Contacting and catching up with the mentors who were most influential in my life

Posted by Gram on January 18, 2008 8:17 AM PST

Recommend this? YES NO

I want them to know how much I appreciate their selfless acts of encouragement, wisdom and counsel. They each showed up at a pivotal point in my life and shared life lessons, taught and instructed me in ways I simply cannot repay. I want them to know that my life is good and that they are a large part of the reason why it turned out so well.

We all need support. I would love to hear from others who may have done the same.

Add To:

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated with fresh new content.

3 Comments

Excellent goal Gram! It's very thoughtful of you to want to thank your mentors for the pivotal part they had in your life. Mine was an economics teacher at NYU, Rania A-. She thought very well of me and in doing so, taught me never to underestimate myself. Teachers like her are rare. They're passionate about their students and their passionate about their subject. Watching her in action made me want to imitate her. I wish I knew where she was, so that I could write to her and share my gratitude.

Posted by Amanda on January 18, 2008 2:16 PM PST

Gram, I salute you for signing up for a truly excellent goal. Just two days ago, I was speaking to one of our resident experts about the influence of mentors on our lives. If you think back to every critical juncture in life, there is usually someone there whose trusted counsel guided us towards our final decision. How immensely valuable their advice was. And how proud they would be today to learn what you have achieved. Good luck, and please come back and blog about your experience when you get it done.

Posted by Rob on January 19, 2008 5:52 PM PST

Hi Gram,

I "ditto" both Amanda's and Rob's comments! See, you already are having an impact on other people! Your goal is a very "meaningful" one, not only for you (and for your own personal development) but also for the mentors who guided you along your life's path. To be sure, what you are seeking to do is much more than a demonstration of "gratitude"; it's a reflection of life's interconnectedness and of the power of the human spirit. True mentors, in this sense, are not just people who have advised or influenced us in a "cognitive" sense. No, they are much more than that. When we stop long enough to pay attention, we realize that we connect with our mentors in a deeper way--we resonate with them on a level that influences, in one way or another, our core values, our character, and our sense of being. To seek the opportunity to share with our mentors how they have influenced our lives, again, is a meaningful goal. I salute you!

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
Author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts
Center for Meaning
223 N. Guadalupe St., #243
Santa Fe, NM 87501 USA
505.988.5235
alex@prisonersofourthoughts.com