If you only support free speech for people you agree with, you don't support free speech.
I recently attended my 10-year Stanford University reunion.
10 lessons I learned:
1. Identity is the real thing we're searching for.
Everyone thinks they're looking for money or success, but what they're really looking for is identity. The search for identity is the common thread that connects everyone. Identity is fluid—embrace it in the present, diversify to lower your risk, and seek out new perspectives to challenge yourself.
2. Your daily habits show up on your face after 10 years.
When you're young, you can get away with treating your body and mind like crap. But you can't hide forever. 10 years later, your good (or bad) daily habits show up on your face.
3. The Medici Effect is real.
The Medici family's funding of the arts created a talent and idea density in Florence that gave rise to the Renaissance. College campuses are mini versions of 15th century Florence. Many had left campus and never experienced anything like it again. Conversely, those who made an effort to frequent high density locations had experienced the benefits.
4. Insecurity tells, confidence shows.
People who are crushing it rarely feel a need to tell you that they’re crushing it. Insecurity is loud, confidence is quiet.
5. Plans are great, but life will generally laugh at them.
Those who are thriving had kept their compass pointed to the north, but learned to take the blows and pivot on the fly. Laugh at your plans and keep moving forward.
6. Fighting the Zebra Effect is hard (but worth it).
Researchers struggled to study zebras because the stripes blended together in packs, so they placed a red dot on the side of zebras they wanted to track. They were quickly eaten by lions. Blending in is a survival mechanism. But it's only by taking risk to stand out that you accomplish remarkable things.
7. Freedom is rare, but incredibly apparent.
There were very few people who seemed truly free. The rare few had been intentional about building freedom into their lives. They weren't the richest, but their energy was infectious.
8. We get more embarrassing with age.
I used to wonder why parents were so embarrassing. Now I know, we get more embarrassing with age—or we just mature enough to be comfortable with ourselves. At the class party, we danced poorly and sang off tune. Proudly embarrassing.
9. Shared struggle builds unbreakable bonds.
My baseball teammates and I crawled through the metaphorical (and literal) mud together. Those bonds were forged through suffering, and they are not easily broken. Find the people you'd crawl through the mud with.
10. Life is much more fragile than you think.
Since 2013, we've lost several classmates and loved ones. But amidst the sadness, real beauty has come from it: Everyone is much quicker to smile, hug, and say "I love you" to an old friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment