Surprising News and the HardWalk...

Excerpted from Wholiness Blog...

This week, I received news that had a jarring and inspiring impact upon my life. I don't know if it was so much a new perspective found as it was a case of being turned to face "home" and see, again, a truth I needed to see. On Thursday, I found myself on an elevator when a student informed me that a young man I had come to somewhat know and know of on campus last year had taken his own life. I do not know what led him to that point. I do not know what was in his heart. I do know that there were times when I wanted to ask him. There were times a year or so ago, when he walked our corridors, that I felt the "need" to chat... but did not. I felt it none of my business. Now, I do not sit here and wonder if anything I could have done would have made a difference. I have no idea about that. I have no real idea what was in his heart or his life, or was not. I do know that the news awakened within me a realization of my deepest passion, my truest message. It is part of my Hard Walk.

We all count.

My love of unity and the coming together is based on the belief that we all count, we all matter, we all have a reason for being here. For me, this means that unity is based on recognizing our own value and applying that value in a way that makes our lives and our world better. With this news on Thursday, my focus is so much more tangible, taste-able. I am the unity guy, and I believe that our path to unity is through love.... l.o.v.e. .... looking inside ourselves for our talents and capacities and virtues, finding opportunities in the world to apply these to make this a better place, having a vision in our heads and hearts to know how things will be better, and simply engaging the process... doing it. With that in mind and this coming weekend... Sunday, February 7, 2010 from 10:00-4:00... we are hosting Healthy for Haiti and it is going to be remarkable. Watch our You Tube videos for more information. Email me at barry@onepower.ca.

In the meantime, look forward to news from the Hard Walks Team on their respective commitments. Should be cool. We pray you are working on yours.

Barry

My BEAR Diet and Lifestyle

Time to get authentic with my health....

I stand at 269 pounds... still the lowest in 11 years, but I have been hovering. I have lost about 40 pounds in extra fat, so far and in total. My original ceiling was 300 pounds.

My new ceiling is 269. Time to make another push, and to make it with my own spirit and personality in mind. I have tried classes and boot camps and diets and walking. Some of that I will keep, and I will share later.

But, I have rediscovered dance and Salsa and it is highly aerobic. HIGHLY!!!

So, here it is...

I have 28 days, including today, left before I turn 50.

With that in mind, and this morning, I have a new fitness plan in place... as part of my HARD WALK. One that is BARRY, completely.

Each day... weights 20 minutes, stairs 20 minutes, dance practice 20 minutes.... 5 hours of dance a week too... each day in mind the 19 Terraces in Haifa for Pilgrimage (I still cannot believe it is happening, woooohoooooo), and riding my Honda Shadow 750 (oooooh, I love it), and my own personal Super Bowl, and being amazingly joyful and excellent at Salsa.

I intend to be fast, fit and ferocious in a joyful, humble way. Carrying what I call a humble swagger. Find your humble swagger.

Also, I will be eating foods that I love (referencing Eating Right for Your Blood Type to an extent... very true for me) and are good for me, all in moderation.

I am calling it my BEAR Diet... diet is a "bad word" but it really means the sum total of what you eat. We all have a diet. This is mine.... and a lifestyle.

Stay tuned for updates on the rest of the HARD WALKS "team".

:-)

Barry

A Change of Hard Walk....

My entry is VERY short and sweet.

My Hard Walk has taken on new meaning.... it is all about staying true to my vision, my prayerful vision, often in the face of what each well-intended individual says about personal preferences. My Hard Walk is about being steadfast... mind, body, spirit, and soul. This will require several weeks of burning ferocity, purely fierce. See my blog with my 10 in '10. Staying resolute and relentless.

I will update next week on where I am with it all...

Also, coming soon, updates on our Hard Walks supporters and a Februray 6 event that would rock with this. Stay tuned. :-)

Barry

FINALLY, We Begin....

We really needed a reason... to galvanize.

We have it...

Mike (www.globalyouthmentor.com).. the Whether Man with his daily ocean dips and weather forecasts.. has had to make a trip back to care for family and it starts today. It is a noble, cool journey recognizing the importance of family and gratitude and so much more. I am so honoured to know Mike. His core message is about deeply living with simplicity nad gratitude. That's my take on it, anyway. BUT, he lives it!!!

Some of his friends and colleagues, myself included, have chosen to take these same next 6 weeks and work on our Hard Walks... each of us committing to doing something hard that we need and want to do, alongside Mike's Hard Walks, continuing his journey.

We are finally establishing this blog and a You Tube Channel... and we are inviting you to join us... pick something you really need to achieve by March 1, 2010.

Join us... myself, Joel Sweeney, Geoff Eaton, TA Loeffler, David Norris, Paul White, Michelle Snow, Steve Callahan, Justin Dearing and others (see www.nlaps.ca)... on our Hard Walks... make one for yourself... something that will rock. I plan to get my students on board!!!

My Hard Walk is two fold... exercising body and spirit 2 hours a day... I will exercise at least 1 hour every day and I will pray (1 hour) and listen and act upon any answer I get every day.

How about you? Join us in spirit, and action.

Folks, I have been getting a word in my head and heart these days... "GO". The time for planning for me is done. It is now about action. When I sense something I need to do, I will GO.

What do you need most to GO on?

Hoping you join us. GO!!!

Much love to you all...

Barry
and the Hard Walks Team