Like any good mother, her desire was to have her child grow bright and bold, and to be full of good humor and wit, and to be generous and courageous and kind.
For, being such, how could anyone not have the most beautiful story?
After all, what is the code and concept of life, of living, of humanity, if it is not to find one's calling and to have that calling be greater than one's self; if it is not to pursue that calling and complete it with joyous self-respect?
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you take yourself with you. Everything else is dressing.
They are everywere Beyond The Hero, along the road of significance, so beautifully beingwhilst we are steadily occupied becoming, they hardly call attention to themselves. Often, for their lightness of being, their elegance is rarely spotted or seen (even felt) except in reflections of luscious fruits served and tasted after they are long gone - these Beautiful People - though in our wokeness they are ever present. Have you noticed - lately?
Yes, Beautiful People.
They leave smiles at the strangest of times and in the weirdest of places. They do! Beautiful people. Not sentimental smiles! Though, they leave giggles for those brave enough to giggle without warning. And oh-wows in the heart. Flutter-flutter-flutter!
No, not sentimental smiles! Rather, flat-on-your-back eyes to the ceiling - just-come-to-mind - uh - smiles. That pause at the kitchen sink, flcking away wet fingers - uh - just-figured-it-out - smile. That we-never-can-see-the-dots hustling forward; just the blossoming light on arrival kind-of smile. An oh-wow kind of smile. Not sentimental! No! At the strangest moments these re-shape our faces. That OMG, this awesome thing might never have happened - who knows - had that and that and OMG! Not sentimental. NOT AT ALL.
And they are everywhere, these beautiful people; many were right there with us along the hero's journey, never minding we were much too pressed to notice! Until in the strangest of moments - Uh! - Bright smile. Gratitude wells up too. But this is not about gratitude; this is about beautiful people. Yes, it is about our beautiful people - their realness - not their spiritness - not their servantness - not their happeness - not their oh-god-did-it-ness; no no no no; this is about their flesh-and-bloodedness, yes, their realness, their bin-there, bin-there, and bin-there, doing-doing-and-doingness - for us - hardly ever seeking notice. Yes, Beautiful People! Have you met them? They do not come dressed in sentimental garb or just-so-you-would-notice garb or whatever that storybook told you. No! Well, maybe yours did! Have you met them?
This was one of those weeks. They had a great big gathering in my - ahem - neighborhood! On my balcony. No, I'm not gone crazy - not quite yet. They came from far and near. And now I know why, but I shant be telling you about that in this moment. However, there is an awesomely other good reason I'm revealing their timely assembly. Besides, who knows, you probably were visited too. Were you? Yes, Your Beautiful People?
They are everywhere.
Of course, I did mention, didn't I, that along that road, strangers are a delight. One meets "angels" unawares. And transformers. And purveyors. Encounters alter trajectories. One feels the pump of life - that sweet breath of life. And writes new lines into history. And I did say, didn't I, there ain't no crystal stair nowhere here. None! None! But did I tell you beautiful people are everywhere on the way of excellence Beyond The Hero? They are everywhere! And I only just discovered something, ahem-ahem, shhhh, during the gathering, which perhaps you are also privy to, which in a hop, skip and jump I will reveal.Do you know what I'm talking about? Then don't skip. There is always joy in each and every wholesome chew.
Welcome to episode thirteen of BEYOND THE HERO - courage & character - curated by Neville DeAngelou, where a wonderfully strange thing is happening: Beautiful People! Transformational leaders are shape-shifting, way-making, burden-busting through uncertain nights. Lightning!
Autonomy. Mastery. Purpose.
Enjoy actionable discoveries continuously shared - smartly - particularly those that uplift, inspire, promote harmony, expand opportunities, exemplify beauty, and reveal wonder, in other words, those proven to strengthen our emboldened exercise of genuine love through all of love's fertile dimensions, supplying those of us who are blessed and inspired to take action with necessary skillsets to be awesome in our real world. Namaste. Share.
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BE SMART
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Miracles of mind-over-matter and follies of matterless minds are enormously edifying.
There exists amongst us a breed BEYOND THE HERO - not some sort of stereotype. Time and again, we have leaned on brilliant examples from amongst our Wonder Women to facilitate transformation and growth and achievement. This will continue to be so in this segment. Learning never stops. Beyond where growth stops, the news is not good.
