Monday, March 10, 2014
A Mentor and a Woodpecker
Woodpeckers spend their days pounding their heads against trees and other hard materials. They have been created with very strong head and neck muscles that can absorb the shock of continuous pounding. As a Mentor you will have days when you feel like you are banging your head against a wall.
Perseverance is a "must-have" character trait in a Mentor. Patience is a "must-have" character trait in a Mentor. All people communicate differently. All people are capable of making bad decisions. The younger the person you are mentoring, the more likely the possibility of them making bad decisions. Commitment is another "must-have" character trait. Woodpeckers will make a larger hole to get at a larger meal. They don't give up easily.
Abandonment and rejection are deep rooted wounds that affect almost everybody at some point in life. An abandoned woodpecker nest can be filled by other birds. A wounded young person will try to fill their emptiness in other ways that can be destructive like sex, drugs or alcohol.You may be trying to help somebody and they might be rejecting your efforts. It's like banging your head against a wall. Keep trying, go the extra mile. Most likely the person rejecting you is unknowingly trying to protect their heart from more pain. Be prepared to not give up when mentoring gets hard.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Bob Kuebler
Founder / Mentor Force
Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 or [email protected]
We do school assemblies and conferences. We will design a program for your school or organization.