People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them ~ G.B. Shaw
Following is a speech I gave years ago as the Commencement Speaker for students graduating from Mattia College in Miami, Florida. As they ended a part of their lives, they were also beginning a new life journey. I hope it will inspire you as I hope it inspired them:
Today is the beginning of the rest of your life! Today you close chapters of life that you may never live again. This is not just another day, this is your gift for the future. This is another chance you receive to make life better, richer, and make your dreams come true.
At a very young age, I embarked on a life of ups and downs after living the happiest childhood. It would all be broken by divorce. I learned early on to ride the waves of life after that devastating blow that came to me when I was only ten years old. Seeing my parents go their separate ways, leaving my home to live with my grandparents for a few years… away from my mother…The giant within me awakened early and I knew I was on my own. My will was tested as will yours.
I learned quickly to rise above failure, to persevere, be diligent. To be disciplined and to never, ever, ever give up. To this day, I have a poster of a delicate flower growing out of a mountain of snow, with the words NEVER GIVE UP!
Throughout life’s journey, you will probably encounter many “no’s”. Rejection might meet you at every corner. Some of you may be blessed enough to whiz through life, have green lights at most intersections, and experience open doors at every turn. That’s life.
Either way, your attitude will determine your altitude.
What you do with the lemons given to you will mark your destiny. Will you make lemonade or simply cry over a few lemons along the way? How you handle every day will either create the path to success or take you straight to a life of failure.
I want to share a story that has inspired me and I know it will do the same for you today:
Do you know who the greatest failure in American history was? Please allow me to tell you a little about this man that I so admire. I will begin with a few of the setbacks he encountered along the way to success…
- He failed as a businessperson—he was a shopkeeper that went under.
- He failed as a farmer.He ran for state legislature and lost.
- His sweetheart died, and he had a nervous breakdown of sheer sadness.
- When he finally got to the state legislature, he ran for speaker and lost.
- He ran for Congress and lost.
- He was rejected for a job as a land officer.
- He ran for United States Senate and lost.
- He ran for Vice President and lost.
- He ran for Senate again and lost once more.
- When he finally got elected as president, the country he was elected to lead fell apart.
- Then he went out and lost the First Battle of Manassas, the Battle of Big Bethel, Kessler’s Cross Lanes, Blackmon Fort, McDowell, Winchester, Port Republic, Drewry’s Bluff, Gaines Mill, Cedar Mountain, Bristoe Station…and he didn’t care. He kept going.
- He lost Harper’s Ferry and Shepherdstown.
- His wife, Mary Todd wasn’t exactly the ideal wife. Prone to depression and a total spendthrift she must have been a thorn in his side!
- Then after he finally won the war and passed the 13th amendment, he got shot.
Are you frustrated by now? Who am I talking about?
Abraham Lincoln. (I would say he is the epitome of perseverance and strength.)
Thomas Edison once said: “Our greatest weakness is giving up. The most certain way to success is to just try one more time.”
So if you’ve done 12 job interviews and you still don’t get that job, go do 13. And then 14. Keep going.
If your marriage failed and ended in divorce, don’t give up. Try one more time. The next one could be “the one”.
If you’ve been in financial difficulties and can’t seem to get your ahead above water, try another way.
When you woke up this morning, God gave you a gift called “TODAY”. It’s your chance to make a difference. Thank God we get a lot of todays.
I want to leave you with 10 tips and small changes that have taken me that extra step that you might need during the next chapters of your life:
- Be patient.
- Be obedient (within reason).
- Know who to recognize and honor those who deserve it.
- Be flexible.
- Learn from your peers.
- Brush your teeth every day.
- Honor and love your father and mother.
- Be punctual.
- Keep your home, car, and workspace in order.
- Keep looking up, because that is where it all is! God is in control if you let Him. Seek Him in times of trouble, in those days of sadness and remember to thank Him daily.
I wish for you today to be the best. That this day is the best of many in your life.
That you may always love deeply, laugh often, dance much, and enjoy this next chapter of your life. And as I leave you today, I will end and close with what I have said for years to my radio and television fans:
I’m Elsie Mendez, in gratitude and love, I leave you with the following words:
God loves you and so do I! Become the best that you can be, live your dreams, till we connect with each other again, until always.