Writing a Commencement speech is like writing your eulogy: You have to nail down in 10 minutes or less a succinct message that represents your entire life. It’s best to capture all the sweat and tears, the laughter and sorrow, life’s drama in a few tight, coherent paragraphs.
Having been asked to give one in May to my alma mater, Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, I have been studying Commencement addresses of the pros: J.K. Rowling, Anna Quindlen, Oprah Winfrey, and Steve Jobs. And here’s what all of them had in common: suffering.
Yep. The primary theme in each of these essays is that suffering is the rubble on which success is built. I’m sure that you can bypass suffering altogether, but then you’d have a rather boring Commencement speech. I’ve read some of those too.
It’s the First Noble Truth of Buddhism: “Life is suffering.”
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1995-2013 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 23 May 2013
|
I’ve always called myself an over comer and wounded healer. My experience has been (except for 3 years in the army)….one of suffering…..as a child and then in 31 years of abusive marriage and then…..abuse from a church who voted me out of membership, with my name up on a big screen.
Adversity has been my whole life, however…..I have done something with all of the ashes…..a church abuse website with 19,000 hits.
My memoir: Ghost Child to Triumph (from a child with no voice, to someone who speaks up against injustice)
A poetry book, Sanctuary of the Soul endorsed by Elie Wiesel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, Drs. Alice Miller, Larry Dossey
I am in school at age 64, because I won a scholarship; it wasn’t academic, but it was because of what I wrote about my life
I believe we are here to make a difference, and I am determined to keep on doing that. I Know my purpose.
Marie, you are inspirational
“To be perfectly honest, I am always struggling with some kind of distorted thought, from jumping to conclusions to black and white thinking. I now have a handy dandy tool set with which I can untwist the suckers, but it’s work. Hard work. Every day.” I really liked this paragraph. I hope you included in the speech. Good luck, i think your speech will be great – I hope you will post it.
Great post Therese! I can’t wait to hear how the commencement speech turns out! Inspire them with your truth!
It’s the tough stuff that people can relate to. God Bless.
I’m so glad you write. I find that I can take tiny sighs of relief because you do. Yes life is hard.
“To be perfectly honest I am always struggling with some kind of distorted thought…” That too was my favorite paragraph. What a relief when you think you’re the only one! Thank you Therese. You should feel so proud and be gratified in knowing that you’re doing what you’re meant to do when you are able to connect with others on such a soul level. I have had one heck of a year and so identify with everything you say. I have come to a good place but it’s been a long road and I too continuously struggle. I’ve been through it all with “thinking I could fix myself if I just meditated and did more yoga, etc.” It continues to be an interesting journey as I gain more insight and come to understand myself more. Thank you again. I read your Beyond Blue every day.
“Wow. Really? What kind of drugs are you taking?”
Haha, I loved that. I too view the world more as you do Therese and it also took me quite a while to realize that a number of people view it on a more positive note.
Did you see the film Beyond Rangoon? It deals with this aspect quite a bit. You might like it.
Therese, this is the best thing you have ever touched on. Do you realize how helpful you are to people? I really needed this today. I’ll also need it tomorrow, and next Tuesday and so on and so on. From the bottom of my heart to the complex inner workings of my nutsy bi-polar thought patterns, thank you for being one of my favorite depression busters day in and day out.
It’s amazing when you think you’re alone, and you read an article, you see otherwise.
Life is difficult. for some, more than others.
But what a blessing to know, that God is with us on our journey; and with Him, all things are POSSIBLE.
God bless you Therese Borchard.
Dear Therese,
Each day I read your emails and want to write back to you somehow.
In you I see a beautiful woman who runs and kayaks and all the things that exhaust me just to read.
As I read about you finding the tools/kit, I wanted to say, PLEASE tell me what the tools are? Please share the key and those things that should be in my kit. I keep trying, hold down a full time job, have kids and am married. But I feel the struggle and those that have been wrapped around my poor family.
Please share all the tools in your kit. You have achieved and make a difference with all of the people you touch. You also still have a loving relationship with your spouse which is so special.