Don’t Leave Home Without Your Safety Goggles

This is what I said to the Hellenic American Academy graduates yesterday. I think it applies if you graduated from middle school yesterday or four decades ago...

We’ve spent a year with you and we’d like to take this opportunity to share a little of our life experience. Hopefully you will take our words to heart and save yourself a lot of time and energy.

Don’t leave home without your safety goggles.

Find what you love and do it. Even if it takes fifty years to find it. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Eat your vegetables, your parents were right. Actually, your parents are going to be right about a lot of stuff, but you probably won’t realize it for another ten years.

Live your life like no one’s watching. Be true to yourself even if it makes you stand out from the crowd.

Read. Have a book with you at all times. Nothing avoids wasted time like a good book.

Set goals that you’re not sure you can meet otherwise, there’s no point.

Sing, even if it’s just in the shower or your room or the car.

Have patience and avoid acting rashly. 

Recycle. You’re saving the only planet we have.

Cherish your friends and family. They’ll support you even when you don’t think you need support. 

Don’t worry too much about money. The list of problems money solves is surprisingly short.

Character matters. In the long run, it’s the only thing that matters.

Finally, remember, you don’t know everything.......and you never will.........but do keep trying.