Graduations are just stops along your life voyage.
The entire town may show up to wish you well on your journey from this port to who knows where. You are the star today.
And this is your celebration.
From Now on, you are basically on your own.
Sure, your mom and dad and siblings will hold the fort for you while you visit the world and taste its adventures. You might get a job right away; but deep down, in your gut, you know you don't know everything you need to know.
What do you know?
That books contain the accumulated knowledge of your people. That there are more books to read and digest than the number you have already read and digested. That you are already ahead of your parents, but nowhere ready to go at life on your own, the way your parents did. The amount of knowledge you need is much more.
What do you need?
You need a compass, for sure. You need to know where True North is, where your heart is, where your values are buried. Where you will be content with yourself. And you need more knowledge, more skills for each challenge you encounter. Learning is a life-long pursuit.
Are you ready to eat well, sleep well, and play well?
You have freedoms now that you never did. You have the freedom to purchase and prepare your own food. How you take care of yourself will influence your quality of life. Junk food will kill you in your prime. If you don't recognize what's on the label of a product, don't buy that product. (as expressed by Jamie Oliver!)
Sleep is your friend. You don't get enough, your performance will suffer. Sleep is underrated. Get your eight hours and be jealous of those hours.
Play with enthusiasm and with fairness, to yourself, to your friends. Think of consequences when you play. If you play fair and respect your partner, the future will remain rosy for both of you.
Are you ready to work until the job is done well?
Ah, yes, until the job is done well! You may be working for the first time in your life at an eight hour job. You will be tired and overwhelmed by the responsibilities. You may want to skip a day when you didn't sleep well, when you didn't play enough. Your job will define who you are to the boss, to your colleagues who depend on you doing your part. Show them they can rely on you. Do you feel like complaining? Don't. Call your older brother and ask for advice. Call your father. Let someone guide you on how to solve this new problem. Doing your job well is what your schooling prepared you for, what your parents prepared you for. Man Up!
You'll be pursuing a career and pursuing a life partner.
These two forces will sometimes be at odds with each other. You'll be working long hours when you want to spend time with that special person. Communicate your needs and be transparent. Your boss may not understand, and neither will that special person. They may not understand, but they will be cognizant that you tried your best to satisfy each of their needs. Trying counts. Not trying, being sneaky, lying and blaming others, never helps.
Plan for tomorrow, but live today.
Life is right here in front of you, in the food you choose to eat, the people you are with, the work you are doing. Be present, be conscious of the blessings you have. Appreciate all you have, and never take anyone or anything for granted. Be generous with your wealth, with your caring. What you give to others will be returned four-fold. Today is all you have for today.
May you marvel at the world you'll see, the things you'll accomplish, the love you will give.
32 comments:
What wonderful advice that is bound to be ignored by most of the "I already know everything" younger generation.
Wise Woman - Rosaria,
Your post is a 'must read' for everyone graduating this month - including my granddaughter (high school) and grandson (middle schoo.)
A friend shared this with me last week 'let life change you' .. so simple, so profound.
Great post, rosaria. I'll share it with the graduates I know.
Wow great timing--I am a rising sophomore in college but it feels like I barely just graduated from high school myself.
It was really tough going out on my own and becoming more independent (especially now that I have my own apartment), but I've learned so much over the course of the past year.
Wise words. Thank you so much for your sage advice! I really needed this.
~TRA
http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Wouldn't be great if every young person graduating took this good advice and put it to the "life test"? I wish I had taken more time with my decisions and goals. We always think we have so much time, and "old" age is sooooooo far away! Wonderful advice for all of us!
Rosaria -- Where were you when I was graduating? Coulda used your advice!
This is such good advice. It may not be followed, but sooner or later it will be learned! So I would add: You will make mistakes; you will have failures. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and has failures. Learn from them, handle them gracefully, apologise if necessary and go forward.
I came from a loving family but somehow noone actually spelt it out how it was going to be. I think the lesson is to speak true but with a soft touch and above all,to guide with a loving hand.
i think you captured good wisdom for the high school grad...hopefully the college grad has thought through a lot of this as it is too late if they wait for graduation as many will be answered for them...
I love that, Rosaria! Live today!
If you didn't give that speech to a graduating class, you should have. Good stuff there.
Great words of advice... and use common sense which is what you are describing. I think common sense develops as one gets older; so I like your advice on calling your father/mother or your sibling. Love & support is indeed needed. Good post.
My first read this summer, The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman, a silver compass passed down through 13 generations of woman had a staring role.
True North. I forgot. That is where I was headed at one time...
All I can add is DITTO. Some of you lessons I learned early, and some I learned much much later.
How we act when we learn a truism, as important as the learning.
Unfortunately when we graduate we think we know more than those older around us. I learned that lesson very early on in my career. Other things took much longer.
Good advice. If I had a graduate, I'd sure pass it along. I don't remember being wise enough to tell my own kids that. Mostly, I think I said: no drinking, no drugs, no fast cars. They listened on the "no drugs." One out of three is pretty good at that age.
Right on, Rosaria!
Understanding what you know, and what you can do (those are not necessarily the same). Having a goal and some guidelines, living healthy, and working hard, etc.
Wonderful advice, and not only for graduates.
G'day Rosaria. What great advice. If only everyone would follow it. I wish I had read something like this when I graduated all those many moons ago. Terrific blog. Take care. Liz...
Awesome post Rosaria. Wish someone had given me these words to read when I graduated all those years ago. Thank you.
I can't even imagine being 18 again and staring life in the face. Your consels are good and hopefully, young folk will heed.
Bravo!! My teens shall be reading this...maybe they will listen to someone else!
You hit all the key points, well done! You should be doing keynote speaker engagements at graduations.
Great advice, Rosaria! So true--the amount of knowledge one needs for life is a lot!
Wise pieces of advice. 'Twould be nice if they listen.
You give such wise advice, Rosaria. Even if the new grads only listened a little, they'd learn a lot! I loved this post!
A compass! A compass! We all need a compass. What a valuable lesson! A compass that doesn't have to point at the North, but rather at the Rich Experience of Life.
Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
Beautifully said.
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful advice, Rosaria. I read this post several times over. the simplicity of the lines brings out their profoundness. It has been a while since I graduated, worked hard, achieved, traveled, and finally felt as if I was leading a programmed life. Call it the one-third life crisis or by any other name. It is like coming back to the drawing board. I'm in the process of trying to figure out my true north, where my heart lies.
It was an excellent post, and I want to thank you for that.
you need to be invited to give a commencement address. you would be wonderful. great advice, dear rosaria. xoxo
So often, we hear what we want to hear, what speaks to us at this time.
Wishing you all a great summer ahead, and a wonderful beginning on whatever journey you're on.
The eating well is something that people have such a hard time getting! It does catch up. All good advice!
Each of us 'graduate' many times from many classes in life and it never hurts to review questions such as yours to help one navigate and change direction if needed...
Post a Comment