You Only Live Once
It’s that time again…the end of a school year. High school and college graduations; families celebrating the accomplishments and future goals of their high school or college graduates; and students, like my youngest, preparing to move up from middle school to high school.
Yesterday I attended the graduation ceremony at the high school where my oldest graduated last year and where my youngest will be attending next year. The graduating class included one of my own family members as well as sons and daughters of some of my friends. It was also what I would view as a historical event for my small town because it was the 100th class to graduate from this school. I graduated from this high school a number of years ago and it was a special treat to see that three of the graduating students were the sons and daughter of three of my own high school classmates.
What goes through the minds of the graduating students as they throw their caps in the air? Most adults remember this feeling, even if it is a bit fuzzy after many years. At that moment it is pure excitement and the feeling of freedom from the binds of adolescence and high school rules. Eventually, the thrill of feeling like an adult as they look towards the new adventures ahead is combined with the anxiety of what the future actually holds for them. Some take it much better than others. It’s hard for me to remember exactly how I felt but I do recall looking forward to college while I also felt some anxiety at leaving behind what was so familiar. It was a sad day to think I would no longer have regular contact with many friends I had known since grade school. High school classmates, especially in small schools, are much like a family. You might not see them for a long while but when you do finally hook up, there is a familiarity which makes overdue visits effortless.
While advice and wisdom will run rampant during each stepping stone in our lives, there is no denying we only live once. Based on that fact, we should always do our best to make it count.