Who was the most important mentor in your life, besides a family member?
It doesn’t have to be a long term mentor, just somebody that taught you things, that continue to make your life what it is today.
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18 Answers
A still-living 93-year old friend who has bestowed upon me the wisdom of his observations. He lost his wife Thursday night.
One of his favorite lines is, “Now, be nice to that person in the mirror.”
I@MissA I love his saying. I am so sorry he is enduring the inevitable, no matter what it is never easy. Maybe you can write a little saying for him at this time of need and give back some of that wisdom. Perhaps to let him know just how important he has been and what he has said that made great impressions on you. When he feels a little down, he can read your note and know he was heard.
@RANGIEBABY He lost his eye sight some years ago. But, one day on the phone, I rattled off some of things he’d imparted to me, that were at the forefront of my mind. His deep “announcer-type” voice broke and he said, “I never knew you listened to me that intently.” It was one of ‘those’ moments.
My middle school math teacher recognized my talent in math and gave me advanced tutoring on the side. It was a mixed blessing, though, because it just increased the other student’s dislike. They hate kids who are singled out.
I think I’ve said this on Fluther before, but I had a patient with ALS who really changed my life. He was truly the most amazing person I have ever met… the world is a darker place without him.
@MissA Bless your heart. You could not give him a better gift. You know they make a card, that you can put a message in that speaks when opened. I don’t know where to find them, probably at Hallmark Stores.
@YARNLADY Those kids don’t matter anymore, but does your math still help you?
@RANGIEBABY—Good point. I was a bookkeeper and account clerk for much of my working career.
My martial arts Grandmaster. Last I heard he is pretty much retired other than lectures and a few demos (he is pushing 100 years old). He returned to Korea some time ago.
He taught me much more than the Arts… he taught me philosophy and a form of spirituality (actually, part of the Arts). And he furthered my self control which, as a hot blooded lad, I so needed (yet another part of the Arts).
He also taught me that being sometimes semi paralyzed in one side of his body (getting worse over the years) due to shrapnel from the Korean war did not slow him down. He was also blind in one eye from the war. The shrapnel was too close to his spine to be removed.
@Arisztid Your master sounds like a fucking badass. :)
@Symbeline He was and, I would think is, a tough old fellow. He also had an almost unearthly calm. That is what happens to people raised in martial arts monasteries. He would see, in his youth, things like a dog running down the street with a human hand in its mouth… that was normal for where he grew up.
@Arisztid Yeah, seeing things like that, his views on things might be a little different than mine. :/ That’s just nuts.
My English teacher in Year 10–11. He was the first to treat us like adults.
Most of my work managers over the years have provided me mentoring.
@downtide I know what you mean, I hated history when I was in highschool. But, my world history teacher taught the class more like a college class and caught my interest. He was my favorite teacher of all.
@mattbrowne I take it you were in sports.
I find the people that have made a real impact in our life, is someone that at the time, you never would have thought would.
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