Gratitude Practice 2015 Day #8: Mentors a.k.a My People
According to Dictionary.com, a mentor is 1) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher 2) and influential senior sponsor or supporter. Without question, I have been blessed by an army of talented, smart, compassionate, willing, dedicated, thoughtful, creative, resilient and loving mentors in my life. During a very dark moment in my twenties, when my world seemed to be both caving in and exploding all at the same time, a BRILLIANT older wiser friend was generous and direct and lovingly provided me with two life changing ideas. After listening to my emotional vomit he said "Liz, you need two things....1) a talented therapist and 2) a personal Board of Directors or a group of diverse successful adults who would be willing to invest in the success of your future." Both suggestions hit me at my core and changed my trajectory completely. He helped me find a very talented therapist and he taught me how to seek out those who I did not know I needed....but needed. He suggested that I seek out people who are both similar and very different from me and watch them. Watch how they work. Watch how they play. Watch how they love. How they fight. How they correct mistakes. How they deal with stress. How they grieve. How they raise and discipline their children. How they contribute within our community. How they work. How they worship. How they earn, save and spend their money. How they confront conflict and disappointment and how they wrestle with both success and failure. He told me to assemble and then observe and measure, ask lots of questions and be brave enough to be teachable and apply what I learn into my life.
And so I did....thankfully. I listened to this generous and loving mentor and it's made all of the difference in my life. I could not be a bigger poster child for the impact a good therapist can have in your life. EVERYONE needs therapy at some point in time and there is not one ounce of shame connected to seeking out the assistance from a helping professional. And my Board of Directors...I've been gathering a team of powerhouse life mentors, many of whom don't even know they sit around my mental boardroom, who are as diverse as the day is long. My people love deeply and think deeply and are as kind as they are generous. My mentors, now carefully spread across the globe, and now far too many to name, have guided me, rebuked me, supported me, inspired me and taught me. They are my intellectual and emotional safe place to challenge concepts and process ideas. Today, after what has proven to be a mind-bending few days, I am grateful for their collective fight for their individual fire and for their never-ending faith in both mankind and in me.
