Sharing What You Know
Several years ago, when my son Sam graduated from college, a friend suggested he contact one of her neighbors who worked in science and engineering. As a chem engineering grad, Sam was unsure of which industry to focus his efforts as a potential career path, and was spending time interviewing people in the field who could shed some light. When I asked him later how his discussion went, he told me the man said he had no time, and offered no advice. I was surprised, and a little disappointed. No matter how busy this person was, couldn’t he spare 15 minutes while drinking his morning coffee? I thought about what we have to leave when we depart this world – descendants, money, houses, material items, and, well, knowledge. In fact, knowledge and the wisdom that goes with it could be the most relevant asset we offer to this world. Let’s face it… we’ve spent our lives learning and acquiring knowledge, and we have a choice to be proprietary and exclusive due to fear of competition, or share, be generous, and guide others toward a better path as a result.
I have always enjoyed mentoring. For 12 years, I ran the GirlPower wellness program for 8 to 14 year old girls and I had the honor of both guiding and learning from them. The best kind of learning is interactive, where both parties give and take. I learned a great deal from these young sages, and it helped me to cultivate a more productive and creative program for the participants.
As I recently reflected on my decades of experience in movement, dance and wellness, I realized I missed being a mentor. I love guiding people toward achieving their life’s purpose and offering them tools to support them in this journey. As if the universe heard me, two opportunities came my way. Fifteen year old Amelia from the mentoring program at Concord Carlisle High School asked me to mentor her in learning how to develop a small business. Over the course of 3 months, I will share my knowledge and marketing toolbox with her; and whether she starts a small business or not, she can translate these functional skills toward whatever field she chooses.
A second mentoring opportunity arose when I was contacted by a Tufts student, Ananya, who is studying neuroscience and dance, and is interested in the intersection of these two disciplines on the brain and health. She interviewed me and asked if she could participate in or observe my classes and programs. Of course, I agreed, and she has been my teaching assistant in my Dance for Parkinson’s class, as well as my Motion to Music class for a memory community. Ananya will be writing her capstone thesis on her experiences with me. I told her when I started in this field, I really had no clue where I would go, or how it would develop. But when I laid one seed, it was as if it germinated into tendrils that I never knew existed. I just followed the path, and the career blossomed organically, providing me opportunities to assist many different populations in achieving wellness through movement. I asked Ananya if she knew what her next step would be, and she told me that she didn’t, that she didn’t mind the uncertainty, and that she would be willing to follow a path as she acquired knowledge along the way.
I feel content that in some small way, I can help these young women and others who request my guidance. Who knows what small bit of knowledge might make a difference in the trajectory of their lives. After all, I feel this is our most enduring legacy…to share what we know.