Thursday, March 28, 2024

I Was Thinking . . . Words to Live By

It is high school commencement season and speakers are preparing the words of wisdom to pass on to the 2021 Senior Class. It must be a daunting task to create an address that can captivate exuberant teenagers who are more interested in attending post-graduation parties than listening to a speech given by someone they will forget before their five-year class reunion. Besides, after having adults giving them instruction for 13 years, they know that since this is their final lecture, they won’t be tested on it anyway.   

Nonetheless, most featured orators will still attempt to fashion an address to inspire the youthful graduates. They will stress how wide open their future is and the endless array of possibilities available to them. They may even research former speeches to see if they can find some nugget of brilliance they may pass on. However, hopefully they remember to cite their sources. 

Plato said, “Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slowly.” Einstein commented, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” While these are stimulating thoughts, wouldn’t you like a speaker just once, to tell it like it is.    

These young people will have to survive in the real world. Not all their neighbors are going to be like those living by Mr. Rogers. Big Bird isn’t real, and Burt and Ernie were always being manipulated by somebody else. 

Some of the old adages can also be confusing to our young graduates. If practice makes perfect but nothing is perfect, should you keep on practicing? If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. However, this does not apply to sky diving. What goes around comes around. If this is true, you are probably caught on a new round about. 

Ben Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” But it is also a formula for your girl going out with other guys. “Everything in moderation” is probably good advice but has no practical application to your first year in college. 

The Scottish proverb, “A penny saved is a penny earned” won’t even buy you a gum ball anymore. “Money isn’t everything,” but try telling that to your utility company, the bank that has your car loan and the credit card companies. 

“Never give up” may be good advice but if your golf score is 36 after the fourth hole, try tennis.

Some advice is of a more practical nature.

In your life don’t irritate old people. For them a life sentence in prison isn’t much of a deterrent.  A cold seat in a public rest room is unpleasant, however a warm one is even worse. If you walk a mile in my shoes, I’ll be barefoot, and you may get my toenail fungus. 

Maybe John Wayne gave some of the best practical advice, “Life is hard. But it is even harder if you are stupid.”  

While some graduation orators may feel they have to conjure up elaborate addresses to impress the youth and their families, often the simplest advice is the best - “Think before you speak, don’t believe everything you hear or see, and treat others like you want to be treated.”  

Earning money will be necessary to survive but it can’t buy manners, morals, respect, character, common sense, trust, patience, integrity, or love.  And lastly, whatever you plan to buy from that late-night infomercial you watched isn’t worth it, because one old adage is true, “a fool and his money are soon parted”.       

 

 

 

 

Dodge County Independent

Dodge County Independent
Dodge County ADvantage
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

Dodge County Printing
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

507-634-7503
 
Hours: 
Monday-Thursday 10a.m.-3p.m.