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I need your input!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

My daughter is graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. I am putting together a book of pictures of her life and I would like to include some "words of advice" for her from adults who have wisdome to share. If you had to give just one piece of advice to a high school graduate knowing what you know now what would it be? It can be serious or funny lengthy or brief...whatever you want! I would greatly appreciate it if you could respond to this message with your words of wisdom so I can include them in the book.

Thanks Sparkfriends!

~Laura

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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CHIFANG130 5/24/2011 4:43PM

    Remember to smile or laugh through a difficult situation. Always think the bright side when things are not going your ways.



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MUSTANG_SALLY2 5/24/2011 12:03PM

    Is it too late to submit??? If not, here's my advice.

"You teach people how to treat you in life. It is up to you to create the relationships you want. People learn quickly what will and will not be tolerated. Stand up for yourself."

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SWAZY33 5/24/2011 10:35AM

    I love this idea! My daughter is graduating next year and I may steal some of the quotes left by others!!
"We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are." Begin living every moment as though you are miraculous because YOU ARE and deserve to live an extraordinary life because YOU DO. The gift you will be giving yourself is a lifelong journey of discovery, one that is infinitely rewarding. Begin the journey. Today. This moment. Make your own happiness :)

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JOJOBURG 5/23/2011 11:56AM

    I agree with Lindakay228...Enjoy your life! Do not be in a hurry!! Do not waste time on someone that makes you cry...look for the ones that make you smile! What you give comes back with interest!

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NDRIVER69 5/19/2011 4:16PM

    I tell my boys 9 and 11: these 3 things will get you a great life: communication, moderation and dancing!!!

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BELLE0308 5/19/2011 3:18PM

    GREAT advice from everyone!!
My only advice would be similar to some of these. Don't look back on your life and say "I should have tried this". Just do it! Most of the time we have regrets as we get over but if the opportunity is there to try something new, do it. You learn something even if you never get the chance to do it again.

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TWALKER0475 5/19/2011 2:54PM

    Find a way to make a living doing what you love, even if you could make more money doing something else. Money is not what brings us happiness in life. Happiness is found in chasing our dreams and investing our time in things we feel passionately about.

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KRISTI2661 5/19/2011 2:19PM

    Make a decision to live the life you imagine

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GLAMOURGIRL-9 5/19/2011 2:09PM

    "Whatever you give to life, it gives you back. Do not hate anybody.
The hatred which comes out from you will someday come back to you.
Love others and the love will come back to you."

Not sure who it's from

Life can be so very challenging but love and thinking positive can get you through!

What a wonderful idea this is!

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IPA-RAY 5/19/2011 1:20PM

    I just remembered that at a national child support conference, someone gave coffee mugs to kids that said, "Get an education, Get a job, Get married, THEN have children." Advice that is too often ignored nowadays.

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CANDOK1260 5/19/2011 1:19PM

    THERE IS NO MISTAKES YOU CAN MAKE THAT YOU CAN;T BOUNCE BACK FROM SO TRIED EVERYTHING

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LIGHTNINGRUNNER 5/19/2011 12:59PM

    "If you can't say anything nice - Say nothing at all"

"You are the best you there possible is, if someone doesn't like you - they are the one that loses out of the best thing"

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CATHERINEL66 5/19/2011 12:54PM

    Be practical: get a college degree in your 20's and make sure it's one that will help you get a job.

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LINDAKAY228 5/19/2011 11:59AM

    Enjoy where you are now in life. Don't miss the joys of today in a hurry to make it to the next stage. Too often we think we'll be happy or our life will be best when we finish college, start a career, get married, have kids, have a good paying job, or countless other things. But today only comes once and life goes by pretty fast so don't miss what today has to offer searching for tomorrow.

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KATJAMN 5/19/2011 11:44AM

    Oh, and always.. ALWAYS, take time to dance!

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KATJAMN 5/19/2011 11:43AM

    Always be true to who you are and your values, people will expect you to give up a bit of yourself and compromise your beliefs. DON'T! You may miss out on opportunities, but in the long run, you will be able to look yourself in the mirror and know that you stayed true to who you are.

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DDOORN 5/19/2011 11:28AM

    Desiderata

http://en.wikiped
ia.org/wiki/Desiderata

Don

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SHEDDING123 5/19/2011 9:17AM

    WHat a great gift for your daughter!
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa


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IPA-RAY 5/19/2011 8:43AM

    Me and my friends have a tradition that requires anyone who has a birthday to share words of wisdom the next time we get together. One friend records the words in a book. Since we are all in our 50's or 60's a lot of the advice wouldn't be appropriate for someone so young. My first thought for a youngster was "Never stop reading." But then I remembered the book "Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart." and I am offering this bit of wisdom from that book:

"The three components of happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to."

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CYNTHIAMINUS40 5/19/2011 1:11AM

    I love this! My husband is the headmaster of a school and we graduate about 70 seniors every year. It's such an exciting day!

When I'm asked to give any advice to our kids I always tell them

"when your heart, your head and your actions are all in alignment, there's nothing that can stop you from doing something wonderful."

