This is a highlight from Conan O'Brien's commencement speech to the Dartmouth class of 2011. I got this from my friend, Candice's blog and it may or may not have left me with chills on my arms and tears in my eyes. I love it.
"But then something spectacular happened. Fogbound, with no compass, and adrift, I started trying things. I grew a strange, cinnamon beard. I dove into the world of social media. I started tweeting my comedy. I threw together a national tour. I played the guitar. I did stand-up, wore a skin-tight blue leather suit, recorded an album, made a documentary, and frightened my friends and family. Ultimately, I abandoned all preconceived perceptions of my career path and stature and took a job on basic cable with a network most famous for showing reruns, along with sitcoms created by a tall, black man who dresses like an old, black woman. I did a lot of silly, unconventional, spontaneous and seemingly irrational things and guess what: with the exception of the blue leather suit, it was the most satisfying and fascinating year of my professional life. To this day I still don't understand exactly what happened, but I have never had more fun, been more challenged—and this is important—had more conviction about what I was doing. How could this be true? Well, it's simple: There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized...disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality."
He concludes with his famous parting words: "Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will
happen."
By the way, Jake told me today that he wants to marry Candice. Candice--I think he's trying to win you {and your pool} over.
