Archive for February, 2020

Intentional Mentoring – by Kate Maurice

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Kate Maurice with a Pass It On Mentor at a mentor training meeting
Kate Maurice with a Pass It On Mentor at a
mentor training meeting

 

In my life, the mentor’s I’ve had have always been people I’ve recognized after the fact. I think it’s rarer when we find ourselves in intentional mentoring.  In either direction – to have the confidence to believe you could be a mentor to someone or conversely the realization of the need for a mentor in your life.

The teen years are a great example of this.  Most teens could use a mentor but are not always aware they need any answers or support. Often when I’m interviewing the young women to be in the Pass It On program and I ask them if they have ever had a mentor, most immediately say no. Then after I describe the qualities of character of a mentor they remember one, if not more mentors from their life. How often are we affected, inspired, ‘mentored’ in our life?  How often do we give credit to those who have led/affected our choices?

In November, the older girls – the mentors (grade 10-12) – chose their buddies (grade 8 girls) that they will mentor for the duration of the program (end of April). What an interesting experience to watch the young women pick the younger girls they are going to intentionally mentor for the next 5 months.  How do you decide who needs you and your insight the most? How do we know who most needs our help? These young women took the plunge with confidence – teenage hood is good for that. They believe in the wisdom they have gained in their short 15-17 years. And I know from experience that the experience of the next 5 months will mentor the mentors.  There is always so much to learn, so much wisdom to gain.

Something to think on – who are your mentors? Let’s take the time to acknowledge the mentors in our life and thank them for leading us thus far.

Kate Maurice - Mentor/Supervisor, Pass It On program

The Beloveds – by Christina Antonick

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This following image was chosen by the Obama campaign to be the image that came up when they declared their victory in November. It went on to become one of the most liked photographs of all time (it was an image actually taken last August).

Someone commented that it was an interesting choice – such a private moment for such a public event. The photographer says, “He and the first lady are so focused on each other. The way that they play off each other and get energy from each other… The obvious love and respect that they have for each other, and that the relationship is clearly one of equals, despite the fact that he’s the president, is remarkable. ”

The Beloveds as both archetypical and real… is the palpable shift happening in our world at this time. We are hungry for it… and collectively desire to experience it, on profound levels in our own personal lives. This photograph and its popularity speak of what John Gottman, a professor of Psychology at the University of Washington is advocating in his NY Times best-seller “The Seven Principles for making Marriage Work”… the sacred marriage as the foundation for global health and well-being. He boldly states (sigh! Yah! of course!)

“I believe the emotionally intelligent husband is the next step in social evolution.”

He has spent the last 16 years studying couples, marriage and divorce.

I think this is why people enjoy this image of the Obamas and their relationship overall. It is about a man and a woman and the embodied and emotionally intelligent and socially evolved man clearly accepting a woman’s influence and articulating and showing his respect, love and admiration for her, in her intelligence, power and grace. This is as a true act of strength and relational loving…. the strength of Sacred Union.

Christina Antonick -  R+R Adult Facilitator