Oh The Places You’ll Go, Right?

I bet you’ve heard a few speeches like this one recently (or that you soon will). I actually love this Dr. Seuss book, and I kind of judge you if you don’t love it. It’s such a delightful, poetic summary of life.

So today, in the spirit of that book and of all the inspirational graduation speeches you’ll hear around this time, I’m waxing philosophical.

One of my favorite graduation speeches ever went like this: Life is short, so enjoy every single moment. Drink it in. But at the same time, you’ve got more time than you think. So relax. Don’t rush the big decisions in life or think you should always be farther along than you are. It will happen. Just enjoy the ride.

Oh how I adore the balance of that message! BUT IT’S SO DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW! Have you noticed?

For instance, right now – if you’re one of the many college graduates in the world – you face an interesting realm of possibility. And that advice that I love so much can both inspire you and raise the question, So what then do I do next?

On the one hand, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of your recent degree and fresh ideas and enthusiasm, put your resume out there, nail some interviews, and find the perfect job to jump start a lifelong career.

But you know what happens after the job that starts a career? A thing they call Life. You begin to grow more and more settled with various work and family responsibilities. And you know what’s  harder to do when you’re in that stage? Pretty much everything.

It’s harder to go places, harder to take risks, harder to try something when you have absolutely no idea how it will turn out. In that sense, this is the perfect time for those things. It’s the perfect time to take risks, because theoretically you’ve got a lot less to risk and a lot more to gain. It’s a great time to travel, because you only have to worry about yourself. It’s the perfect time for Europe student tours, backpacking through France, Spain, and Germany. And it’s the perfect time to spend several months in a place you’ve always wanted to discover.

I guess the question is, what is the appropriate balance today? Is this your chance to visit some place you’ve always wanted to see? Or is it time to get established and trust that exciting things lie somewhere farther in the future.

It’s your choice, every day. Life is short…but you have more time than you think. How will you make the most of today?

Photo by Leonard John Matthew on Flickr.

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