Many times, when people reach my age, things start to happen. For instance, although my co-workers would probably attest I didn’t care much about dressing for the part of an executive editor, I actually did, sort of. Now firmly semi-retired I truly don’t care. My wardrobe is part Bass Pro Shop and part thrift store finds.
Cargo pants are the best, by the way. I don’t care what I read on social media about them.
Also, as part of entering my dotage, I have discovered I have to work more and more to maintain my filter in conversations with many people and in this column, as well as social media. Have a bourbon and a cigar with me in my backyard and you might find me much more candid.
With age, I’ve discovered a switch has clicked on in my head and I am tempted to offer unsolicited advice to people I know and people I don’t.
Like the average geezer — because I am an average geezer — I have resisted mightily but it’s graduation time and I will yield to temptation in this column.
The good news is I doubt many high school or college graduates will ever hear, read or heed this advice. The bad news is I’m burdening you readers with it.
The following would be my speech to graduates, God help them:
Good evening. As I know you all have many social events planned for the minute this ceremony is ended, I will not hold you up with a long potentially boring address.
Tonight, you have reached an important landmark in your education. The rest of your life beckons. You will get much unsolicited advice from friends and relatives and in the next few minutes from an old ink-stained wretch who has spent the majority of his career working in media.
Perhaps the most important thing I can tell you is take every opportunity that presents itself to you. If it is a job you want, a trip you need to take or a revision to your life plan, do not allow that chance to disappear.
Life is amazingly short. You are a young person today and before long you will have your twenties in your rearview mirror. With every birthday there is the potential for reflection about who you are and if you’re happy with your life.
If you’re unhappy about something, it’s time to take an action to correct it.
No matter how carefully you may have planned your life and career, the universe in its chaotic way — and yes, get use to chaos rather than control in your life — likes to test you.
“Test” is a polite word for the verb I would really like to use. You understand, I’m sure.
Some of those tests are very serious but some are simply annoying. Each test has the potential for providing you with information that possibly could change your life for the better.
I have been very lucky in my career as I have been able to do many of the things which were dreams for me as a young person. I wanted to report. I wanted to write books. I wanted to work on radio and television.
Despite being retired I’m still following many of those aspirations.
I realized that in many situations, hearing the word “no” was not the death of a dream. In many cases, it was simply a cue for me to figure out another way to get to a destination.
Don’t let people tell you can’t do something. Think carefully and strategically and see if there is a way to accomplish your goal.
I could give you an example of this attitude from my career but there may be ice cream cakes about to melt at your parents’ homes and I don’t want that to happen.
You will not succeed at everything you attempt. The most important lessons come from what some people call “failures.”
The real test will be getting back up and starting again to get something done.
Now I hope by concentrating on one message you might remember it. I have no idea what the late Congressman Silvio Conte told me and the rest of the graduating class of Granby High School back in 1972. I wish I did.
We’re reaching the finish line here. The only other bit of wisdom I can offer, if you want to call it that, is we are all idiots, so let’s be kind to one another.
Go to your parties, eat that cake, open those presents and sleep in late tomorrow. You will need the rest for what the universe might sling in your direction.
