And this one too!

About a week ago, I posted about my all-time favorite commencement speeches, and I just remembered another one I loved. I'd be remiss if I didn't add this one (see below) to the list!

Like most people, I'm a fan of the show Friends, and my favorite character indeed remains Phoebe Buffay, played by Lisa Kudrow. (Thank goodness for reruns; her comedic timing never disappoints!) During my first post-grad summer, I continued the habit I started in the previous semester, and I scoured various inspirational graduation speeches. (Y'know, for encouragement...hope...laughs, etc.) Lisa Kudrow's address to her alma mater Vassar College in 2010 truly resonated with me. So, enjoy! It's a lengthy one, but worth it.

Favorite line: "I just listened to that inner voice. By the way, I think it's always a good move to listen to that inner voice - if it doesn't lead to a crime!"

simple.

I have been earnestly trying for the past hour to focus on these Powerpoint slides for Epidemiology, but I'm sitting in Starbucks, and when I sit in Starbucks, I get inspired to blog. (It's the darnedest thing! I think it's the ambiance...).

Not only that, but I also just figured out the sequence for a degree plan that I can be happy with (even if it changes, this is a feat worthy of celebrating), AND I heard from a friend this morning who is just so completely balanced, it's overwhelmingly inspiring.

And, so I jotted down some thoughts, and this is what came out:

I’m beginning to think most things in life are simple, we just make them more complicated. I think it’s possible for a situation to be complex, with a bunch of intricacies, but not complicated. Complication lends itself to frustration. But, complexity lends itself to appreciation. For example, looking at a remarkable piece of artwork, like the architecture of a grand building, you can appreciate the beauty in all of its complexity. I think life’s experiences are the same way. We can choose to look at them as complicated calculus problems to which we keep failing to find the solution. Or, we can choose to take a step back, admire the complexity (which, by the way, creates our character), and then break it down to be as simple as we can manage. It reminds me of the quote by Albert Eistein, “everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” Which also reminds me of the title of one of my favorite songs by Tristan Perryman, “Simple as it should be.” When you strip a situation of all of its melodrama and extreme emotions, you can get a calmer perspective. And, then, and only then can you truly accept that everything happening is truly as simple as it should be. 

So, there you have it! I hope this makes sense. And, I hope it encourages you to take a calmer, more mindful perspective on...well, everything. Oh! And, one last quote this reminds me of:

"The art of simplicity is making peace with your complexity." - India Arie ("Wings of Forgiveness). Couldn't have put it any simpler myself!

Okay, now I'm behind schedule - yikes! But, this impromptu post was SO worth it. Happy Monday!