I am grateful for what Glenn Omatsu taught me: the concept of mentoring on the go.
http://lotusrainier.com/?s=Glenn+Omatsu+&submit_search=
Several folks have asked me for help: read my doctoral thesis, one said. Another fully involved me, chapter by chapter to read and edit. Another would vent and simply needed an ear to give her a mirrored reflection of who she has been and what she is looking forward to be.
Another needed to be coaxed out of music to finish his dissertation – sometimes our phone calls would last hours. It turns out that he had unprocessed grief of someone close that he was mentoring and just died. He finally did his dissertation after a dying friend from cancer cared enough to make a long distance call to make him promise he would.
Another was a college graduate who was sobbing when my son said “please talk to her Mom.” I did and fast forward, on her growth efforts – she is a globally acclaimed author, whose book was translated in multiple languages, an entrepreneur, a founder of an association and a keynote speaker.
Another sobbed and we cried together at a French bakery where we talked for hours. She too had unprocessed trauma and simply I said to her that she cannot be stuck in her pain and suffering and that she is more than her tears. In her growth efforts, she finished her dissertation and she has been of late mentoring others how to write their dissertation.
Another could not finish her college thesis at a prestigious public university. My son asked me to talk to her. I did, we sobbed, it turns out she lost her brother who was very close to her. I offered her a challenge – to dedicate her college thesis to him. She processed her grief by writing and producing broadcast tv shows. She is now happily living and working.
I am integrated and connected to my community folks and for that much, I am very grateful for the community’s public trust in me. Your secrets and sufferings are safe with me. I release and pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede. I don’t write articles about these intimate sharing.
Maraming Salamat po for your trust in me.
I need to motivate myself while grieving that I am about to lose a classmate to cancer. I love people as they are here only for a short time on earth.
