The Torch Is Passed

I lost a good friend and mentor last week. As I buried my friend I thought, man look at all the people here, such a blessing. She wasn’t a well known public person, Head of State kind of person. She was like most of us, a person. A Mom, wife, sister, friend and neighbor. I remember praying that when I go I hope there are this many caring people at my funeral. Then I prayed that I would be like her and her husband, altruistic, honestly good caring people.
As I write this article I think to myself how I am getting to be more and more like them and other great mentors I have in my life. I also recognize how my bride and I are becoming mentors ourselves. It makes me smile in my heart. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” – Charles Caleb Colton. I believe that as I imitate the mentors I have had it keeps the torch lit and it is passed on to me from them. How lucky am I.
So now I ask you my dear readers, are you being a mentor? Do you need to find a mentor? Let me tell you where the mentors are not. Social media for certain will not produce mentors. Social media allows quick limited communication amongst people. So where do we find them Rich? Great question.
To find a mentor or be one let’s look at the definition: someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person, a trusted counselor or guide. The big words there are teaches or gives help, advice to a less experienced one. Most of us a can give advice however how do we help or teach. Do we give someone a chance, perhaps, how about we do all three, teach, help and advise by example? Invite them into your life. Let them see how you live and then keep them there. Take them to lunch, breakfast or invite them to your family BBQ. Suggest they stretch to a higher position and then support them as they try. The most expensive gift we have is our time. Some will cherish it and rise up. Some will not and move on. Either way we are better for having them in our lives. Especially when they succeed. So keep the torch lit and help pass it on. All the Best Rich