Passing The Torch

There comes a point in a person's life when one looks back at the years of service that he or she has done and asks, "Is it my time to go?" It's a question one tends to consider when one wants to pursue other aspirations for themselves personally and professionally. All the frustration, stress, and fatigue can add up mentally and physically on a person over the years. In retrospect, one could consider themselves a seasoned veteran due to logging so many hours while acquiring knowledge and experience in the process.

As a seasoned veteran, a person can look at the "rookies" that are wet behind the ears,so to speak, and wonder if they are ready to take on the responsibility that is about to be placed on them. One just has to learn through trial and error, if one doesn't learn the ropes so to speak then it's hasta la vista baby! One can't literally and metaphorically hold that person's hand and show that person what to do, he or she has to do it themselves. In a way, it's like riding a bike, it basically comes natural through practice.

Sometimes there are rules that go with a job, but as the saying goes, "You don't always have to play by the rules." Rules are made to be broken, but yet there are those that stick to them and tend to ruin a good thing. A person just has to remove that stick up their butt and go with the flow. Over time, a person can learn the tricks of the trade so to speak after working at a particular place for several years. It's like a handy unofficial guidebook that a person will write themselves and pass down if one wants to.

In any case, he or she can sometimes find that one person that has that burning desire to run with the ball so to speak. It's often been said that one can see themselves in a person that wants to strive to be something better. It's that person that he or she takes under his or her wing and teaches/mentors them like Robin with Batman. Though, there isn't a cool cave to hang around in, or costumes to wear, or the batmobile to ride in. It's just a matter of the student learning as much as he or she can from the teacher.

Every person remembers that one teacher/mentor that highly influenced their lives and made an impact on them in a big way. It's that one person that took it upon himself or herself to help and guide us, in turn, we help and guide others. It can be somewhat compared to martial arts as the master teaches the student. The skills and training one learns over time will be of great value for years to come. Inevitably, the master will have taught all that he or she knows and in the end, it's just a matter of passing the torch.