Art of Mentoring

Celebrating the art of mentoring 

by sharing the gift of a story.

It is wonderful to once again be window-side and writing.  While I am experiencing the peacefulness of the image before me, I am energized and awe struck by the view of this ever-changing and profound beauty.  Today this deeply wooded forest is colorless and there is a glaring starkness reflecting the blanket of snow.  Stillness in an eerie sort of way.

In reflection of this past week I was deeply inspired by a mentoring experience. “Mentoring From the Heart Through Storytelling” is what makes my blood flow within the spirit of my womanhood ~

Not only do I embrace the art of listening in mentoring but I feel that another core element in being an inspirational mentor is how we deliver our message in a way that can be heard.

When mentored, I was seldom offered the answers to anything.   More importantly, my mentors provided me with their personal stories: it was from those heartfelt stories that I grew; I shaped their stories to fit my own life experiences, to fit my own style and fit to my own attitude.

For me, the imagery of mentoring is like a enormous circle of life where passing on our knowledge and experiences are endless. Mentoring and story telling is as old as humankind.

My most positive and powerful experiences come from mentoring young women. It has been so inspirational to witness the many women that have paid this experience forward.

I believe that in working with one woman, a mentor is potentially affecting the lives of so many others – where each generation passes on their life stories to the following generations.

There is just no greater gift than sharing one’s life experience and knowledge to lift up another and giving them a voice - a voice that is listened too and respected.

It is my pleasure to share the following mentoring story that my daughter wrote for her 12 sisters who live across the world in Rwanda. 

Change and Possibilities

Butterfly Power 

December 2010

My dear sweet Esther Home Sisters,

………There are many changes happening in your lives right now and the New Year will bring even more. This is the time to embrace the new journeys and to push forward with all your desire and efforts.  Mom talks about the butterfly and how it is a beautiful symbol of change, so I would like to share one of my favorite stories with you and how this symbol helped mold and change my life.

In my early twenties I left my family and moved to Montana to see what another part of this world was like and to experience something new.  I had so many dreams and ideas yet I did not know exactly what I was put on this earth to do or to accomplish.  I spent the summer trying new things and making new friendships.  A few months into my journey my brother and his wife, Eve, (then his girlfriend) came to visit me for a few days.  My relationship with my brother was always strong, but this was a new relationship for me with Eve and so I was looking forward to nourishing it and spending some quality time with her.  We spent a lot of time talking and sharing and one day decided to take a walk together.  I remember thinking this was when I was going to ask her about her relationship with my brother and to make sure she knew how much he meant to me and that it was her responsibility to make sure he stays happy.  (That is what a big sister does …smile)  On our walk I picked up a tiny stick that had been smoothed by the weather conditions.  I picked it up and twirled it in between my fingers throughout our beautiful walk.  As we continued to walk I noticed a large monarch butterfly following Eve and I as we walked down the path.  It just kept fluttering by and never once landed.  I looked at Eve and said wouldn’t it be amazing if I could get this butterfly to land on this stick?  I took my stick and held it high into the air, standing completely still.  I sang in a soft beautiful tone…land on my stick butterfly…land on my stick.  I must have said it five or six times when all of a sudden to our amazement the butterfly landed softly on the stick.  Eve and I watched with amazement as the butterflies wings slowly fluttered as it rested on the stick.  Eve and I looked at each other and when the butterfly flew away we did not say anything.  We merely continued on our walk silently and with giant smiles upon our faces.  At that moment Eve and I knew without any words spoken that we had experienced something no one will ever believe; something that may never happen again in our lifetimes.  Eve and I were bonded for life and will forever have that to fall back on.

That moment marked a change for me and my life.  I started to believe in the impossible and that there are things in life that although may be unexplainable they do make a difference in the paths we chose to take in life. There are still many times in each year that Eve and I talk about that day and what a miraculous event it was. Change was about to happen then and the possibility of everything being alright was a blessing to us.

…….  During these changes it is your family you need to lean on the most.  We are fortunate sisters to have such a great support system and know that we are all there for each other.  Again, your big sister loves you and sending you tons of wishes and good blessings. 

Spread those wings and fly my little butterflies!

Love, Sister Nicole