In our new segment, however, we will primarily be highlighting four critical elements of the RyoMale, which we will use to explore, examine, exemplify, and work out in order to expand amongst our ranks a) more of our brand new breed BEYOND THE HERO and b) effective emergent leaders (of all stripes) apopros to the better values of our times.
We are OPEN - Our World Needs Each Of Us, that much better at our best!
Today's repeated pivot QUESTION: you are not closed-in, trapped in an echo-chamber, comfortable only with the views of those who think and act and believe as you do; you avail yourself to disparate views and processes and ideas and solutions and alternative ways of thinking; you are neither flippant nor a sail in the wild wind; you sift and sort and work things out without re-inventing the wheel; you assess the risk with no compunction to reveal; you understand the adjacent possible; and you test, learning along each step
- how do you determine whether the strategy you've employed to achieve your vision is working per plan (timely); what have you in place for a switch if you discover it is not?
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Stepping through Uncertainty
Beautiful people. Yes. Everywhere. Not a counter-narrative. Real beautiful people. Not a distractor. Real beautiful people. They are embedded in our most powerful stories. Not truth-twisters. Not space-fillers. Not a fairytale. Not superstition. Not smokescreens against ugliness: brutality, oppression, snobbishness, bigotry, lies, hypocrisy, which realities can never be pretended away and can never dissipate buried or shoved aside. No, not a counter narrative! Not an excuse. Nor a balancing act, nor an appositional force to ugliness. Not a guilt cushion. Not a cover-your-backside tattoo. None of that nonesense. Beautiful People are integral to our journey through uncertainty.
Eyes opened, a shift in the light, with them, we experience something else stepping toward shrouded horizons, something quite different than what we saw before. You probably noticed it too.
That water didn't just happen into there - wherever! There is a system in place to have it happen. There is a process in place - so now you have it or the choice not to have it or be disappointed at it for whatever reason or be grateful for it or not even have to think about it. But it didn't just happen! Someone or some sets of ones put that system and that process in place, whether or not that process or that system has been rendered invisible over the course of time. Are there pipes in your place of abode? It didn't just happen! Is there water or none? It didn't just happen! If YOU did not put that system and process in place, SOMEONE ELSE DID! It didn't just happen!
BEYOND THE HERO, the skills used along each journey of signifcance were honed from the hero's journey where no hero can go it alone or come through without being transformed. BEYOND THE HERO, its leaders are of a brand new breed, as we shall continue to discover.
Have you noticed elements of the nature of transformational leadership exemplified in the actions of your Beautiful People? Have you noticed what makes these such effective shape-shifters, way-makers, burden-lifters, light-shiners, shoulder-whispers along our journeys? Have you - on reflection - noticed the nature of that nudge, that tug through the darkness, that, well, you know?
If not, look again! Differently.
From where does courage come, and your will against a preponderance of evil? Ahhhh! Didn't it make you laugh too - at the masquerades? Character! Hmm? Character: powerful beyond measure!
Transformation. But never underestimate the danger. Stay connected to beautiful people. They are everywhere around.
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." _ Mohandas Gandhi
Perspective matters.
"Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." _ Sun Tzu
There are physical systems, social systems, and psychological systems. They are the bricks and mortar of the structure within which we function - even if they appear invisible, even if we have not taken the time to notice. There are those who are assiduously focused on making sure those systems - physical systems, social systems, psychological systems - are working for the advantage of their interests!
What about you?
What are the systems in place for the fulfillment of your dreams, the coordination of your life, the fullest experience of your intentions? They don't just happen! We might just happen to use them!
It is of great value to be aware and to note that all such SYSTEMS are continually being created and sustained by habits and means and ways of people AND policies AND patterns woven together to create the fabric, the environment, the matrix, the circumstance through which and within which accomplishments are advanced or confined.
This is the challenge of change!
It is the challenge that must be embraced fully - whole-heartedly, unreservedly, bare-boned! It requires courage and a character to match. It requires integrity. It requires humility. It requires empathy. It requires love. And, perhaps, you also are accompanied by an army of Beautiful People - way-makers, shape-shifters, burden-lifters, transformational leaders. Might it be that you also are one of those beautiful people?
At that realization, whether or not, where points your courage? Where does it lead? Who is its leader? What does a leader do in - let's be nice - the circle you thrive in? Who becomes one? Why? How? What if, perhaps, we've had the answer all along and must now re-evaluate what it means: that a child will lead them?
