Welcome, to the graduation ceremony for the West Genesee High School Class of 2010.
I'd like to begin with a story about finding happiness in life. One day, a professor stood before his class with some items laid out on his desk. When the class began, he proceeded to pick up a large, empty mayonnaise jar and fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor then picked up a handful of pebbles and poured them into the jar, filling the open spaces left by the golf balls. He again asked the students if the jar was full and, once again, they agreed it was.
He then poured a box of sand into the jar, filling up the remaining space between the pebbles. He repeated his question and received a unanimous "yes".
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, your friends, your family, your passions, your health, things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the little things in life.
If you put the sand into the jar first, there's no room for the pebbles or golf balls. The same is true in life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the little things, you'll never have room for the things that are most important to you.
Focus on the things that are important to your happiness. Take the time to walk through nature, to spend time with your family, to play another 18. There will always be time to finish your chores, to mow the lawn. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
It's important to remember that your life is in your hands, that you have the power to choose where it leads. If you love what you're doing, you'll be successful. Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.
Congratulations my fellow classmates. Thank you.
He stood on stage in his role as Class president and greeted all the students coming through the line to receive their diplomas, hugging those he knew well, which seemed to be most of the hundreds of kids graduating. At 6 foot 5, he was having quite a time keeping his mortarboard in place.
And yet, with all the attention focused on him, after the ceremony was over he came over to where the family was, gave me a hug and said, "I love you grandma." When, I told him I loved him too, he stepped back, held me by both arms, looked me right in the eyes and said, "No, I really love you grandma."
What more could I want?
Every time I think of that moment, my heart opens up and the tears start to flow.
He's my sweet, sweet boy and I'm very proud to be a golf ball in his mayonnaise jar.
Love,
Denise
