What Are You Thinking?

Tomorrow, on February 20, I will reach the age of 65... Insh'allah. I have no idea what that arbitrary number means, lol. I certainly do not see see myself as over some proverbial hill but I do see myself as ever climbing the beautiful mountain that is Life. Onwards.

That said, on that Day of the 'morrow, I will be attending the funeral of a remarkable woman who had such an impact on me and countless others in her 95 years in this World. Her Compassion and her Courage were most inspiring... and she had a genuine Curiosity expressed often in the words, "What are you thinking?"

Elizabeth meant those words, in wonderful ways. She lovingly wanted to know what thoughts were within. She was instrumental in 3 life defining moments in my own Life, and somehow (while I move forward with my own version of grief at this time), I find it fitting that I wish her off and well into the Next Realm, on my Birthday. That said, I want to share on that power of Curiosity that she most wonderfully and consistently manifested.

Elizabeth's Curiosity

Elizabeth cared. She cared about people; friends and strangers alike. She was curious, in the healthiest and most powerful of ways. Indeed, my Faith is that she still is.

When my father was walking his Life with Dementia more than 20 years ago, she was curious as to how I was doing. That conversation turned into (a) an incredible personal and private spiritual moment later that evening (maybe to be shared another time) and some of the greatest Wisdom shared with me in how I might walk with my Dad through his Dementia.

Both results changed my Life. Both, were a result of her beautiful Curiosity. And, there were other times of wondrous Curiosity and outcomes. Elizabeth was always interested in you, and your Soul... genuinely so. Her smile and her words and her listening gave soulful proof of same. Dale Carnegie once said that we should be genuinely interested in other people. Elizabeth was the soulful standard bearer.

That said, I am reminded that Rumi is claimed to have said, “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” Our Curiosity is a Strength of Character... to explore the uncertainty and that beautiful, bountiful bewilderment. Indeed I find it "curious" that bewilder and "be wilder" are very similar. Maybe the vast uncertainty of our lives and the world... is a true wilderness that we are to explore in humbly wilder fashion.

Regardless, we learn more deeply through genuine Curiosity. It is a humble power. It holds no arrogance. It opens us to learning. As I work my way through my own thoughts around Elizabeth and her Caring, Compassion and Curiosity, I am reminded of the impact such can have on ourselves and others. If "the betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct"... then Elizabeth's Curiosity is a beautiful and powerful example of such.

Curiosity Curated

I am reminded too that Elizabeth's Curiosity over Souls, is my Curiosity over and around Character and Purpose. I am deeply and genuinely interested in exploring such, personally and professionally. I always have been. While I am a long ways from the example that Elizabeth has set, I strive to be ever more so. This world needs more of her humble example.

As for me, I do indeed humbly say that I am an Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, and Creator ... exploring and advancing Character Leadership and Education ... to move forward together, stronger ... engaging change. It gloriously intrigues me. I speak, teach, train, facilitate, coach, mentor, write, blog, vlog, sing, dance, box, aim and create as platforms for exploring and advancing such. Beyond skill and ability, I love learning and advancing on principles and strategies for advancing Purpose and steps towards mobilizing Character. I am robustly curious around such in conversation and action, personally and professionally.

All of that is to say that I seek to live to Elizabeth's example in elevated and cool conversation around same. And that all said, since January 1, I have written and posted some 17 articles and blogs around aspects of same, including:

• Finding Strength Forward... February 14, 2025
• Stoic Strength and Character... February 10, 2025
• A Question of Character... January 31, 2025
• Originators and Encouragers... January 26, 2025
• Foundational Character... January 16, 2025
• COMMIT... January 2, 2025

• Developing commUNITY... February 6, 2025
• The Noblellion Continues... February 4, 2025
• A PEACE of WORK... January 7, 2025

• Create!... February 7, 2025
• The Comic Commit... January 2, 2025

• Character and Purpose... February 8, 2025
• On Being A PEACE of WORK... February 7, 2025
• Congruence as Strength... January 31, 2025
• In Confidence: A Deeper Cut... January 24, 2025
• Composed Amidst Challenge... January 18, 2025
• Compassion, the Builder... January 11, 2025

As I look upon this picture of me at 18 months, wide eyed and curious, I simply offer these blogs and vlogs out of my own Curiosity to explore Character and Purpose and to engage others equally curious. This not simply a career for me. This is my realm of eternal Curiosity. In the end, I suggest that "What are you thinking?" are words to live by... for me. As are these...

My final thoughts for now... center around Gratitude for you Elizabeth; your example and your Curiosity that so deeply enriched and impacted my Life; and will continue to do so. I know that we will see each other again... but until then, I choose to ever increasingly Honor your example. Writing this has helped me to work through my own thoughts and feelings... and answer your question.

• "What are you thinking?"

Sending Gratitude and Love...

Peace, Purpose, Justice and Unity...

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage

• I am an Educator, Speaker, Coach, Author and Creator helping Educators, Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders lead for a better world with Character, Purpose and Unity. I help advance Character, Purpose and Unity as forces for that better world. In so doing, I bring my work as Master Facilitator with the Virtues Project? ... my experience as a Certified Facilitator with Personality Dimensions? ... and my Service as a Facilitator with the Ruhi Institute and as Practitioner of the work of What Color is Your Parachute? since 1982.
• I invite you to check out Character, Leadership and Education...
• ... and The Humanity Map
• ... and 3 Foundation to Cool, Constructive Change
• ... and TUGtv...
• ... and The #hUmaNITY Podcast ... officially launching in March 2025...

