The Beauty of these Days
Barry Lewis Green
Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, Creator ... advancing Character Leadership and Education ... to move forward together, stronger ... engaging change.
Day 6 of ROCK 105. To date, we have looked in on Acceptance, Accountability, Appreciation, Assertiveness, and Awe ... as strengths of character in these days and going forward. Consider them your "A-Game", groan. :-)
Then, yesterday, I offered up on Freakin' Leadership. Part of that leadership is what we focus on today. It is a large part of my own chosen fortress of solitude, right now.
Under the B...
We come to ...
Beauty, as virtue, is not about having it. It is about seeing it; and creating it. This past week, I offered up my first directly blog-expressed thought around racism. Today, I came across this on Forging a Path to Racial Justice. I encourage the reads, in both cases... and I am still learning. In the post on Forging a Path... we find...
- The Baha’is of the United States join our fellow-citizens in heartfelt grief at the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others whose lives were suddenly taken by appalling acts of violence. These heartbreaking violations against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their skin, have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose consequences to the health and livelihoods of people of color have been disproportionately severe. This has come to pass against a backdrop of longstanding racial injustice in virtually every aspect of American life. It is clear that racial prejudice is the most vital and challenging issue we face as a country.
- Yet, amidst these tragedies, there are also signs of hope. Countless citizens have arisen to proclaim the truth that we are one nation, and to demand specific actions to address the pervasive inequities that for too long have shaped our society. We have remembered who we aspire to be as a people, and are determined to make a change for the better. This moment beckons us to a renewed commitment to realize the ideal of E Pluribus Unum—out of many, one—the very ideal upon which America was founded.
Seeing signs of hope and remembering who we aspire to be are manifestations of the virtue that is Beauty. We see the good, and we see the good, in potential.
We are not blind to the challenges and trials, but we also see the dream... and are inspired to work for it. Beauty sees and creates.
As for me, I continue to learn. There are conversations on my radar, some already had, even years ago. On anti-racism and racial justice. And more. I am blessed to be working with people committed to a better world; and I am learning. Aaaand, I am reminded that a better world is seen (and created) through the eyes of Beauty.
The Practice of Beauty
This virtue, like all others, is found in its practice. With that in heart and mind, here are some questions to consider and answer.
- How can you spend more time with nature? It can center our sense of Beauty. Remember it is a wonderful world. Louis Armstrong sang it.
- How often can you spend such time?
- How can you daily be inspired by the mysteries of life?
- How can you better practice looking for the good in others?
- How can you express your own Creativity?
- How can you create a space of Beauty around you?
- How can you speak and act more graciously?
Ask them of yourself. Answer them for yourself. I intend to do just that. As I continue my own self isolation (heading into my hundredth day, tomorrow), and social distancing amidst a world in turmoil, I challenge myself to see and create through the character lens of Beauty. This does not imply being naive, or maybe it does. It certainly does imply that I see humanity as one tree... and I will work to help grow it.
We need such.
Peace, passion and prosperity...
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage
Educate, lead, unite and inspire. Move forward together, stronger. My work is about bringing campuses, companies and communities together, moving forward stronger. I work with educators, entrepreneurs and emerging leaders to do just that. My work is about character leadership and education and its role in helping individuals and organizations build a better world at school, work, business and community. I deliver on it through speaking, coaching and development in character leadership and education. My expertise is character leadership and education. I advance unity in diversity by moving the needle on leadership and education that is high character and results forging. I speak, teach, coach, facilitate, lead, write, sing, dance, cartoon and create on that. In 1980, Professor Rolf Hattenauer changed my life. A highly respected expert in Human Resource Management, he expected much of us and he believed much in us. He was an educator and leader of high character. He was extraordinary. To this day and beyond, I try my darnedest to honor his spirit with my own work. That is another story. But I hope I did him service here.
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