Building Solidarity Part IV: My Minute Mentors

Have you watched a movie or read a book or talked to someone and gone away full of energy wanting to do something special with your life?  One of the things I like about getting to know people that have achieved something remarkable is the motivation I feel to do better for myself.

As a very young person, I had this collection of books detailing the childhood of famous Americans.  The characters described in those books were like my friends – George Washington, Thomas Edison, Annie Oakley, Walt Disney, and so many others who became impressive people in my eyes, not because of what they accomplished as adults, but rather, how they were portrayed as kids.  Curious, determined, they learned to overcome adversities in their lives in a positive way, applying their inner skills and talents.  Indeed, they were great stories of courage and perseverance.

I was also lucky to meet a few celebrities early in my life. I had about fifteen minutes of one-to-one conversation with the 2003 Miss America, Erica Harold, when I was about 10 years old.  She told me two things that have stayed with me all these years.  She said, “It is not the title but what you do with your title that matters” and “being anxious is normal when one appears in public but you can learn to manage it”. In 2006, I met Kim Seelbrede who was the 1981 Miss USA. When I asked her the question, “What’s most special or memorable to you as Miss USA ?” she responded by saying “good question”, then answered it with a question of her own – that led us to discussing a few subjects.  She seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying and related to me like “one of the adults” around her.  She even gave me a big, nice hug and I went away feeling good hoping that I could do the same as a grown-up.

When thinking about building solidarity, the word “inspire” comes to mind – to inspire others to commit to a goal or mission, to inspire others to take on some responsibilities in carrying out a task, to inspire members to focus on the group goal rather than issues that detract from the main aim – and even being a minute mentor to members to inspire them to do better for themselves. Actively validating the contributions of members also goes a long way in building solidarity.