Manifest Destiny
Barry Lewis Green
Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, Creator ... advancing Character Leadership and Education ... to move forward together, stronger ... engaging change.
This morning, I found myself in session with a group of incredible young artists who are aspiring to be entrepreneurs. Amidst the 2.5 hour session, I shared this pic.
I asked them to guess what it was. I got "bear", "wolverine" and more. I told them that (a) guessing was good (b) it implied they did not actually know (c) it required courage to guess and (d) that they probbaly would never guess correctly. Finally, I told them what it was; a T'ra'at (aka a BEARfox... a 500 pound wolverine/bear/fox like animal). Such a creature was created by me as child. I told them that I shared the picture with a class of Grade 4 students last year, at my elementary school. I told them that I shared it for two reasons... then and now.
First, this creature. I had two of them growing up. Cheyenne and Cochise. T'ra'ats were born of a childhood imagination of other worlds. They embody all of the virtues; all of them. All.
They are strong. They are gentle. They are kind. They are courageous. They are just. They are certain. They are decisive. They are empathetic. They possess and manifest all the virtues, in perfect balance. And, I had and have two of them. They gave me strength when I needed it. They still do. They embody that for which I strive.
Second, last year, I then had the Grade 4 students create their own noble beasts. It was then an amazing experience. I suggested to the youth today that it could also be for them.
The Point
My point? Create your creature. Identify your ideal. Then, manifest it. Live it. Engage it. Live up to it. Make it your best standard at school, work, business and community.
This morning, I woke angry, and I shared here. Cheyenne and Cochise helped in my manifesting about how that anger could be harnessed, and it was.
Cheyenne and Cochise were called upon when my father passed at 3:34 am in March 2004, and I had to do a keynote for a youth-senior conference at 9:00 am that morning. They were called upon when I chose to do the eulogies for both my parents, and personally lay their respective urns in the ground. They have been called upon in my darkest and best of times. I know they are not real and yet they are. My best decisions have been made with them in mind. My worst, when I did not listen. My striving for these words of Baha'u'llah are guided by manifesting them. Today, I realize however more importantly... that it is crucial for me to listen to them. They represent everything I intend to live a life striving to be... fierce and loving, strong and caring, and so much more. They are passion and purpose, discernment and daring. They are everything ... and they inspire me.
They manifest my destiny.
If you were to create your own most noble creature, what would it look like? Do that. Have your students or children or team do that. Build your coolest beast.
Then, live it.
Peace, passion and prosperity...
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage
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