If you have a few minutes, the below graduation speech by George Saunders is well worth reading.
When explaining what he regrets most after decades of living, he points out failures of kindness. I could easily relate. He exposes the sickness of selfishness in ways that will grab your attention and cause you to examine your life motives. But best of all, he illustrates how as people age they realize the most important activity of life is the love they live.
It’s eloquent and stirring.
George Saunders’s Advice to Graduates
Not sure I agree with the word eloquent to describe this! (maybe the comments about monkey”stuff” disqualified this from being an eloquent speech! 🙂 But it is definitely stirring! And ever so spot on! Kindness, human kindness is simply being out of self and touching other lives with a bit of grace (all reflected of course from God as we don’t originate a bit of that ourselves!). Now here’s some good advice from a graduation speech. Sow some kindness in your life. It’s the essence of a good life here on earth. A little of: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! Thanks for sharing, Evan.
What I think this means that success without kindness to others and forgetfulness of self is NO SUCCESS AT ALL. Simple explanation for a satisfied and successful life.
Always doing unto others will give reason for liking one’s self, one’s identity with our Creator.
As I said earlier this year responding to a “Daily Lift” my wife (58 yrs. this Sunday) teaches this lesson daily: “she lives love and she lives with Love.” This true unselfishness brings blessing to the world. For her parents and their five children, there never was a Great Depression, even though their financial income was nine months teacher pay in the 1930’s. Their true income was unity, peace, and a happy family. Is there more to desire here on earth? True sharing is gratitude that heals. Great peace have they who love.
I loved it!! So beautiful and right on. Unselfishness, kindness is what this life is all about.
Thank you for sharing this piece. The speech confirms to me that what the material world
Offers is so temporary & superficial.
Thank you for sharing this!! This thought came to me just now: “kindness is a quality of God that we All reflect!” I am so grateful for this.