Advice to grads
Thank you so much for inviting me to speak at your graduation.
What? You didn’t invite me? I crashed it? Well, tough cookies. I’m here, and you’re going to listen. I’ll make it quick, keep it to four points. So shut up and sit down and let me learn ya a thing or two, m’kay?
1) Indecision is a killer: Rolling over your options all day and all night is not getting you anywhere. When confronted with a choice, 99.9% of the time I guarantee you whatever your final decision is would’ve been the same decision if you made it quick-like. Be reasoned, be smart, but trust me on this: Be quick. Your gut instinct is almost certainly the path you were going to choose anyway.
2) Stealing this from somewhere, not even sure where, but here goes: Worry is a wasted emotion. No amount of worry is going to change anything. This is almost a corollary to number one above; don’t fret over things, just take decisive action.
3) Don’t be cruel to the people you love and who love you. Seems like a nobrainer, right? Yeah, well, except it’s all too easy to be cruel to the people you love and who love you. Why? Because you know they will still love you tomorrow. And they will. For a while, at least. But then one day, they won’t, and your casual cruelty will leave you lonely and alone.
OK. We’re almost done. One more. 4) As long as someone isn’t getting hurt - emotionally, physically, or otherwise - you may as well say “yes” to whatever comes your way. Regret will do you in, and by leaving your options open and going where the world takes you, you’ll live a life free of regret.
All right. That’s it. Now go forth and live! Just mask up first.