Keeping your humanity

Recently I attended a law school commencement and heard one of the better commencement speeches in recent memory. Coming from an attorney and professor, I found it refreshing and enlightening all the same.

The speaker outlined how, going forward from this milestone in life, the graduates should seek to retain their humanity. He brought up four points:

• Use common sense
• Retain a sense of humor
• Have compassion
• Have passion
  

On the surface, these seem pretty obvious. But, as always, there are other meanings--and application to our world of Relentless Networking.

Using common sense. Not all of life comes at you out of a book. Use your gut, rely on those instincts and the things mama taught you to guide you.

A sense of humor goes hand-in-hand with survival and moving forward. If you can't laugh at yourself and the world, who can you laugh at--or with?

Compassion is the fuel of a loving and kind world. Doing for those who can't do for themselves is a key to a fulfilled life. Leaving this planet a better place than when we arrived is a goal for all of us and it takes compassion.

Same goes for passion: have energy and enthusiasm for all that you do. Greet the day knowing you can conquer something.

So, go forth and network with your humanity intact.

Relentless