Commencement speech at Stanford University, 2005
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.
Note new email account at Greenwich is based on your Google account and can conflict with a present a/c, so you may have to sign out of one to access the other. GRRRR
ReplyDeleteGood choice on Steve, great man who died to young.
it is a pain isn't it! I have had rather a very bad and very good week (will explain later) so have not had time to read or write blogs. Back into it this weekend I hope. Yours will be the first to read...
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