I was struck by the footage of retired Arsenal legend Ian Wright standing on the terraces of Highbury for an inconsequential interview about his football career.
The whole tone shifts as his former school teacher Sydney Pigden surprises him some thirty-something years since his school days. Wright is visibly stunned, quickly becoming tearful.
Clips of interviews with Wright crediting Mr Pigden as his first male role model as a young boy are weaved through the reunion footage.
“Mr Pigden, you’re alive,” says Wright, removing his cap.
The old teacher laughs and they shake hands.
“Someone said you was dead.” Wright whispers, his voice breaking.
It is emotive, there is no doubt that Wright is humbled by the interaction and I suspect somewhat embarrassed, he hides his face in his hat sobbing.
Recognising a mentor can be difficult, people’s time in your life is fleeting. Reflect on what you are good at, reflect on what you take pride in; there’s likely somebody at the end of the string, it’s okay if their face is blurred. That is time.
I’ve done the exercise and didn’t particularly like some of the results. We won’t all have been blessed with Mr Pigdens.
Some of your mentors will not be good people. Life was uncomfortable with them in it. That isn’t to say they didn’t gift you an experience that helped you grow or taught you something you needed to learn. How we thank these people is by continuing to better what they did for us as we inevitably step in to their shoes.
When we mentor the next idiot blinking in the headlights; challenge them always, but with patience and compassion and structure.
Ian Wright by his own admission was blessed twice. His mentor was a good man. Someone who provided structure, room to grow and it was all the better that he did it with kindness. I hope you can recognise them, it’s a humbling reflection. Wright had a second chance that not many of us will get:
Say Thankyou in good time, not borrowed time.
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