It's been a terribly long time since I have posted to this blog, but something just happened that has spurred me to action. A friend of Mom's recently asked Mom to write a letter to the friend's daughter, who was graduating high school. The purpose of the letter was to offer advice to the new graduate. Mom repurposed some verbiage that she had assembled for her own kid's graduation (you may recognize it!), added some new stuff and sent it off. I thought it was terrific advice and should be shared (again) with all of you. While the words are all Mom's, I've taken to liberty to chop out the parts that make it a letter to a friend's daughter and convert it into a more universal message for all of you...
Keep God before you and be mindful of the gift of life that you have been given. Remember that our job on this earth is to bring holiness into our lives and the lives of those around us. This is probably my most important piece of advice to you. Too often we humans forget the source of our existence and then we forget the purpose of our time here on earth.
Be joyful. A happy attitude is sometimes the only variable we can control in a difficult situation. Our outlook can make the difference between an impossible problem and a workable situation. We are all drawn to people who look at life in a positive way; it is a refreshing characteristic and will take you far.
Be connected to others. Value the people that you meet and take the time to care about them and hear them when they share their heart with you. Be a friend and let others be your friend. Being connected to other people is the most important way to stay physically and emotionally healthy, throughout our lives.
Be passionate about everything and everyone that you encounter. Use your passion to motivate you to always give 100% in every endeavor. Be the person who is willing to put your energies to good use to make a positive difference in the world.
Learn from your mentors and learn from your elders. Finding a good mentor is one of the great gifts we experience. Be humble enough to look at others, especially those who are older or who have more life experience, as sources of wisdom and knowledge. Pay attention to how they live their lives and what they value and how they prioritize their time.
Teach those to whom you have something to offer. On the flip side of looking for people to look up to and learn from, make sure that you serve as a role model and mentor for those who will look up to you. You will never learn anything as completely as when you teach it to another and you will never be happier than when you help another person on his or her way.
Work hard so that you know you have given your best effort. Diligence and follow-through matter as much, if not more, than talent.This is so important to know, especially when you have been given the gift of great intellect. Ability is only impressive when combined with industriousness, thoroughness and perseverance. In fact, ability is a gift but dedication is a choice. Our choice to live a dedicated and Godly life counts for way more than even the gifts that God has given us.
Enjoy every day of your life! This seems like an easy one but it can sometimes be the hardest to do when times are tough. Having a positive attitude, especially on the tough days, is what will get you through those challenging times and will help you to come out stronger and wiser on the other side.
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