My niece Taylor is graduating from high school this month. She’s a wonderful young woman who will begin her fine arts studies in the fall. I saw many of her paintings and drawings today for the first time and was floored by her talent. She has a great life ahead.
While trying to get things ready to take to her graduation cookout today, I couldn’t find any words written by others that well-represented what I think she needs to know as she moves on to the next phase of her life, so I came up with my own words of wisdom:
Do not get arrested. Watch movies with subtitles. If it breaks, fix it. Don’t judge a person by his accent. Avoid killing insects. When entering a building, locate a secondary exit. Tip generously, always. Travel. Then travel some more. And then go on another trip. Eat food that scares you. Read the directions, but don’t necessarily follow them. Don’t worry about the future. Practice compassion. Listen to Johnny Cash sometimes. It’s OK to get lost. Top Ramen is good food to eat when you are poor. Find a mentor. Enjoy hot days in August. Be kind to your parents. Support lost causes. Take strange classes. Learn how to use chopsticks. Stand up for what you believe in. Study abroad. Make friends with old people. Make eye contact with homeless people. Laugh. Have a strange obsession or two. Don’t eat all the food on your plate if it’s too much. If you get a credit card, don’t use it. Always keep your passport current. Eat at independent restaurants. Avoid Wal-Mart. Don’t invade Iraq. Find homes for the stray dogs and cats you encounter. Watch old sitcoms every once in a while. Don’t break confidences. If you’re going to spend class surfing the internet, sit in the back row. Always use your turn signal. Make some friends from other countries. Don’t order coffees that are too complicated to make. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Work hard, but have fun while working. Don’t obsess about germs. Leave your name and number at the tone. Walk barefoot in the grass. Make mistakes. Take your time. Don’t buy diamonds from Africa. Always vote, even if your preferred candidate has no chance of winning. Macs are better than PCs. If you mess up, learn from it. Learn how to cook with fresh herbs. Take lots of pictures. Believe you can change the world. Be hospitable to strangers in your home. Ride your bike to work. Learn how to build a good campfire. Develop an interest in different kinds of music. Get enough sleep. Visit your grandparents. Be a loyal friend. Ask questions. Read poetry every once in a while. Turn off your cell phone sometimes. Have a lot of fun, most of the time. Remember, this is your life, so enjoy it.
Any more words of advice?