"Sometimes the only way to discover who you are or what life you should lead is to do less planning and more living," said Daniel Pink in an address to the 2014 graduating class at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
He encouraged the graduates to ask people who are engaged in their work and "successful" how they got to this point. He suggested that most will say it was a circuitous route.
That certainly is true for me and many of the happier people that I know. Our lives are not linear and planned out. Instead, we have followed myriad paths as opportunities have become available. And, opportunities became available because of our openness to explore, meet a variety of people, and try new experiences.
Curiosity, an ability to sit with the unknown and be uncomfortable for a period of time, openness to switch gears when the time is right and lifelong learning are keys to living a dynamic, impactful life.
"This might sound risky - and you know what? It is. It's really risky. But the greater risk is to choose false certainty over genuine ambiguity. The greater risk is to fear failure more than mediocrity. The greater risk is to pursue a path only because it's the first path you decided to pursue," said Pink
Mary Oliver in her poem, The Summer Day, asks,
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"
Happy Summer,
Sue
P.S. What do you think of this new e-newsletter format? Is it easier to read on your mobile/tablet devices?
LagniappePink's graduation address
Mary Oliver reads The Summer Day
