Healthy competition is good...in fact, it's probably necessary in certain aspects of life. To find competition in a game of dodgeball, however, is extremely fun (and tiring). Leroy and I joined a gang of other Big Brothers and Big Sisters this week and visited a fun zone called BounceU (http://www.bounceu.com). This place is full of air-filled 'rooms' and obstacles that invites everyone who enters to find their inner child and just play (not hard for me to do).
One of the best moments for me that evening was a small moment. We were in the dodgeball room plotting how we were going to rush the other side and pummel them with the random sized balls we collected through our battles. We were both sitting in the safest corner on our side so as to not get smacked down ourselves, when another boy came to join our side. Leroy knew him from past events and quickly grabbed his attention and said "This is Greg, my brother.". Small statement, yes, powerful words, for me, yes. I was moved. It may have been the way he said it, with his big smile - It may have been the excitement of being in the middle of battle - but something inside me smiled. I understood, for a brief moment, that I was making a difference.
I typically dispel ideas of bringing good to any one's life. Perhaps it was a wound I received as a child (you know that 'not good enough' b.s.). Never the less, I made room for this. I realized that I do make a difference to this young man. He's proud to be with me. He feels safe when he's around me. He talks to me about things that bother him - things I felt like I could never take to anyone when I was a child.
The great thing is, I didn't do anything except show up. It spoke volumes to how simple it really is to mentor. I used to worry about things like "what are we gonna do"..."what are we gonna talk about"... not anymore. I realize by just being who I am and listening to who he is, like any relationship, it grows. The benefit is that I provide a choice to a boy who may need another choice in his life.
I hope this story gives you a sense of how easy mentorship is and the greatness it brings. Ready...Set...Go!
-gt
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Another First
How important are firsts, how memorable? I guess it all depends. Well, tonight was Leroy's first time seeing the Harlem Globetrotters (http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com). My first time seeing them was with my wife a few years ago.
For me, the first time I saw the Globetrotters, despite being an adult, was a magical experience. I remember growing up knowing who they were by seeing them on TV, knowing the amazing things they could do with a simple ball. I remember thinking to myself that they probably weren't even real, that it was all some kind of magic...you know cinematography stuff. I'm sure that's at least one thing that contributed to my magical experience.
When we showed up for the show, and the Globetrotters came out onto the floor doing their 'magical circle' to "Sweet Georgia Brown", I watched Leroy's eyes light up, triggering the magical experience I had only a few years ago. The Globetrotters did their thing, their ball-handling magic, their shooting magic, their halarious antics...it was a great show. Leroy couldn't help but laugh everytime the team played a joke on another player or the audience. He kept saying "did you see that"..."that's crazy"...what a blast.
Anyway, I can only hope his first experience with the Globetrotters reserves a little space in his memory bank and that he can recall it, recall the happiness and laughter, whenever he needs - or, as most memories occur for me lately, at completely unexpected moments. Those times when you remember something funny, your face breaks out into a HUGE smile, and no one around you knows what the heck your smiling at - priceless!
- gt
For me, the first time I saw the Globetrotters, despite being an adult, was a magical experience. I remember growing up knowing who they were by seeing them on TV, knowing the amazing things they could do with a simple ball. I remember thinking to myself that they probably weren't even real, that it was all some kind of magic...you know cinematography stuff. I'm sure that's at least one thing that contributed to my magical experience.
When we showed up for the show, and the Globetrotters came out onto the floor doing their 'magical circle' to "Sweet Georgia Brown", I watched Leroy's eyes light up, triggering the magical experience I had only a few years ago. The Globetrotters did their thing, their ball-handling magic, their shooting magic, their halarious antics...it was a great show. Leroy couldn't help but laugh everytime the team played a joke on another player or the audience. He kept saying "did you see that"..."that's crazy"...what a blast.
Anyway, I can only hope his first experience with the Globetrotters reserves a little space in his memory bank and that he can recall it, recall the happiness and laughter, whenever he needs - or, as most memories occur for me lately, at completely unexpected moments. Those times when you remember something funny, your face breaks out into a HUGE smile, and no one around you knows what the heck your smiling at - priceless!
- gt
Friday, February 9, 2007
Welcome to my journey
I recently watched a movie entitled "The Secret" that discussed methods to bring ones 'wants' into reality. I am one of the worlds biggest skeptics and thought to myself after watching the movie - "Yeah, whatever, some people put like a thousand things on a list; one or two of them came true; and all of a sudden, this is a proof-of-concept method to getting what you want out of life."
I'm not here to either prove or disprove the concept. I bring this up, because something in the movie inspired me to move into action in my life. For much of my life, I felt the need to receive because my thought was that I gave so much to life already, that it's my turn to get. Sounds strange from a man who's a young 36 years old, but after growing up in an abusive, alcoholic childhood, loosing my father at the age of 14, and fighting addiction for many years, I had good reason to 'want'.
When I was 23, my life's journey took a turn (not sure if it was left or right). Long story short, I'm sober for 14 years now, grew into my identity through self-discovery work, and am active in living a life of integrity, action, and mission.
I think back to the times in my youth that I was looking for mentorship. Sure I had no idea what that word was about, but I knew that I needed a friend, someone to say "you probably don't want to do that" or "when I was your age, I tried that and...". Who knows where I would be now, whether I'd be different or not...I'm here to tell you that I sure would have loved that chance.
I became a Big Brother (http://www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org) recently and was matched with a great boy named Leroy. We've been hanging out for a few months now and it's been a great experience.
Rather than going into the details of our experiences here, I'll just tell you that my intent with this blog is to share our growth and journey together so other men (and women) can see how easy, how joyful, and how vital it is to mentor a child into this world.
My hope is that others will invite the experience of mentorship into their lives.
- gt
I'm not here to either prove or disprove the concept. I bring this up, because something in the movie inspired me to move into action in my life. For much of my life, I felt the need to receive because my thought was that I gave so much to life already, that it's my turn to get. Sounds strange from a man who's a young 36 years old, but after growing up in an abusive, alcoholic childhood, loosing my father at the age of 14, and fighting addiction for many years, I had good reason to 'want'.
When I was 23, my life's journey took a turn (not sure if it was left or right). Long story short, I'm sober for 14 years now, grew into my identity through self-discovery work, and am active in living a life of integrity, action, and mission.
I think back to the times in my youth that I was looking for mentorship. Sure I had no idea what that word was about, but I knew that I needed a friend, someone to say "you probably don't want to do that" or "when I was your age, I tried that and...". Who knows where I would be now, whether I'd be different or not...I'm here to tell you that I sure would have loved that chance.
I became a Big Brother (http://www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org) recently and was matched with a great boy named Leroy. We've been hanging out for a few months now and it's been a great experience.
Rather than going into the details of our experiences here, I'll just tell you that my intent with this blog is to share our growth and journey together so other men (and women) can see how easy, how joyful, and how vital it is to mentor a child into this world.
My hope is that others will invite the experience of mentorship into their lives.
- gt
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