Shinedown: One Great Message

I am a huge Shinedown fan. A college student introduced me to their music some 10+ years ago. I have sung tunes in the car, at home, at school, at work, at conferences, and at karaoke. One of my absolute faves over the years is Simple Man, their way. But every song has meaning, for me. Every one. Every single one.

Hell, I am The Unity Guy, and they wrote Unity. I have all the albums, and more... on USB and Spotify. I saw them open for Kiss in 2013 here in St. John's, and went just to see them, to be quite honest. In many ways, I have described their music as the soundtrack of my life. Oh yes, indeed and in deed. And today, ever more so.

You see, yesterday, I wrote on Step Back and Forward and The F Bomb (of Resilience). As a guy of 60 (with no kids, I have no idea what that means lol), and a lover of life and music and more... as an educator and entrepreneur, ... as a "kid" of imagination and Optimism my whole life... as someone with his own battles amidst that and now through these times... I thought these next days and weeks to be a time to dial it back to launch it forward.

I thought this a time to keep the "notes" from the first 60 and write a new whiteboard for the next 20 and beyond. My first 20 on the planet can be characterized by "Creativity and Caution" as I was immensely creative and shy. My second 20 can be characterized by "Creativity and Confidence" as it was these years that I kicked down the walls so to speak, and grew in so many ways; assertive.

My third 20... "Creativity, yet Constraint" as I attempted to "settle in", grounded in my work and way of life.

But all three periods, I carried Creativity. That kid never let go.

The imagination and innovation and Initiative remain, throughout the ages and stages.

Creativity. It matters, now and going forward; for me, and us all.

Enter Atlas

So what? On my 60th birthday (20/02 2020), I knew that that this next 20 needed to be about "Creativity and Candor".

Then the Pandemic hit, us all. Today marks 70 days of self isolation for me. 10 weeks. I have been teaching and working online, and working on my own health. And then yesterday, I knew it was time to step back to go forward. Enter Atlas Falls. OMG. Soundtrack for life? Indeed. The lyrics.

• We'll never make it outside... Lest we unlock the past and release... The future that we've left to die... For too long we've taken placebos... But the unknown, is awakening... Don't give up now, there's already so much at stake... If Atlas falls, I'll rise up and carry us all the way...
• Don't give up now, there's already so much at stake... If Atlas falls, I'll rise up and carry us all the way... It won't pull me down (moving forward now)... The weight of impossible days (keep your head above the clouds)... I'll stand tall (I'm right with you, I will lift you, just hold on)... I'll rise up and carry us all the way...

... and the music, freakin' boom and real. This is a song of not only Hope.

But, that Initiative.

And, a song of the Nobility of the human spirit.

So What?

This song fills me, not simply with "hope" but with a reminder of our individual and collective capacity. It is the capacity recognized by the announcement of Strange New Worlds coming. It is the capacity in which I have always believed. I witness that capacity in the new book by my soul sis. I witness that capacity in my life of teaching... and in my work with incredible, cool, humble people. I am one blessed dude.

But this song galvanizes for me. This song is quite literally my new fave. Period. It captures one great message for us individually and collectively.

• "Don't give up now, there's already so much at stake... If Atlas falls, I'll rise up and carry us all the way."

When I teach on motivation, I identify three core elements to true motivation... energy, direction and follow through... or...

For me, it all speaks to Zeal.

And for me, it has reconnected a deeper motivation... for my work, and life. This song is anthemic... for me.

It means these next few days and weeks will have this song playing, while I focus in on the purpose and joy for my walking resolute forward.

So...

FOR YOU

First, I suggest you get the song, and donate to the cause. I have, and my T is on it's way. :-)

Second, I suggest you consider for what do you feel genuine Enthusiasm, Purposefulness and Commitment. Maybe even consider the global goals in doing so. Reflect on your purposeful mark.

Life matters; not simply in terms of enjoying it, but in finding meaning in it. Abigail Washburn found it. Shinedown has, and Atlas Falls sings to it. It is one great message and it can carry us all the way.

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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Barry Lewis Green

Forward together, stronger. Speaker & coach helping educators, entrepreneurs and leaders mobilize character and unity.

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