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CANNIE50 5/19/2011 12:38AM

    Even when we feel we are not enough, we must remember, we are everything to someone.

To thine ownself, be true.

Congratulations to both of you - job well done! emoticon

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THECRAZYMANGO 5/18/2011 11:17PM

    Never settle on your dreams!

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ARARUTH 5/18/2011 11:07PM

    pay your bills as soon as possible, be careful with your credit!! wish someone would have explained how it worked when I was younger.

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MIQUEY73 5/18/2011 10:47PM

    Always try your hardest and be honest. Don't let others dictate your life.

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GOGOMAMA 5/18/2011 10:35PM

    “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss quote. Congratulations!

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BSTAKINGACTION 5/18/2011 10:20PM

    Slow down!

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RUNNINGOLLIE 5/18/2011 9:42PM

    I have 5 nephews....no nieces...yet.

But what I would say to them and anyone else-is that who you are today, standing at what you might consider to be the "start" of your life.....is actually just a continuation of all the hard work you have done from kindergarten to know and never forget what shaped you and who inspired you to strive forward with confidence!!!

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ANNE7X7 5/18/2011 9:35PM

    A teacher told me this in high school and I think about it every time stressful of overwhelming situations arise: "don't sweat the small stuff"! Best advice I've ever gotten!! When you think about it, what is the situation going to mean in a week? A month? A year? Probably not much!

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PONYFARMER 5/18/2011 7:22PM

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

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AUNTIE65 5/18/2011 6:55PM

    The song that I always think of for my nieces is "I Hope You'll Dance"... that they won't be too afraid to try new things and experience life. I guess I spent my youth and young adulthood afraid of embracing life and hope that they can learn earlier than I, that you will regret the things you don't do far more than the things we do - so dance, don't sit life out! but also - be safe - lol - always have to add that one in!

Good luck with you project, she will always treasure it I'm sure!

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AMARAN 5/18/2011 6:52PM

    It's fine to seek knowledge, but there are thousands of smart people who have no common sense wisdom. To truly set herself apart from the crowd, she should seek wisdom - the unique ability to correctly discern a situation and aptly apply the correct solution. This is a great book about widsom:
http://www.amazon.com/Ri
chest-Man-Who-Ever-Lived/dp/038
5516665/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=U
TF8&qid=1305759074&sr=1-2

This guy was a loser in so many senses. Someone challenged him to read a chapter of Proverbs every day. He took the challenge, and what he learned changed his life.

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RHONDALYN10 5/18/2011 6:46PM

    Believe in yourself and never settle for second best.

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TEDDYBABE 5/18/2011 5:59PM

    Know that there are so many opportunities out there. Keep searching, open new doors, explore new paths, have a dream. Education is the key.

Congrats to your grad!

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JENNIBEAN 5/18/2011 5:53PM

    Don't be in a hurry for life to happen. Slow down and make lasting memories. Enjoy where you are right now because changes happen fast. Appreciate your family and friends everyday.

Congratulations to your daughter (and to you!). My fabulous son graduated last year and I put together an album for him too.

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JEM0622 5/18/2011 5:40PM

    Love What You Do and Do What You Love

First impressions are important, so always make it count.

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LALASLAND 5/18/2011 5:30PM

    Don't ever be afraid to TRY! emoticon

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ROSET491 5/18/2011 5:29PM

    Know that she can always call home! ! That you will be there for her!! Believe me after sending my youngest and only girl off 5 short years ago it's wonderful to hear about their days!! Also her knowing that you trust her and her judgements will go far in the independence she is seeking!! It's going to be tough but exciting at the same time for all of you!!

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IONA72 5/18/2011 5:20PM

    Be yourself, trust your instinct, live, love and laugh often.

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VHALKYRIE 5/18/2011 5:19PM

    Graduating high school is both an exciting and scary time. What are you going to do with the rest of your life? The door is wide open! Any path is open to you, if you chose to take it. Whatever your dream is, pursue it with passion.

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DANCINGJILL 5/18/2011 5:15PM

    ~Always follow your dreams. Those that mock it don't have any of their own.~


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CKC76701 5/18/2011 5:08PM

    My daughter is also graduating very soon. It is a scary time for young people. I tell her each day to make safe choices and consider the consequences of each action.

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LAURIE5658 5/18/2011 4:56PM

    Pay it forward!

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RUNTRILAUGH 5/18/2011 4:53PM

    Trust your gut. It knows more than we give it credit for...

AND

Cherish each day. As Trace Adkins says in his song "You're Gonna Miss This", You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back, You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times, take a good look around, you may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this...

Life truly goes by way too quickly. My 20th high school reunion is this year, and it HONESTLY feels like it should only be our 5th or 10th....


GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Comment edited on: 5/18/2011 4:54:29 PM

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LIVE2RUN4LIFE 5/18/2011 4:51PM

    Think for yourself.

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KAMINEKO 5/18/2011 4:45PM

    Listen to your inner voice. Not the second or third voice that may chime in afterwards, but the first inner voice that says anything--no matter how quiet it speaks.

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