Now, Class of 2016:
What are you going to do with your lives? What are
you going to do next?
These are questions you’ll both ask yourself as well as be
asked (too often).
Tonight instead, I want to focus you on how
you’re going to live. And “HOW” is a word worth writing on your mirror,
because the questions I’m going to ask are ones you will answer every day whether you think about them or not.
So much is in
the how.
How will you greet yourself each morning? How will you look
yourself in the eye?
How will you shave?
How will you take care of yourself? How will you
nourish your body?
How will you maximize your strengths? How will you
improve?
How will you ask for what you need? How you will you
ask for help? How will you know when you need to?
How will you apologize? How will you admit when you
are wrong? How will you ask for forgiveness?
How will you forgive yourself?
How will you ask that difficult question? How will
you say no? How will you tell the truth?
How will you step up, speak up, stand up? How will
you protest? How will you advocate? How will you earn and
demonstrate respect?
How will you greet your neighbor? How will you pass strangers
on the street or in cars on the freeway?
How will you respond when someone asks you for money? Or for food?
How will you make people laugh? How will you make
others comfortable?
How will you express your frustration? How will you
write that email? How will you update, post, tweet, and comment?
How will you talk with people? How will you talk about
them?
How will you respect others’ bodies and their rights?
How will you love?
How will you create a family?
How will you break up? How will you make up?
How will you listen? How will you spend your time?
How will you face disappointment? How will you
sacrifice?
How will you help? How will you express gratitude?
How will you treat your environment? How will you
leave the places you pass through?
How will you say goodbye?
How will you start fresh? How will you prepare?
How will you let go?
How will you stay in touch?
How will you love this life?
How will you be?
Class of 2016, your words and
actions will be the answers to these questions.
Open yourself to new teachers, models, and fellow passengers who will
help guide your way.
How have you left us?
With clean water, flag football, and enduring
spirit.
Now, how will I leave you?
With gratitude for your creativity,
generosity, long conversations, and the love we shared between us.
1 comment:
oh thank you for posting this! it was so beautiful, so moving, and so inspiring. i sat there thinking, how is she so brilliant? and, i wonder if she'd share it? the next day i bought you a butterfly bush because you give wings to our children. but mine told me you are gone, long gone. i'll keep it until you are back, safely back "with your friends," as tootsie says; back with all of the children and parents you treat as friends. thank you jenny.
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