I was looking through some of my writing this morning, filing some miscellaneous pieces, and came across a piece I wrote last year. It was a speech for a senior celebration at Swarthmore College. In that speech, I offered some advice to the impending graduates that I wished I'd had when I was their age. However, as I read back through the speech, I realized that the advice I'd given them was advice that I continue to apply to my life now. It's advice that I've given to friends both older and younger than me. These are words you can use, no matter where you are on life's journey, and I thought I would share them with you.
1. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Take chances, explore, take the road less traveled.
2. Don't be afraid to fail. There is far less to be gained from playing it safe than there if from going out on the limb. We learn so much from failure. What works. What doesn't work. We also learn a lot about ourselves. What we are capable of, and how we respond when faced with challenges. Embrace your failures as detours on your path to victory, and as opportunities for growth.
3.Remember that everyone has their own personal struggles and treat people with kindness.
4. Take the time to nurture the positive relationships in your life.
5. Be your own best friend. Take time to do things that soothe your spirit and energize your soul.
6. Express gratitude each and every day. Expressing gratitude is both a humbling experience and a daily exercise in keeping things in perspective.