This year I received record number of invitations for graduation parties in Finland as many friends of my son finished their high school. I was also invited to talk in the graduation of my former school, the United World College of the Adriatic, 30 years after of my own gradution.
When preparing my speech (link at the end of this post) for the Adriatic College I listed thoughts and principles that are important for me and that I would like to share with young graduates. The list of thoughts is collected from my note taking and planning system called “Pilvi´s better world”. That is a system consisting of a slide set on what-why-who-how, and a related excel planner. Once a year I draw a value circle which summarises the priorities of that particular year. This ”Pilvi’s better world” system helps me to reflect and also monitor regularly what I do in life, with whom, and with what impact. It has time levels for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual. I have noticed that this ”system” which has developed over time has also become a helpful well-being tool.
In my speech I decided to call thoughts and principles shared as Pilvi’s Better world cornerstones. I wish to dedicate this list to all graduates as a gift with the hope that the thoughts can be your cornerstones in critical moments as you move one in your lives now and in the future:
🔸 Be kind. While you will forget your small acts of kindness, others will remember them. As Pippi Longstocking says: If you are very strong you must also be very kind.
🔸 Look after your body. Think about your body as your life-time suit you wear every day. The life-time suit must be taken care of. It must endure, if it has holes they must be fixed. Your body needs physical and mental care. Learn to breathe, do sports, exercise mindfullness, swim in fresh waters whenever you can.
🔸 Make an effort and work hard for your goals. Sometimes you will also be lucky.
🔸 Read facts and read poetry. Facts for acting with evidence-basis, poetry for having ability for empathy and recognition of beauty. Two tips from me: Hans Rosling: Factfulness and poetry of Fernando Pessoa, below one of my classic favourites.
“To be great, be whole;
Exclude nothing, exaggerate nothing that is not you.
Be whole in everything. Put all you are
Into the smallest thing you do.
So, in each lake, the moon shines with splendor
Because it blooms up above.”
― Fernando Pessoa
🔸 Be aware of the “weather”. The weather means forces that are coming from outside and you cannot influence. Just like outside weather you cannot change external forces and circumstances, but you can take them into account just like you can take the weather into account. In all weathers focus on things you can influence, consider how you can enjoy the weather and protect yourself from the weather.
🔸 Think life as a tripod. One leg is your day-to-day study and work, second leg all other things you care & take interest of like hobbies, and the third leg is people you care for, family and friends. Make sure to give space for the development and well-being of all three legs.
🔸 Value other people and power of community. Make 1+1 always to be more than two. In most things African proverb is true: if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to get far, go together. Aim to be valuable for others, someone that when you leave the room people wait for you to come back.
🔸 Find balance between ego and inner compass. Both are needed. Ego is what outside world can validate of you: your Diploma, your CV, your work experience. Inner compass is your soul, deep self. Never loose the inner compass for ego, but also do not undermine the importance of ego for you need to operate in the world with others where your competences are validated through common standards such as cvs and diplomas.
🔸 Choose carefully what to concentrate on because what you concentrate on you will get more in everything in life, privately and professionally.
🔸 Journal. Write down what you are grateful for for example every Sunday. Write down important discoveries. Keep a diary. You think you will not forget but I tell you you will.
🔸 Go places and stay open. You never regret seeing places and meeting different people. You never see and meet them unless you leave your comfirt zone. Take paths unknown. Books, people and parachutes only work when they are open.
🔸 Pay Forward. When others treat you well you do not need to always pay back. Instead of paying back think how you can pay forward.
🔸 Cherish early mornings. At 5/6-8am anything is possible.
🔸 Act today. What finally matters is what you do and get done today.
BONUS: Stay up until you see the sunrise at least once a year❤️
Yours, Pilvi (+358 40 7191206, pilvi.torsti@gmail.com)
UWC Mostar you can find here