I'm currently attending the 2010 graduation ceremony for a girlfriend of mine and it's quite moving, hearing all the cheers of excitement and feeling all the emotions running through the air.
Through every graduation of something in life, there seems to always be this moment where the promise that anything is possible, is a reality and not just a mantra or novel idea. This makes me wonder, what happens to so many of us after? After the flashes of congratulatory light bulbs dwindle, after the words of encouragement and pride are finished, after the haven of institutional walls are left behind, and after that moment where we say to ourselves "this is the beginning of greatness!"
I'd like to believe that despite our decisions, life routines and roots, that life can change, move and be shaken up at any point.
The irony is that no matter how proud I've ever been for friends and family that have graduated, I've never allotted the same amount of credit to myself for accomplishing the same thing. I think because ultimately it didn't feel substantial enough, that there was more, and basking in a moment of just this step, may cloud the motivation needed for the work to come.
My hope for my loved ones on such a marking occasion are the same for myself, I hope we always stay hungry and always go bigger. Mostly, to never settle.
So from the stands of the SDSU arena and from my blackberry, congrats to everyone graduating, moving on and attempting great things. I leave you with a kick in the butt quote my dirty monkey sent to me when I was in a moment of question and doubt.
"Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."