12 Things I Would Tell Myself At High School Graduation

In the next several weeks, thousands of high school seniors across the country will graduate.

They'll attend a commencement ceremony and listen to a speaker give them advice on what lies ahead.

I remember attending my graduation ceremony.  

I remember the names of the speakers.

I can't remember what they said.

I'm sure they were great. I just don't remember the advice. 

That's one of the problems with youth:  When we're young, we aren't paying enough attention to the advice people give us.

In some cases, we're distracted by what's in front of us - What will I do this summer? When can I move out of my parent's house? Where's the party tonight?

But mostly, when we're young, we don't appreciate that people who are older than us have been where we are and have traveled life's path.  

They've gone through what we'll go through and have experiences they can share.

As I look back, I wish I had listened to people who were older and wiser than I was when I was graduating.

I don't wish my path in life was different.  

I do think if I knew then what I know now, the journey on the path would have been richer.

I'm a fan of the Tim Ferriss podcast.  

Tim often asks his guests: What advice would you give your 20 year-old self?

Every time he asks that question, it makes me think about how I would answer.

This time of year, I think about the advice I would give my younger self on graduation day:

1. Read More. I was an English major in college, which meant I read a lot of books.  Some were great and some were terrible. Most weren't books I chose to read on my own. When college was over, I stopped reading. Recently, I rediscovered the joy of reading, the joy of learning. I wish I would have visited the library and checked out books on things I was interested in. Since I have started reading more I have discovered the immense feeling of satisfaction I get when I learn something new.
2. Write More. In the same vein, after college, I wrote only emails for work. In the past few years, I've found I enjoy communicating my thoughts through the written word. Today, there are so many ways to share your writing and get feedback on it. When I was in my 20's, while the technology wasn't as ubiquitous as it is today, I still could have kept a journal and worked on my writing. 
3. Speak, In Public. I have never been afraid to speak in public, but I haven't done it enough. Public speaking is a skill that serves you well no matter what job you do.  It takes practice, and had I started in my 20's, I would be farther along in my skills than I am today.
4. Work On Habits. Most of us are terrible at habit creation.  We don't understand how or why we create them. Yet, habits can be incredibly powerful in making us more effective and in reducing stress in our lives. No one teaches you about habits in school, and many students would probably perform better if they learned about them.  Tiny Habits, by Dr. BJ Fogg, should be a part of the public education curriculum
5. Exercise. I was an athlete in high school. Then, I went to college, and after that, I got a real-world desk job. I rarely exercised until I was 33 years old. I missed 15 years of physical activity in my life. Had I made physical activity a priority, I would be in even better shape than I am today.
6. Travel More. Not just to other countries, but to the interesting places in your own country.  Even if it is just for a weekend, get out of town and go see something else.  It expands your perspective and gives you an appreciation for your home.
7. Connect More. Meet a new person everyday or re-connect with someone you already know.
8. Say "Sorry." Don't be afraid to say "sorry" or say, "I was wrong." People will appreciate and trust you more.
9. Say "Thank You." Remember to say "thank you" - everyday.  Say it to yourself or to someone you care about.  It's a small thing that makes a world of difference.
10. Give More. More than you are comfortable giving. Giving a little extra may not make much of an impact on you, but will have a tremendous impact on the recipient of your generosity.
11. Break Rules. Most of the rules in life are made up by people who want you to act according to their interests. Understand the consequences of breaking them.  If you can accept the consequences, go ahead and break them.
12. It's never too late. Make a change. Learn new things.  Stay curious and keep learning. When school ends, the real learning begins.

Greg Roche is a multipotentialite husband and father with a day job and a couple of side businesses. He likes corporate wellness, behavior design, data science, flying drones, and working out. He's just trying to find time to fit it all in. See his projects at gregsroche.com and 15minutesofchange.com