My Own Perception: Episode 4

Thus far, My Own Perception has introduced itself, and shared on Generosity and Thankfulness, and explored on Trustworthiness.

Today, I dig in a bit on... "... and look upon him with a bright and friendly face."

Making others feel welcome, being worthy of being a companion for a moment or a lifetime. Compassionate curiosity. As Dale Carnegie once said, being "genuinely interested". Sharing connection in laughter and tears alike. Investing of time. This is Friendliness in practice. In a moment, or more.

Let us look at the words thus far and see what bubbles up.

• "Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor and look upon him with a bright and friendly face."

When I read and reflect on these words, I ponder their countenance and gait. Being generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity builds a strength born of "this too shall pass". It is born of a genuine and enduring Confidence and Trust. Being worthy of such Trust of our neighbor is, as I noted before, being...

• "... reliable; dependable. Our deeds and words are aligned. We say what we do and do what we say. We mean what we say and say what we mean. We only promise that which we intend to keep. We understand that a promise unkept was never a promise."

I increasingly see this all as part of the practice of Friendliness. We are not in our neighbor's "business", nosey and nefariously curious.?We are not enmeshed in their lives. We are generous and thankful and trustworthy. We are present. And we are a present; a gift of such Friendliness. I invite you to read and reflect again...

Genuine Caring.

And, we can be such and can be friends in the moment, for a Season, or for Life.

We can be present companions in a good morning smile and hello, a considerate act, a concern for well being, a moment to listen, and/or a Kindness practiced.

Practicing Friendliness with our neighbors at home, school, work and community... we do not take on or busy ourselves with their lives, but we are present. Empathetic. Helpful. Considerate. Thoughtful. Kind. Humble and Kind, even. Gossip and backbiting are not part of our repertoire. In this meme to the left on Audacity is a picture of friends I have not seen in years. They helped me climb Mount Hollyburn outside of Vancouver in the 90's ... with their encouragement and presence. They walked with me; asthmatic and all. The best sandwich I ever had was at the peak when this picture was taken.

Being of a friendly spirit is audacious; and we need more of it in the world. The Audacity to care about one another will get us through whatever comes. It will stand in the face of the forces of division, not by somehow forcing us to hold hands and sing kumbaya, but by us genuinely generously and thankfully being worth of each other's Trust and looking upon each other with that "bright and friendly face". Humans together, strong.

Lasting friendships are a treasure. Frientimacy matters. Being the kind of friend we want in others matters too.

But Friendliness is a virtue or strength of Character that can and must needs be practiced in moments with strangers along the way as well. And with our neighbors. That broadness of the practice of Friendliness is born of a Soulful Love. It is noble. It is patient... and a Commitment, to being the best person we can be in a moment or a lifetime.

Panda was such a friend to me every day of the 13 years we rode together. Her Friendliness was bold... in moments and in the enduring. When people met here, she let them pet her. She simply stood there and let them. And she smiled. She inherently understood.

Friendliness matters in this world. We need it, in genuine form; at home, school, work, business, and community... and with our neighbors thusly. We need the kind of Friendliness born of Generosity and Thankfulness of spirit, and Trustworthiness. And it is practiced. Practice makes permanent. The work begins within.

Peace, passion, purpose and prosperity...

Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.

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CHECK OUT

• Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal

• TUGtv
• The Global Goals
• The Virtues Project

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