INNER BEAUTY
It's graduation times, again. I can´t help to get a little bit nostalgic at this time of year. The whole unwritten adult life is sort of awaiting you. Without the rough edges and harder times that often follows a normal route of life. But on that specific day, you own the world. Someone who knows a lot about life and inspire others for a living is Oprah. This year, just a few days ago, she had the honour of giving the commencement speech at Harvard university. Watch the whole speech here above, it´s good and inspirational as always with Oprah. Or I have highlighted some of the best parts for you...
Oprah told the Harvard crowd that she´d had a rough time in life herself recently, before turning her network OWN around. At a certain low point she took "a very long shower", and then during the shower realised the famous words, "This too shall pass", which gave her strength to go on. She told the Harvard graduates: "It doesn't matter how far you might rise, at some point you are bound to stumble. Because if you're constantly doing what we do, raising the bar. If you're constantly pushing yourself higher, higher, the law of averages, not to mention The Myth of Icarus, predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do, I want you to know this, remember this: There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us into another direction." She continued; "It's okay to feel bad for a little while. Give yourself time to mourn what you think you may have lost. But then, here's the key: Learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes, are there to teach you and force you into being more of who you are." Oprah then told the students her very own life wisdom; "The key to life is to develop an internal, moral, emotional GPS, that can tell you which way to go." She meant that the challenge of life is answering the questions "Who do you want to be? What´s your story? It´s about your purpose. These questions will get you out when your stuck. You will feel stuck in life, even if you go to Harvard." The purpose isn´t always clear at once, said Oprah. "But there´s a light inside you. Be yourself". “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive" Oprah said quoting Howard Thurman. She also cited her friend, the famous writer Maya Angelou; "When you learn - teach. When you get - give." This will give your story purpose and meaning, Oprah added.
I think there are many great keys to life in here. This IS life. What do you think? Is she inspiring to you and does she have a point with her life lessons?
[Video from Harvard's youtube channel]
