#MemorialDay #graduations #summer #vacation #recreation #happiness #sadness #anger
It’s Memorial Day, 2024.
It’s supposed to be a day we reserve to honor those who died serving our country, and many people in many places do just that.
It’s also the beginning of graduation season, when our friends and family end one journey, and, presumably, start another.
It’s also the unofficial start of summer, which signifies warm weather, good times, vacation and leisure. Or, if you are a student ending a school year, perhaps you are starting a summer job.
No matter your situation, Memorial Day often is seen as a start or an ending.
This begs a thought: what should I start, or what should I end?
The healthy thinking here is to look forward to many good things you can make happen.
Are you angry all the time, but can’t put your finger on why? Perhaps you should start new behavior that will end that feeling. There is so much good out there and so many reasons to be happy and optimistic. Perhaps you can start by looking forward to, say, jumping in a pool, lake or ocean for a good time.
That may begin to take your mind off what makes you angry.
Are you sad more often than you are happy? Why do you feel that way? It’s understandable, on Memorial Day, if you are mourning someone lost in battle. When one loses a loved one by any means, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get past.
In such a case, you have to think that your loved one is in a better place, even if he or she is not with you. Then, you have to focus on things that make YOU happy. As the trees and flowers are in full bloom, it’s often little things like that that begin to take the edge off sorrow.
In the past few years, life seems to have hit people harder than it ever has. Many people have lost good jobs, and can’t find a job that comes close to replacing what they have lost.
What hasn’t been lost, usually, is the motivation to succeed. As the world changes, we may have to put that motivation into something new.
The effects of the pandemic of a few years ago still linger. In fact, the disease is still around. Yet, we have found ways to deal with it, like vaccines, so that if it comes back to us, we are more likely to handle it better than we would have at the beginning.
Things are costing more, be they groceries, housing, cars etc. At the same time, in many cases, people are getting paid more. If you are getting paid more than you were a few years ago, it’s only logical that the things you buy are going to cost you more. So, ask yourself: is getting that raise worth paying a little more for groceries?
The cost of housing has been discussed in detail here, and there are no easy answers. Sometimes, to provide for oneself, one has to watch what he or she spends, and evaluate the importance of each of those purchases.
So, as you have a meaningful Memorial Day, think of the people or things that mean the most to you. Think of ways you can improve yourself, your life and pursue happiness. It’s not always easy, but it is definitely healthier to pursue happiness than to harbor anger and/or wallow in sadness.
Peter
Tag Archives: graduation season
GRADUATION SEASON IS ONE OF GRATITUDE
#graduates #GraduationSeason #gratitude #AttitudeOfGratitude #HelpingOthers
Graduation season brings out the gratitude in all those mortarboard-clad hopefuls.
Graduates are grateful to those who helped make them who they are: parents, teachers, mentors, coaches, family and friends.
But can they sustain that gratitude to others who will influence their lives from here on?
Certainly, those who brought them along during their formative years will likely not be forgotten.
But as they (pick one: cruise, stumble, climb, fly) into adulthood, others will step in to influence what they do, who they are and what they will become.
The question for those grads will be: will they remember who helped them, advised them or worked with or for them etc., that made a difference in their outcomes?
Leaders and other good people understand that the road to success is not a solo venture. In fact, they learn that success comes not from just helping oneself, but by helping others.
As they proceed to help others succeed, they cultivate a deep gratitude not only for the privilege of helping others, but also for the honor of being helped by others.
So, if you are a graduate this year, don’t let the season just be a symbol of gratitude. Let it be a foundation for the gratitude you will hone throughout your life.
This is not to say that self-confidence is not a virtue. In fact, it’s difficult to appreciate those who believe(d) in you if you do not believe in yourself.
You will face many decisions that will be completely yours. You may indeed have strong beliefs on how to proceed. Still, don’t hesitate to ask someone you trust whether they believe you are making the right choice(s) before you decide. You may discover something of which you’d never thought.
Also, you will face choices to do what benefits you most, or what may benefit others most. Choosing the former may work in some employment situations. Very likely, however, choosing the latter in more whole-life circumstances will be better.
Also, remember it is always better to serve than be served, regardless of what position or status you reach.
Serving is the ultimate form of gratitude for your success.
Success by serving others is the truest form of achievement. As you help others succeed, success generally follows you.
You will run across some for whom success comes at the expense of others. That may work in some sports competitions, but generally does not in other aspects of life. Success at the expense of others is the opposite of gratitude.
So, as you proceed to your next step, tread with gratitude, not only for those who’ve already helped you, but also for those who will help you. Return that favor by helping others.
Flying solo in life can get you off-course, can send you adrift and can be very lonely.
Taking others along for the ride will make the trip more pleasant, more fun and more rewarding.
Always be grateful.
