Success in Fostering People

I have uncountable memories of what my seniors did to foster me during my youth.
How many times was I admonished by them when they saw through me when I made some casual remarks? How many times did we laugh together, cry together, or take a bath together, chatting and thinking together? Literally uncountable times, indeed! Some of them advised me to look at both their bad sides as well as good, even honestly confessing about their own worries or anxieties. They brought me up with tender care in my 20s that I am not able to forget.

Now, I’m seriously pondering about the importance and difficulties of fostering younger people. Here are some points that I hold as key to successful fostering:
No. 1 – Being a good judge of people
No. 2 – Having an affection for people whom we want to foster
No. 3 –Being able to make unprejudiced and levelheaded observation of their characters

More important, however, is to know that we too often tend to judge others’ characters instead of judging our own selves. It is almost impossible to successfully “foster” people unless our own
Cherry blossoms are now in full bloom. One of my seniors once told me that cherry trees blossom out of their own will. But their doing so depends upon the meteorologically right environment. The same can be said about people, too. The growth of a person depends on his or her own will to grow, but the willingness on the part of the people around to help is indispensable. It is only when the two will meet that the growth occurs, as flowers come out in blossom in response to the right weather.

Thus, although our efforts and willingness to foster young ones are of much importance, the bottom line, in my opinion, is that we should try to spend our lives in positive spirits day after day and keep growing, no matter how old we get in our years.