Never Give Up!
May always bring to mind two things for me-graduation and my father. I suppose the former is because it seems to be the crowing event in a month filled with accolades and the latter because, not only does it mark the second passing of my father but, because he spent years at the helm of Jefferson County High School, he is forever entwined in my mind with graduation. Looking into those young faces that are graduating from high school and college, it is difficult to remember when I was standing at the threshold of life and couldn’t wait to open the door. I do, however, clearly remember when my son graduated a few short years ago and now he anticipates completing college before the end of 2014. My how time flies, at least for those that are over the age of 30.
It is funny that how quickly time passes is directly related to the years that you have spent on earth. At 18 or even 21, a week is a lifetime and a month or a year is almost inconceivable, little alone several years. For me, I can’t keep up with the passing days and there never seems to be enough hours to do all that needs to be done. It is almost Easter before I have the very last Christmas present put away and Halloween and Easter candy are intermingled in the bowl on the top of my refrigerator. Months slip away unnoticed. I was in my forties before I realized that I can do almost anything for two years. That is my threshold-two years. If it requires more time commitment than that then I must actually consider it. Less than two years and it just joins the rest of my jumbled life in competing for time and attention. And that is one of the main difference of youth and not and one of the main similarities. Time moves too slowly and time moves too quickly but either way, time dictates many of our actions. Many questionable decisions are made in haste and boredom.
There are so many things that could be said to those young graduates that could ease their way in life. But, it is the cosmic joke of life that, while the young have the time to listen, they don’t have the desire. They are revving their engines and waiting for the flag and advice only serves to weight them down. And we all know that they will make their way just fine. Sure, they will stumble and some will fall but it isn’t how many times that you end up face to face with the ground that is important. It is how many times you pull yourself up.
So, though I realize that it is futile, here are my graduation words of wisdom, which were garnered through much time spent doing things the hard way. Maintain friendships but be careful of those that weigh you down and keep you from being the person you want to be-you will make many friends in many different stages of your life and all are important and none are as important as you think that they are. Choose your mate well-they will be a serious impact in your life and it is just as easy to choose a good mate as a bad one. Being in love is wonderful and so is being smart and in love. Work hard at everything that you do-it is a reflection of you. Take care of your mind and body-don’t be the poster child for bad decisions because it can come back to haunt you years later. Be committed, loyal and honest because those are traits of good people and it is important to be a good person. Give yourself a break when you don’t get it right but make it short-and then move on or try again, depending on which is smarter. Find a place for Religion and Family in your life-you have to make a conscious effort to have either and they will be the constant in the throws of chaos.
My father gave the shortest graduation speech in the history of Jefferson County High School. Winston Churchill gave it first but it is still relevant. Dad altered it a bit but here is what he said. “Never give up…Never, never give up…Never, never, never give up”. And that pretty much says it all.
Congratulations to the Class of 2014, both high school and college. Thanks Dad. I can still hear your voice loud and clear. Gratefully, I can still hear your voice loud and clear. And I am still learning.
