Galba Bright, Man of Vision and Passion!

"As for me, from my heart, 'A vision without passion is merely an idea. Developing people and transforming organisations is my powerful purpose'" Galba Bright [1959-2008]

Galba Bright of Tune Up your EQ wrote the above two line poem, in the Arts for Peace Challenge. He valued arts as an alternative to bring people together. And though he confessed he wasn't a poet, he two thoughtful lines for the Arts for Peace Project. They seem even more meaningful now.

You made a difference for people in Jamaica and beyond. This is only a small part of the wonderful legacy you leave. Today I write with tears in my eyes, since I can hardly believe you are no longer with us in this world.

Galba was inspired by the lyrics to "Treat Myself" sung by Stevie Wonder. And this is how he regarded them...

"I loved the lyrics to Treat Myself so much," Galba Bright shared, "that I had them pinned on my office wall when I was a consultant to the Government of Jamaica. I used to meditate on them in the sauna when I was planning my relocation to Jamaica. In my humble opinion the words are truly transformative."

Treat Myself
Music - Stevie Wonder; Lyrics - Stephanie Andrews

There’s a place I can go
When the tension’s high and I’m feeling low
In a flash I can be in another space
As a different me, have a new id.

I think I’ll treat myself to all the pretty places in my head
Yes, I’m going to treat myself to all the pretty places in my head

There’s no rich, there’s no poor
Everything is love, no such word as “war”
There’s no black and no white
Rainbow colours they, dress the days and nights,
Life’s a paradise

I think I’ll treat myself to all the pretty places in my head
Yes, I’m going to treat myself to all the pretty places in my head

It’s amazing how the mind
Can do what you want it to
It can take you to a time
Where you’ll want to stay forever
Feeling everlasting pleasure

If your life’s in a place
That you can hardly bear
Come along with me to mental ecstasy

I think I’ll treat myself to all the pretty places in my head
Yes, I’m going to treat myself to all the pretty places in my head

Whatsoever things are lovely
Whatsoever things are pure
Whatsoever things are honest
Whatsoever things are true

Galba inspired me as a learner. He spent about six months visiting and commenting on Dr. Ellen Weber's Brain Based Business blog to learn how to be a blogger before he set up his own, Tune Up Your EQ web site. And quite frankly, like the rest of us he made some blips in the first rounds. When the blog was first up he proudly announced it on Ellen's site. I went right over to leave him a comment to encourage him as did Ellen.

Unfortunately, he accidentally deleted the comment and he emailed me to share how badly he felt about it. So I gave it the second go. He was elated and told me in a million ways. His growth as a blogger and life-long learner continued on an upward curve. Ellen and I both enjoyed seeing Galba take flight.

Even now on Galba's blog, the third post down brings a great deal of pleasure to me since he named both Ellen and myself along with others as valued contributors:

"How would you describe Emotional Intelligence in just a few words? Last year, 8 Tune up your EQ readers, Manchild, Dr. Robyn McMaster, Dr. Ellen Weber, Ray Hobby, Linda Zdnawicz, Anthony Mersino, Tanika Williams and Jeanette Campbell shared their wisdom. Ellen Janssens also contributed great ideas.

You can learn from each of them. But what if you had to choose just one of their offerings?

The words that resonate with me most strongly come from Ellen Weber from the Brain Based Business Blog. Here’s what she said:

'Emotions for me are in no way separate from intellect …. They enhance the brain, though, only when we learn to wield them as resources and not leak them as deficits'"

Galba I can picture you dancing now... as I believe that is the way you would have it. You loved to dance... with your heart, mind and soul and we are all the beneficiaries. Thanks!

Passions that Lead the Dance in My Brain

Hmm...what am I most passionate about and what drives me most?

Intriguingly, as our brain processes passions or emotions, it involves higher cognition. "...the amygdala may serve, among other purposes, a general vigilance function aimed at preparing people to better cope with challenging situations," Yale researchers hypothesize, "and also the ability to sort information according to its relevance to the task at hand."

No wonder passions lead us deeper into some areas more than others. Since we're all so unique, interests that drive us look different for every person.

In a recent meme, Bob Hruzek challenged me to share my obsessions/compulsions or the things in my life that take me overboard. I like Bob Hruzek's slant to focus on the positive side of the obsessive/compulsive meme. So, here's passions that drive me.

Faith - from the time I was young, I knew God loved me. I have come to know the extravagance of Christ's love in my life and in my family's, too.

Family - I have a deep love for each person in my family - my husband, three children and five grandchildren. Each is so amazing and each time I'm with them I learn more about their interests and concerns. I love it when our vintage 1836 Stagecoach Inn bursts at the seams with family. These are happy times.

MITA Work - surprisingly, I became very intrigued by the powerful work Dr. Ellen Weber does in the area of learning and assessment, both in university and business. When I observed Ellen interacting with people during a MITA Institute, I was curious, amazed and drawn to learn more. For some reason I could not get enough and because I kept asking Ellen questions, she told me I needed to follow my curiosity and earn a PhD. Suddenly all the myths about how I really perceived myself surfaced. For instance, I thought I couldn't learn as well because I was in my late 50's and I also thought I was not smart enough to pass all the entrance tests required. One-by-one these myths shattered. Through MITA I continue to grow and learn as I teach others. What a privilege to collaborate with Ellen in the MITA work that provides skills to others all across the globe.

Play with Ideas I love to tackle problems and see new ways of doing things. Nothing is more refreshing than to solve problems at hand. And I do that by playing with ideas as an artist does to develop a painting.

Fun I work hard and I play hard! From the badminton tournaments with my grandsons, to golf, making videos, photography, and now writing blogs, spaces for these activities keep me energized.

Thanks Bob, for challenging me since it helped me stop and reflect. Reflection helps me both look backwards and forward and helps me see where I need to adjust and change.

Along with me, Bob tagged William Tully Ilker Yoldas Chip Camden Char Polanosky

So here’s the handoff rules:

A) Link back to who tagged you, and,

B) Write! What are you obsessive/passionate about?

I'm tagging Katia from Brazil, Chris Brown, Tony D. Clark, Galba Bright and Ellen Weber

Now fire up your amygdala so that even doctors are amazed when they examine your MRI's and see your brain dance when its fired with passion.