Begin Again. No Cap and Gown Required.
Commencement literally means “a beginning.”
And as anyone over the age of 18—or 22—quickly discovers, beginnings are constant.
When a career transitions.
When relationships begin.
When relationships end.
When children arrive.
When parents age.
When expectations shift.
When dreams disappear.
And when we suddenly realize the life we thought we wanted—or the life we meticulously built—no longer fits the life we want now.
The Problem With Commencement Clichés
So when I hear speeches invoking inspirational quips like:
“Follow your dreams.”
“Believe in yourself.”
“Never give up.”
I can’t help but think they’re better suited for needlepoint pillows than for navigating the messy realities of adulthood.
Instead, I’d trade the clichés for questions like these:
And then—even at the risk of sounding a little woo-woo—I’d go deeper still:
Why am I here—at this moment, in this life?
These are the life questions that can ground us and guide us.
They remind us what actually matters.
And we should ask them regularly—not just when we’re celebrating milestones or facing down crises, but before our lives become one long accumulation of shoulds, obligations, expectations, distractions, emails, errands, meetings, and noise.
Before the years pass without us ever asking whether we are living in alignment with what—and who—matters most.
The Bottom Line
So maybe this month, instead of only celebrating the graduates, we should all have our own little commencement.
A moment to pause.
To ask better questions.
To tell the truth.
To begin again.
No cap and gown required.
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