Meryl's Shareable Parables
Keep Your Eye on The Ball:
Puppy lessons about priorities, distractions, and focus

Forward to a Friend         Article Reuse Policy

Author’s note: Scroll to the end for ideas of who Mentor might be and what The Ball represents in your life.

A sweet connection
Mentor threw The Ball and Puppy fetched it. Puppy left The Ball at Mentor’s feet and wagged his tail, eagerly awaiting the next toss. Mentor praised Puppy and threw The Ball a little farther. Puppy retrieved The Ball with skill and delight. Mentor praised Puppy again and threw The Ball harder. Puppy almost caught The Ball in the air. As the game continued, Mentor threw The Ball in new ways, and Puppy became adept at catching the throws. As the drills continued, Mentor and Puppy felt increasing love for each other.

A misunderstanding
One day, Mentor threw The Ball and Puppy couldn’t track it. Mentor pointed in the direction where The Ball had rolled. Puppy stared at Mentor’s gesturing arm. Mentor said, “Over there. The Ball is over there.” Puppy looked lovingly at Mentor. Mentor raised his voice and increased the intensity of his gestures. Puppy realized Mentor was upset with him, and went to lick Mentor’s face to win back his favor. Mentor pushed Puppy away, grabbed his collar and shoved Puppy in the direction of The Ball. Hurt and confused, Puppy ran away.

Separation
Puppy wallowed in confusion. Puppy tried to play with The Ball on his own. He tossed The Ball in the air and ran after it. Occasionally, Stranger and Passer-by threw The Ball for him. Still, Puppy missed his drills with Mentor. When Neighbor threw The Ball so Puppy couldn’t track it, and Neighbor pointed at The Ball, Puppy’s confusion deepened. Puppy went to Dog to help him figure out what went so wrong.

Clarification
“The problem,” Dog said, “is you confused the messenger with the message. Mentor pointed, and instead of going where he pointed, you focused on Mentor. You made it about Mentor when it’s really about The Ball. Mentor directs you toward The Ball, but Mentor is not The Ball.” Dog further explained gesturing to Puppy, who delighted that he was now equipped to study and play with Mentor again. As Puppy dashed off, Dog cried after him, “Mentor is a great teacher of The Ball. Just remember, he is not The Ball.” Dog’s words reached Puppy’s ears but did not sink in as Puppy dashed off for a reunion with his beloved Mentor.

Reunion
Puppy found The Ball, ran back to Mentor and placed The Ball at Mentor’s feet. Mentor threw The Ball and Puppy retrieved it. Mentor praised Puppy and the drills resumed. When Mentor threw The Ball so it rolled where Puppy did not see it, Puppy followed the direction of Mentor’s pointing finger instead of staring lovingly at Mentor’s hands. Their reunion was joyful and Puppy learned about The Ball.

Puppy gradually learned about Mentor too. At first, Puppy blindly loved Mentor and believed Mentor was perfect. If Mentor accidentally threw The Ball into a swamp or up a tree, Puppy thought he should be able to get it. If Mentor got impatient with Puppy when Puppy missed a toss, Puppy thought he was a bad Puppy. If Mentor knew nothing about an aspect of The Ball, Puppy assumed it was unworthy of knowing.

Puppy blindly went wherever Mentor pointed him. However, one day, after cutting his paws in a thicket where Mentor had thrown The Ball, it occurred to Puppy that Mentor had flaws. He felt deeply betrayed. He considered leaving. Mentor had so much more to teach Puppy about The Ball that Puppy stayed and tried to work through his confusion.

Gradually Puppy remembered Dog’s words and Puppy increasingly kept his eye on The Ball. He found The Ball was far more interesting than he imagined.

Expansion
One day, Mentor threw The Ball so beautifully that Puppy wanted to share it with others. Puppy retrieved The Ball and carried it away to show Dog and Mutt and Hound. They were so impressed with The Ball they introduced Puppy to all their friends. Puppy received many requests to show – and to throw – The Ball around.