Remember: this is YOUR LIFE; only you can live it. Live out the expression of your love.
Take Action
"Know what you own. Understand what you claim. Believe you can achieve what you conceive then call it by its name. Mine! The extent to which you have this clarity of mind, this purity of understanding, this strength of belief, you have the fire, the fuel, the impetus, the passion, the determination, the willpower you require to pursue and retrieve your truest desire. But do not claim what does not belong to you. It will not keep you . . . it will suffer you but for only so long."
You are valued. You are important. What you experience is important. Your intention matters. You are a whole being. You are a true wonder. You diminish yourself whenever you pit valued elements of who you are against vital elements of who you are: your intuitive self against your intellectual self, your rational self against your emotional self, your gut against your heart against your head. Don't be put at war against yourself: you are a masterpiece. An intricate being. Human!
How is Your Life today?
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coach
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Life: it is a dance. It gets better with practice; its music is in your heart and in your soul and in your blood and in your bones. Life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. You have a partner – your spirit. You can have a party if you like, but choose smartly who you invite, for life – your life – is a dance. It gets better with practice, unless you stop the music or so crowd your dance floor there is no space to move or be moved within it. Explore. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice until the dance becomes the dancer and the dancer becomes the dance and life and all of existence becomes a singular flow. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. Dance.
Masterpiece
a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
tour de force
You Are Not Alone
Home is a special place. Love resides there. The best journeys take you there. Hope lives there. Home leaves no question about belonging. Friends belong there. Dreams thrive there. Home is a place of forgiveness. There is no rejection there. Home is a place of rest and recuperation and rejuvination. There is laughter there. Life takes you to unexpected places; love brings you home. At home you are free to flourish. It is where you birthed your wings. Are you there yet? We live amongst viruses and bacteria: some are villains and some are monsters. Don't feed monsters. Villains are everywhere; you are ever in their sights. Be prepared: find your rhythm, stay in balance, keep your values and your vision in focus. Choose your friends wisely. You got this.
Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.
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live laugh love
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let your light shine
Come, let us all be friends for once,
Let us make life easy on us,
Let us be lovers and loved ones,
The earth shall be left to no one.
Across the nation and around the world there is a long rumble.
It is a rumble so loud it strikes ready ears as a distant clap of a fierce thunder. It is a rumble so low, it rides beneath the noise of a thousand human fears; it can no longer be heard. Fear of flight, fear of heights, fear of sand, fear of snow, fear of monsters in the closet, fear of bugs in the pillow, fear of cats, fear of bats, fear of strangers at the door, fear of being lost, fear of being laughed at, fear of being stuck in the toilet bowl, fear of whites, fear of blacks, fear of browns, blues and yellows, fear of nakedness, fear of the unknown, fear of being hurt.
Smile. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Learn. Be awesome. You are powerful beyond measure. You are not alone. You can do all things. I am you. You are me. We are one. Keep Sharing.
May our light shine on sprinkled seeds along The Journey.
"Live Your Life - Live it well. You are worth it."
Listen. Learn. Lead.
"I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up." Martin Luther King Jr.Look. Listen. Learn. STRETCH & SAVE! (A Place Called Ah.)
Breathe.
We are accompanied.
Balance - Focus - Rhythm
BE EVER REMINDED:the life you are living is YOUR life; ONLY YOU can live it!
The Journey - Your Voice Illuminated - Our Global Digital Radio Show & Podcast. We stop at exotic places, meet fascinating folks with intriguing stories and novel solutions to some of life's tricky problems. We play a few games too, and track remarkable characters of three classics: ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) SBL Series: 2:26 AM, The Gathering (Matchbox Mystery) and Flight Of The Fused Monkeys (5-Star Series). Life is beautiful and full of surprises. Breathe! Along our journey of life and learning we challenge ourselves toward the reaches of our highest ideals: to be our best, do our utmost, achieve our finest, wherever necessary and practicable redesigning the contours of possibility, reshaping human capability. Join our posse. We are changing the game! We welcome your perspective. Enjoy top dramatic, inspirational, mystery, scifi, and true stories. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Lead. Learn with us. Get your FREE AUDIO of 'Sven: The High Achiever's Journey'. You'll be glad you did. Share the experience.
ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) 