Peter
GRADS GLAD TO BE OUT; NOW WHAT?
#graduations #GraduationSeason #education #jobs #careers
It’s graduation season, and we tend to see it as an end.
But, it’s really a beginning.
Consider the adage: it’s the first day of the rest of your life.
Most grads have plans. Some will go to college, grad school or some other higher education. Others will get jobs. The main thing to hope for is that where you go next is someplace you want to go.
At graduation ceremonies, the exiting students will hear messages like, “find your passion.”
If your passion won’t pay the bills, exercise your passion, but also find something that will make you a living.
If you are graduating from college, hopefully you are not saddled with debt. If you are, hopefully your education will help you pay it off comfortably.
If you are graduating high school, hopefully you’ve thought long and hard about either college, work or some combination – say, work full time, school part time or vice versa.
Remember, too, that college is not for everyone. Make sure that if you go on to college, you are prepared in every way. It’s OK if you do not think college is for you. There are other endeavors you can pursue that will educate you and potentially make you a living.
Most importantly, always think about the future, no matter what you will do. One day, you could get married and have a family. One day, you will retire. On the latter, here’s hoping that you can do it on your own terms. Not everyone can say that.
Both of those life endeavors require preparation, financial and otherwise. If you have a job, set aside a portion of your paycheck — even $5 a week – for savings. Start with a bank savings account. As it grows, get some good investment advice and act accordingly.
Be disciplined enough not to dip into your savings for frivolous expenses. You want a good nest egg for your retirement. Those who retire comfortably had made good decisions when they were younger.
You CAN create a nest egg and still enjoy life now by watching where your money goes. That means prudent spending.
Also, whatever you decide to do, remember to give rather than take. As you give and help others, most of what you want will come to you.
So, as you go through graduation ceremonies, celebrate and enjoy. Then, give thought to where you go next. Work hard, but play, too. Form relationships. Make everything you do less about you and more about others.
No matter what you do, your potential is infinite if you make it so.
Go into adulthood with the attitude of setting goals and achieving them, no matter how long it may take and no matter what circumstances befall you.
It’s not what happens to you that matters. It’s how you deal with everything that happens. Finding something good in every situation is a good first step.
As stones cross your path, find ways to go over them.
Best of luck to all the grads.
Peter
IT’S GRADUATION SEASON, AND ADVICE IS PLENTIFUL
#graduation #graduationseason #commencementspeeches #wordsofwisdom
Patricia Murphy loves commencement addresses, she says.
But, as she points out, giving life-changing advice to 1,000 people when they just want their diplomas or degrees is no easy task.
How many people do you know who may have fallen asleep during a commencement address?
Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Political Insider columnist, tackled the topic of how politicians use the commencement address in her May 23, 2021, column.
After a year of cancelled events, Murphy says, Georgia leaders had plenty of advice to give graduates.
U.S. Sen Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., told Savannah State University grads: “Have a mountain? Just climb it. A river? Just cross it. A dream? Just chase it. A vision? Just pursue it. An idea? Just do it. A bad habit? Just break it,” according to Murphy.
Warnock’s speech was just one example Murphy used to illustrate the speeches during this season.
Commencement speeches are supposed to inspire. Do you remember the great advice the speaker gave you and your classmates at your graduation ?
Mostly, graduates want their degrees. They want to get the formalities over with, so they can get comfortable and party. After all, it’s generally pretty warm on graduation day, and staying dressed up is a drag.
Then, if they don’t continue their education at the next level, they just want to go to work. They want to find work that pays decently and, if they get lucky, provides benefits.
Today, that promise is much more elusive than it was decades ago.
Most people who start at Job X likely won’t stay at Job X for their entire working life. Some will choose to change jobs. Others will have their jobs changed. Still others will lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
It’s been said that the only sure thing is change. That may be the best advice graduates get this season.
Some change is good. Some, not so good. One personally cannot stop change, particularly in the workplace, but one can figure out how best to deal with change.
If you graduate this year and take a job, you’d be wise to set up a Plan B, as you will inevitably face change in your workplace – in some cases, frequent change.
There are many programs out there that enable people to earn potentially lucrative income with just a few, part-time, off-work hours a week.
There are no education, experience or background requirements to take advantage of them. The main requirements are an open mind, the ability to be coached and the desire to take advantage of what you have your hands on.
To learn about one of the best such programs, message me.
Meanwhile, if you are graduating this year, congratulations. Perhaps you’ll get a nugget of wisdom from your commencement speaker. Regardless, don’t hesitate to dream. Don’t hesitate to go after what you want. And, beware the many changes you will see as you go after it. You’ll likely find the path to what you want will not be straight and/or free of obstacles.
Above all, stay optimistic. Learn to deal with adversity. Remain honest with yourself and others. Do what you want with the intention of helping not just yourself, but others along the way.
Peter