a speech that changed my perspective on life - Issue #36
Dear you,
I once read this speech by Shonda Rhimes. I remember reading, then, watching this speech by Shonda Rhimes and feeling my brain unveil and embrace the concept of “being” and “doing” over just “dreaming”. There is a kind of comfort you get from just doing. It makes you feel like you are doing something or you have done something. You talk about it, but you don't do anything about it, because dreaming feels like an activity for you. It gives a pseudo-execution energy but in reality you never execute. You just keep talking about doing it but you never actually do it! I used to do that a lot. I sometimes find myself doing it and I catch myself with this speech playing loudly in my head. It has impacted me strongly and I wanted you to read it too. I hope it inspires you to be, do, and show up.
the speech
DARTMOUTH COMMENCEMENT SPEECH by Shonda Rhimes. Delivered June 8, 2014 in Hanover, New Hampshire:
If you would like to read it instead, click this.
I think dreaming and doing is the perfect combination but if I had to pick one, I would pick doing. Doing creates so many ripples, dots, and connections that make sense when you look back.
my favorite part
You are now citizens of the real world. You have a responsibility to become a person worthy of joining and contributing to society
Who you are today . . . that’s who you are.
Be brave. Be amazing. Be worthy. And every single time you get the chance? Stand up in front of people. Let them see you. Speak. Be heard. Go ahead and have the dry mouth. Let your heart beat so, so fast. Watch everything move in slow motion.
So what. You what? You pass out, you die, you poop? No. (And this is really the only lesson you’ll ever need to know.)
You take it in. You breathe this rare air. You feel alive. You are yourself. You are truly finally always yourself.
With love,
Blessing Abeng
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