Day 84
Create joy.
That is how the keynote speaker from my son’s master’s graduation ceremony started yesterday. Richard Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, gave one of the best speeches I’ve heard given at a graduation ceremony (or otherwise). And it was simply on the premise of creating joy.
He addressed the graduate candidates and those gathered in the auditorium with those two simple words that carried a message so profound and so direct and so well intended.
And so needed.
What is life without joy?
What is work without joy?
They are interconnected and if you are working and not enjoying it … your life is affected. And vice versa.
I wanted to shout out, “AMEN, brother!” halfway through his speech because I was hoping that these “kids” (not really kids anymore as most of the candidates were mid 20’s-mid 30’s) were absorbing what he was saying. I think it was maybe too simple of a concept to hold the attention of some of these highly educated attendees. Or maybe they were too young and another 20 years of life under their belt would help them realize how important this simple message truly is.
Joy. Create it. Create joy!
I think had someone told me to go forward and be the future and to create (and export) joy (those many moons ago) maybe I would have gone down a different path. Who knows? But, 30 some years after my own graduation I’m finally seeing the importance of this simple message. I’ve known it all along, on some level, but as I get older and life unfolds I feel a greater need to rid my life of toxicity and negativity and import more fun and life into my days and life. In other words … create joy (for myself and others).
And why not?
Can’t we all use a little more joy?
One of the images, from the speech, that may have been lost on the “younger set”, was that of digging for the pony … if a lot of crap is piled on you, eventually – if you keep digging, you’ll dig out the pony. Maybe because I’ve heard that adage before, I thought it was funny and poignant. I’m sure others didn’t think it so clever … but I got the message.
Keep going.
When you want to give up. Keep going. When things are hard or sad or just plain bad … keep going. When crap piles on you. Keep going.
And along the way – infuse joy – because things WILL get better. And things will BE better.
Life is too short not to love what you are doing and who you are with. It is precious. Enjoy it.
Create joy!