Commencements

In the Pulitzer Prize play "You Can't Take It With You", 'Grandpa' loves attending commencement ceremonies. He says he finds great value in what the speakers say. Not a bad idea. I did a quick search, and found a commencement speech given at Stanford University on June 14th - my 'almost bad hair day' (see post). 'Grandpa' was right! No only 'good stuff', but just what I needed to hear.

The speech is given by Steve Jobs - the Apple/Mac guy who got the personal computing industry going. Thoughtful points of view and potent sharing of his own personal experience. Following, I'll list a few quotes from the commencement speech he gave that really struck me. (Link to entire speech - Worth the read.
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

Here's one that's good to think about when you're looking at a big change in life, and you're not sure what's best to do - like me, right now, at my retirement from the Corps:

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

And when I'm tempted to settle rather than risk going for what's possible, but not certain, I'll remember this one:

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

And this one too - Great!

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

And here's the clincher - Really helps me put things in perspective:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

My mind has been reeling with questions that seem to demand answering. "Which business option should I take? What if I choose none of the options that are before me right now, but just let things ride for awhile? If I follow my heart, will I be able to have the funds I need? Where can go, and what can I do that will really make the most difference?" And moments of: "Can I really trust myself?"

I remember another thing from "You Can't Take It With You." Again from Grandpa:

"Maybe it'll stop you trying to be so desperate about making more money than you can ever use? You can't take it with you, Mr. Kirby. So what good is it? As near as I can see, the only thing you can take with you is the love of your friends." Here's the link for the quote: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/maindetails

I have that - the love, and respect, of my friends. And it supports me now, in my times of questioning. I've found that freely sharing my journey with another touches something that connects us both as humans, expanding the circle of love and friendship for us both. (Thank you 'Nimbus', for your sweet comment on my blog a few days ago, and for your acknowledgment. Just a reminder - to be able to see 'beauty' in another, as you do, you must first have it rooted within yourself.)

Well, I'm off to work. I've already tied up all my projects, trained all the replacements, and said all my goodbyes, but the patterns remain. Maybe I'll just go up to the shop for awhile and see what trouble I can stir up. Only three days to go.

By the way, the play "You Can't Take It With You" had an impact few are aware of:

You Can't Take It With You - The first great American comedy.
(http://host196.ipowerweb.com/~geffenpl/error.html)
At a time when we all could use a good laugh, the Geffen Playhouse presents the play that gave birth to the American funny bone. Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's Pulitzer Prize winning 1936 play is considered by comedy writers and critics alike to sit at the root of all things funny in American art- stage, film and TV. The TV Sitcom would probably never have been born if it weren't for Kaufman and Hart's first family of zany, hilarious, loveable oddballs. Without it, there would be no Seinfeld, Friends, I Love Lucy, or All in the Family. In fact, without it there would be no first great American comedy. To this day, there's rarely been a more joyful celebration of the unconventional than You Can't Take It with You.

"Groucho Marx, who was not impressed by much in this world … told me he was in genuine awe of Kaufman." - Woody Allen