While he was gone, Puppy also visited Tutor and Teacher and Counselor and he honored the wisdom of each.

Mentor was sad to see Puppy go but was glad that others would see The Ball. Mentor was concerned that Puppy wasn’t qualified to share The Ball but believed some understanding of The Ball was better than none. Mentor was disappointed that Puppy wasn’t coming around to study his other lessons about The Ball, but was confident that Puppy would return one day.

A mature reunion
Puppy did return. Puppy laid The Ball at Mentor’s feet. Mentor marveled at The Ball and threw it in a way Puppy had not imagined possible. Puppy was back.

Puppy had matured. Now, when Mentor became impatient, Puppy remembered his own impatience when he threw The Ball. Puppy didn’t take it personally. When Mentor threw The Ball far beyond Puppy’s ability to catch, Puppy gave it his all – but Puppy did not feel inadequate for missing it. When Mentor threw The Ball into the swamp, Puppy did not go after it. Instead, he said to Mentor, “I find that when I throw The Ball into the swamp, it’s because I’m twisting my wrist ever so slightly at the first part of my toss.”

Mentor did not listen to Puppy as Puppy had hoped but Puppy did not feel betrayed. Puppy knew Mentor was great and (unlike Puppy) Mentor was human and that meant Mentor had limits. Mentor was not The Ball. Puppy still had much to learn from Mentor. Puppy remembered to keep his eye on The Ball.

Great Ball Mentor Dog
Mentor and Puppy’s love for The Ball deepened Mentor and Puppy’s love for each other. Puppy willingly embraced the greatness of Mentor, and overlooked Mentor’s limits. That’s how Puppy grew into The Great Ball Mentor Dog, who served many aspiring young Puppies. Puppy told aspirants that he learned what he knew from Mentor. He also told them that Mentor was not The Ball.

Puppy taught his students knew that he, their Mentor, was not The Ball either.

Author notes:
The Ball is truth, wisdom, essence, and/or something you value deeply. It’s the priority. Mentor is someone or something that points the way. Don’t confuse the two. For example:

When Sweetheart stirs your heart, that stirring points to Love. Sweetheart is not The Ball. When Sweetheart lets you down – as humans always do, keep your eye on Love.

Philosophy, Teaching and Ideology point to Reality. Philosophy, Teaching and Ideology are not The Ball. They provide mental constructs to help you see and interpret what’s in front of you. When you bump up against the limitations of Philosophy, Teaching and Ideology – as you will, since all teachings only represent Reality, keep your eye on The Reality

If you find an archetype, role model or brand that captures your essence, it points to Your Essence. The archetype, role model and brand are not The Ball. If The Hero or Celebrity or Your Brand let you down or feel limiting, keep your eye on Your Essence.

Look where your Mentors – formal or informal – point, and don’t make their pointing arm into The Ball. Keep your eyes on The Balls that matter to you.


Bookmark and Share

Reprint/Reuse Policy:
You may use any of these articles in your newsletter, publications, or on your web site. Please:

1. Let us know when and how you are using the article via email:
2. If it is a web posting, please link back to this article by copying the article URL address. Also include a link to the SpeakStrong website, www.speakstrong.com.
3. Place Meryl’s tag line at the end of the article with all her contact information. Thanks!

Tag Line:
Meryl Runion and Speak Strong (SpeakStrong) provides Power Phrases (PowerPhrases) and other tools to help you improve communication skills at work and at home. You can read more about her at www.speakstrong.com.

Meryl is the author of six books on communication that have sold over a quarter million copies worldwide, including Speak Strong, PowerPhrases!, How to Use PowerPhrases, Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors, and How to Say It: Performance Reviews. You can reach her at 719-684-2633, or by email:

You can also follow Meryl on Twitter: http://twitter.com/merylrunion.