Here is a letter written to my nephew on his high school graduation.
Congratulations on your
achievement. You are awarded a
certificate for a mission well accomplished.
This is your day to celebrate.
The real celebration is that you have now jumped up one rung on the
long, difficult ladder of life.
Yet, your life so far and
to come will be a bounty of achievements. Celebrate, enjoy, and remember these.
This is important. Life will also
deliver to you an assortment of failures, some from bad luck and others from
bad judgment. Learn the difference. Learn from these, but do not allow them to
dominate your pathway. Too many do so,
causing their gradual defeat in the game of living.
Your memory is most
important; after years it becomes what you are.
It is your stamp of uniqueness.
It is a personal warehouse of you - your experiences, your expertise,
your achievements, your loves, and so much of everything you will have become.
Cherish your memory, but control it because it can be an errant and often
irrational partner. Please do not let it
gush up on you with past failures, dwelling on shortcomings. Don’t let it pester you with reasons why you
can’t. Try to forget transgressions.
Stay positive always!
Work hard with deliberate
speed and intelligence. Keep high your
moral principles. Stay honest though you
may see deceit succeed. Stay faithful,
though you may see expedience get ahead. Stay truthful, though lies seem to
work for others. I know you will.
Your family is an
extraordinary bit of luck for you. Not many are so blessed. Through your dad,
uncle, and grandfather you have great role models, the best. As well, your mom,
aunt, and grandmother are fantastic models of compassion and love.
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