Skip to main content

Be Fine

Oh, the commencement speech that Ellen gave at Tulane University.

I read it once and laughed. I read it again and teared up. I read it a third time wishing I had written the words - and that is when I decided that I had to share it here with you.

There are times in life where it takes so much bravery and conviction just to be who you are. But it's so worth it. You can't live fully behind any kind of mask. You can't love fully unless you just let your heart go. You can't succeed unless you are fully applied.

Don't waste time being afraid. Love and life are here for the taking. We just have to be open enough to let what is ours come to us and be willing to embrace it.

Thank you Ellen for taking a risk years ago.
Thank you to the people in my life who made every inch of understanding take me a mile.

"Really when I look back on it, I wouldn't change a thing. I mean, it was so important for me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is, is to be true to yourself. Ultimately, that's what's gotten me to this place. I don't live in fear, I'm free, I have no secrets. and I know I'll always be ok, because no matter what, I know who I am. So In conclusion, when I was younger I thought success was something different. I thought when I grow up, I want to be famous. I want to be a star. I want to be in movies. When I grow up I want to see the world, drive nice cars, I want to have groupies. To quote the Pussycat Dolls. How many people thought it was "boobies", by the way? It's not, it's "groupies".

But my idea of success is different today. And as you grow, you'll realise the definition of success changes. For many of you, today, success is being able to hold down 20 shots of tequila. For me, the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity, and not to give into peer pressure. to try to be something that you're not. To live your life as an honest and compassionate person. to contribute in some way. So to conclude my conclusion: follow your passion, stay true to yourself. Never follow anyone else's path, unless you're in the woods and you're lost and you see a path, and by all means you should follow that. Don't give advice, it will come back and bite you in the ass. Don't take anyone's advice. So my advice to you is to be true to yourself and everything will be fine."



And everything will be fine. Because where there is honesty there is explanation, complete surrender and endless reward.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Yogi teabag quote of the day "Be proud of who you are."

Comments

Anonymous said…
Jamie, thank you for posting this - I hadn't heard it before! Such a simple thing - be true to yourself, and yet so often in life, it is ourselves we let down. I like this post a lot - it is a good reminder of what is important in life.
Chuck Dilmore said…
i just love her.

thanks for the post -
had not read that!

peace~

Popular posts from this blog

Cluck-a-doodle-dooooooooo.

Today I did it. Every morning I drive past a garden supply store on my way to work. And every morning I look at the rooster statue standing more than 5' tall in front of it and think, "I want a picture of him." And then I drive by. I'm either too late for work. Or just not in the mood. Or it's raining. Or I've got other things on my mind. In other words I'm full of excuses. I have spent more time reasoning myself out of taking that picture than it would have taken to just pull over and snap it. What changed today? The Details in the Fabric. It was recommended that I listen to this Jason Mraz song and pay attention to the lyrics. So, I did...and in listening I decided to stop paralyzing myself. To stop driving by just because I'm preoccupied or feeling lost. "Calm Down. Deep Breaths. And get yourself dressed. Instead of running around and pulling all of your threads. And breaking yourself up." And that's what I need to do. The way I&#

Friday Shootout - Reflections

Friday Shoot-Out

I decided to participate in a blog group Friday Shoot-Out. There's a weekly topic...then you just photograph it how you want and Ta-Da you are in. This week's theme - Colors of the Rainbow. Here's my lil contribution. Barking Spider Photos: West Side Market: