Inspiring words heard at a graduation ceremony
I attended Chai's Master’s graduation on Wednesday in Portsmouth. The Guildhall seemed a better setting than the Cathedral where I graduated. It took over two hours but it did seem everyone got their moment on stage whereas mine felt like a queue to get a cloakroom ticket.
I heard some quite inspirational quotes in the speeches.
The Chancellor reminded the graduands of how they felt when they first came to the University ‘nervous yet ready’. She said this to encourage them as they embark on the next stage of life when they may be anxious about the future. She spoke of the self-belief that saw them through their courses even in the face of doubts. Inspirational for anyone embarking on something new in life.
Deborah Lawson who received an honourary doctorate spoke of the advice of her grandfather when he told her “You are built of stronger stuff than any adversity”.
This became her mantra when she was disabled due to a car accident in her teens and has remained with her.
What mantra or piece of advice gets you through?
I can think of a few that caught my attention over the years,
“The man who never made a mistake never made nothing”
This permits me to try even if I fail
“Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Step 9 of 12 steps programmes
One of the most practical advice I have ever heard
“This too will pass”
This reminds me that nothing is forever, whatever the current difficulty no matter how dominant will pass.
“The only thing required of you is this present moment”
This one has come from learning to live beyond those things that hold us down.
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