When people look up to you.

[MJ5150]

The thing that gets me is when people tell me years later how they looked up to me as they moved through a phase in their life.
It made me really think long and hard about how much of an impact we all have on others whether we know it or not.

-Mike

 

[slobake]

The thing that gets me is when people tell me years later how they looked up to me as they moved through a phase in their life.
It made me really think long and hard about how much of an impact we all have on others whether we know it or not.

-Mike

Makes me think more about my actions. (Sometimes)

 

[saabfender]

I find myself in situations where people look up to me and seek wisdom. I

Those are the smart ones who can already see how tough it is to navigate life and understand the folly and wastefulness of re-inventing the wheel. "That old-timer looks like he's been run over a time or two; let's ask him." And those are the ones who are worth sharing all the stuff you've collected over the years. Makes all the tire marks worthwhile.

 

[buldog5151bass]

It can be fun dealing with the very young and very old. The very young don't understand subtlety, and the older tend not to give a rat's patootie.

 

[blastoff99]

For most of my life, I was the youngest in whatever crowd I happened to be in. It went with the territory that I was going to be the one to crawl after something that fell on the floor, or perform the task that required vigor or idiocy. I didn't give this much thought until it changed. When I started going to a different church, I found myself as far and away the oldest in the group I was in. One Sunday, right before the pre-service countdown hit 0:00, I looked around at the other people on stage and realized I was 20 years older than everyone else. I grinned and flubbed the entrance.

This (being old, not flubbing entrances) was new territory. I quickly realized that sometimes when these whippersnappers came up to me to ask a question, they weren't being quite as casual as they acted. They knew me, they trusted me, and they were often asking questions that they perhaps didn't quiiiiiiite want to ask their parents. Still, they recognized me as something of a responsible adult.

I liked that, mostly. It was sobering to know that younger people were looking to me for advice, and yet also affirming, because they were mostly right: I was pretty much a responsible adult. This was a new role for me, after being the 'mascot' for so many years.

Now I'm back in situations where I'm once again a young 'un. Birthday after next lands me in the colonoscopy camp, so I'm hardly young. I need some different friends.

 

[D M C]

The thing that gets me is when people tell me years later how they looked up to me as they moved through a phase in their life.
It made me really think long and hard about how much of an impact we all have on others whether we know it or not.

-Mike

Sorry for the derail but, what gets me is girls (women now,) whom I’d secretly been in love with in my youth that tell me that they’d had a huge crush on me back in the day. It all but begs me to think how my life might have been radically different had we both confessed our deepest, darkest secrets to one another and I had not gotten involved with the mail order bride from Belarus who, although she claimed to be in it only for the love, companionship and my huge, huge... ahem... turned out to be in it for the Russian oligarch who...

Umm, I’m sorry, what were we talking about?

 

[TOOL460002]

I have been here on this planet circling the sun for 65 years now. I have made a LOT of mistakes, some that almost killed me and I have even learned from a few of them.
I find myself in situations where people look up to me and seek wisdom. I don't know what to make of that. Part of me want so say "Hey, you've got the wrong guy." On the other hand I know that my experience is worth something and I should embrace that role. I worry that it will somehow go to my head and start thinking I am all that. Whatever "all that" is. So far it has been okay.
There are people I look up to and respect as well and some of the things I may do/say are a reflection of what I have learned from them. Some of those people are here on Talkbass.
There are also people here on Talkbass like my friends @Gorn , @ZenG and others who are always willing to take me down a notch. I appreciate that.
The whole thing is somewhat new and I am still learning to deal with it. It also makes me uncomfortable but I will survive, somehow. As long as I remember to just be myself and not try and be something that I am not, I will be okay.
I am bracing myself and looking forward to the teasing that I have no doubt will come from posting this. Makes me feel the love.

Most people have certain attributes that are worth looking at or up to so as to follow that path. If someone can see your past issues and navigate them more easily then that's a penny in your karma bank.

I'm sure you have a ton of horrible stories but who cares when you have a number or great ones. People learn from that.

Also, when folks are in a bad place, any glimmer of hope is enough to look up to and all that. You don't have to mentor everyone on the planet but if you help a few you're doing more than most.

Be well.

 

[MJ5150]

Sorry for the derail but, what gets me is girls (women now,) whom I’d secretly been in love with in my youth that tell me that they’d had a huge crush on me back in the day. It all but begs me to think how my life might have been radically different had we both confessed our deepest, darkest secrets to one another and I had not gotten involved with the mail order bride from Belarus who, although she claimed to be in it only for the love, companionship and my huge, huge... ahem... turned out to be in it for the Russian oligarch who...

Umm, I’m sorry, what were we talking about?

I was a loser with the ladies in school. That never happened to me.

-Mike

 

[D M C]

I was a loser with the ladies in school. That never happened to me.

-Mike

Have you looked into the Charles Atlas body building course?

 

[40Hz]

 

[Gaolee]

You used to be able to look me up in the phonebook but I don't think we have those anymore.

Where is Steve Goodman when we need him? Oh, right here...

I've seen my name a few times in the phone book,
And above the bar where I used to play...

It's odd when younger people look up to you. It's flattering, but it's a little strange, because I usually come to the conclusion that they are far better than I when I was their age. And I tell them that. It's less a matter of deflating myself, which happens on its own, than it is a matter of letting them know what kind of future they could have if they choose it. At some fundamental level, everything is optional and uncontrollable at the same time.

 

[Funky Ghost]

As is often the case with those who teach or those who are in the rehab or special needs field you find yourself in the position of mentor/father/advocate often. I don't think about it much now because it's become so ingrained in my behavior, but early on when it became apparent that I was influencing people if not in thought then certainly in action and deed, I made a conscious effort to be consistent ( the most important thing imo ) and helpful, even when I didn't feel up to it. I learned that "I don't know" was better than possible misinformation ( guessing ) and that "Let's find out." often did as much for me as for them.

Somewhere along the way it occurred to me that I am happiest in this roll. I'm happy doing what I do to earn a living.

 

[seamus bass]

ive had this happen to me before, take it humble and pas on what you know. something can always be learned from someone. im mentoring my daughter to handle it by way of her painting/drawings. shes actually selling her work in elementary school. she alsos been approached by other students to "teach" them, it frustrates her that other people hound her with "your so good at art". ive told her that will happen and everyone has a talent but not always aware, teach them to find that,not your talent. mentoring can teach you things you would never learn as a student, being a good teacher doesnt even mean you have to be a master.

 

[slobake]

I was a loser with the ladies in school. That never happened to me.

-Mike

Me too, I had my first girlfriend when I was in college.

 

[rendevouz]

Could be that a lot to people I socialize/ serve with are at least 30 years younger than me. I am the token old fart.

I thought you were the Tolkien old fart

 

[Funky Ghost]

Me too, I had my first girlfriend when I was in college.

Same. I was 19 and I'm lucky enough to say she is still into me ( after I pulled my head out all these years later ).

 

[slobake]

I learned that "I don't know" was better than possible misinformation ( guessing ) and that "Let's find out." often did as much for me as for them.

That is very sound advice and also very liberating when I realize I don't have to know all the answers. Sometimes, letting someone talk thing through and finding the answer themselves is better.

 

[Funky Ghost]

I thought you were the Tolkien old fart

One does not simply drop a Tolkien reference.

 

[slobake]

I thought you were the Tolkien old fart

Gandalf? Nope that would be Leland Sklar.

 

[klejst]

When people look up to you....you must be tall...at least taller then them that is.