you love yourself implies that we need to love BOTH. I do and I will.

And so, I thank my past relationships... personal and professional. They, in unison, have brought me home. Relationships in love and work, in which I placed my entire being, despite my soul saying "no"... they all have brought me to this place.

As I close, I remember two things...

MOST importantly for me, Baha'u'llah said in one of the Hidden Words... O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.

I lovingly suggest you say these words but replace "thee" with your name, and feel the effect.

Secondly,

Baby Dinosaur in the 90's show DINOSAURS said "I'm the baby, gotta love me!"

Love yourself as you were created friends. Learn from what has been sent you in the past. See all that you have experienced as teachers, and learn. Now, you live.

I leave you with a quote I said in a workshop several years back...

"All that we have been and all that we will be are as nothing compared to who we are today/"

Be it.

Love, honour and unity friends...

Barry