• "I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of Unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary. I absolutely recommend him for your meeting or event." --- Joe Calloway

• "The Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce were fortunate enough to have Barry Lewis Green as a presenter for a Webinar Series we recently offered. He was so engaged with his audience and made everyone feel valued. He brought excitement and energy to our session and certainly shared his passion and knowledge with us. We will certainly be having Barry back for another series. Thanks Barry for being so professional." --- Wanda Palmer

• "I had the privilege of collaborating with Barry on one of our projects, Her Own Boss. His skill in value-based facilitation is nothing short of transformative. With a warm, inclusive teaching style, he connected deeply with our participants, helping them uncover their core values and guiding them in applying these principles to their businesses. I heard great things about him from our previous cohort and I witnessed that firsthand when I attended some of his sessions. If you're looking for someone who can train you/your team in values-driven facilitation, look no further than Barry." --- Serah Gazali

• "The most learned or experienced person is not always the one who helps us grow and thrive. We all grow and thrive with those who ask the important questions in a loving and Noble manner - with the patience to allow our thinking to unfold, our feelings to emerge and our spirits to soar. This is what being in the same space with Barry is like. Working with Barry on #hUmaNITY is such a joy. I feel the excitement of standing before a blank canvas at the beginning of every gathering, exploring the depths of our creative energies throughout the conversations shared, and emerging at the end with a piece that I could not have painted singularly even on my best days. That is what conversations with Barry feels like. He is organized and efficient. Fearless and Bold. Lives with arms wide open.... and has the best questions (which begin with "I wonder....") asked in a most inclusive manner within a safe space that I often forget we are recording and that others will be witnessing our responses." --- Russell Zehtab

• "Barry is compassionately honest. He has the talent to say what needs to be said in a way that people "get" it. His honesty and intelligence come through whether he is presenting on stage or just hanging out with friends. And...have you heard him sing? Man... he has a set of lungs that can wail a tune. Talented, smart and funny, when he takes the stage, he commands the stage." --- Lea Brovedani

• "It takes immense strength of character to insistently amplify the goodness of every individual whose destiny crosses path with one’s own, no matter how briefly. This is who Barry is. The precious gift of Barry’s faith in you compels an irrepressible desire to show up as the best version of yourself. And in a world aching for radical hope and pragmatic wisdom, Barry is the gentle torch bearer whose light is constant amidst the maelstrom of fads. Should you then find your path intersecting with Barry’s, pause for a while in his companionship, and make space for the gift of his life-changing attention. I know because I paused. Barry, my heart continues to expand with immense gratitude for your indescribable presence. And this gift of an expanding heart, is priceless ??" --- Dr. Roslina Chai

• "Working with Barry Lewis Green is a lovely silver lining to navigating through Covid times. We connected for thoughtful monthly Digital Coffees. Barry’s ease with the art of meaningful conversation and asking questions that inspire me to dig deeper always result in a joy-filled journey through many topics. I am one of many colleagues Barry engages with regularly for TUG TV - so many topics, something truly for everyone! Barry’s charismatic personality and zeal for life makes it an absolute joy to work on any project with him. And just wait until Barry launches his BOXSA project!" --- Elaine Dunphy

• "Barry has a presence...I have known of Barry’s work for many years but have gotten to know him as a friend and colleague within the past five. Whether it be in person or during a presentation, he has the uncanny ability to pull on all of your emotions while driving home key messages that provide personal clarity. Barry’s presentation skills can be explained as ‘heavy metal hits’ meets ‘folk tunes’ meets ‘sounds of nature’. He has an arsenal of skills that is quite eclectic. As a Master Facilitator for The Virtues Project and several other impactful programs, he combines a wealth of knowledge with his own extensive library of content creations. He is highly respected and well-connected within the speaking and social action communities. Barry is a true champion of character leadership. He ‘talks the talk’ and ‘walks the walk’. He approaches each and every interaction with passion and ZEAL! I highly recommend reaching out to Barry for collaboration opportunities." --- Trent Langdon

• Barry is a skilled interviewer with insatiable curiosity, and a well practiced initiative virtue that guides him in pursuing the development of character in his teaching, coaching and interviewing endeavors. He bills himself as TUG (The Unity Guy) and EPIC Engage; very accurate monikers for what he does with such excellence. --- Christine Ayling

• "Barry is one of those too-good-to-be true humans who strives to help and inspire other people above all else. He is continuously focused on enhancing the collective good. I really enjoyed collaborating with Barry and look forward to seeing all of his content in the future." --- Elizabeth Burt

• I consider Barry not only an educator, but a true leader. He teaches in the moment- providing the reality of our evolving business world and passes along his insight and perspective that helps people to think outside the box and to value adaptability and flexibility as forms of succession. He is bold, courageous and fun! He puts his ALL in and goes above and beyond to help another! It was an honor having him as a HR Instructor and Business Planning Coach for two years and will continue to be an honor as I pursue my career and maintain a meaningful and beneficial relationship as a CNA Alumni and friend to Barry. --- Jess Jones

• "I've had the pleasure of knowing Barry for over twenty years as a leader, group facilitator, engaging speaker and inspiring educator. I participated in a transformative corporate team building day that Barry designed and delivered to my Skills Canada colleagues from across the country; all participants felt it was an impactful and motivating PD session that inspired trust and action. Barry has volunteered with Skills Canada for over twenty years as the emcee for the most important and cumulative event of the year - our Annual Awards Ceremony. Barry skillfully and humorously keeps the crowd engaged and entertained while maintaining flow and procedure. Barry is also a mentor to our Entrepreneurial program, and as a well-respected educator has inspired several highly-skilled graduates to seek employment with our organization and amplify his impact. Barry is unique, talented, authentic and leads with passion." --- Carole Ann Ryan