In Memory of Mr. French
I sat alone about halfway back on the right-hand side of the large church auditorium, lost in thought. It was the funeral service for Mr. French, my piano teacher. I did not know any of his family but felt compelled to honor the man who had faithfully worked to make me a better musician. I remembered all the times I walked up the stairs of his brownstone home and into the front room, where the intense smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet sound of piano music flooded my senses.
For years I couldn’t help but feel that we had all suffered a great loss that day and that Mr. French had with his passing taken so much talent with him, somehow leaving a musical void in the world. If only there was a way to re-capture his gift and bring back the music, he so effortlessly gave us.
Then one day it dawned on me. I was looking at his life and passing in the wrong way. His musical legacy continues to live on through all of his many students, each carrying on a piece of his incredible gift. His willingness to teach and mentor us was the very thing that has kept his musical legacy alive well beyond his natural years.
Who Are Your Mentors?
Can you name more than one person who speaks into your consciousness and inspires you to grow? Mr. French was my mentor because I showed up every week at his brownstone to practice my craft and learn from his musical talent. For you perhaps it is a business thought leader, a spiritual guide, or even an amazing music teacher. Can you name one, maybe two active mentors in your life today?
Identify your mentors. If you don’t have any mentors today decide what you are passionate about and start looking for someone that is ahead of you in this area. Seek out regular time with people you admire. If you can’t find anyone in person, sign up for podcasts from someone who is already successful in an area that you want to grow in. Make it your personal goal to be able to identify at least three mentors that challenge growth in you on a weekly basis.
Become a mentor. Develop personal skills that attract others to you who also want to grow in a given area. You don’t need to look for people to mentor, you just need to develop your core values to the point that others seek you out for guidance. If you hone your skills enough, they will find you. And when they do, carefully choose a few who you are willing to trust your legacy to and start pouring into them.
Leave a legacy. There will always be a part of me that Mr. French helped to form, no matter how much or how little I play music today. Every time I walk past the piano, I smell the freshly brewed coffee, and I hear the sound of his fingers gliding effortlessly over the keys. In many ways he imparted more to me than just music lessons, he trusted me with a little piece of his legacy. Thank you, Mr. French, for being one of the top mentors in my life!
Resources
Here are links to related resources you might find useful. If you find your life is out of balance, take action today to change that about yourself. I heard it once said, the time is going to pass whether or not you act. Wouldn’t you rather spend that time becoming the person you aspire to be?
