hi everybody before we begin I some let everyone know that this talk catches on
everyone know that this talk catches on
everyone know that this talk catches on touches on a sensitive topic and may
touches on a sensitive topic and may
touches on a sensitive topic and may trigger certain emotions or feelings or
trigger certain emotions or feelings or
trigger certain emotions or feelings or memories and if as a result need to take
memories and if as a result need to take
memories and if as a result need to take a moment from the room please feel free
a moment from the room please feel free
a moment from the room please feel free to do so Benjamin Franklin once said and
to do so Benjamin Franklin once said and
to do so Benjamin Franklin once said and I’m paraphrasing here if in this world
I’m paraphrasing here if in this world
I’m paraphrasing here if in this world nothing can be said for certain except
nothing can be said for certain except
nothing can be said for certain except for death and taxes and as much as we
for death and taxes and as much as we
for death and taxes and as much as we all might fear April 15th and EF filing
all might fear April 15th and EF filing
all might fear April 15th and EF filing our taxes there are loopholes and
our taxes there are loopholes and
our taxes there are loopholes and avoidances just ask President Trump
avoidances just ask President Trump
avoidances just ask President Trump which really only leaves death as the
which really only leaves death as the
which really only leaves death as the one true guarantee in life as a result
one true guarantee in life as a result
one true guarantee in life as a result death is the ultimate change and one may
death is the ultimate change and one may
death is the ultimate change and one may experience because either you passed or
experience because either you passed or
experience because either you passed or someone else did the person being a
someone else did the person being a
someone else did the person being a close relative a friend an acquaintance
close relative a friend an acquaintance
close relative a friend an acquaintance or perhaps a stranger they heard about
or perhaps a stranger they heard about
or perhaps a stranger they heard about on the news now this isn’t a talk about
on the news now this isn’t a talk about
on the news now this isn’t a talk about what happens after you die the afterlife
what happens after you die the afterlife
what happens after you die the afterlife or related topics like incarnation I’m
or related topics like incarnation I’m
or related topics like incarnation I’m not here to discuss the cultural
not here to discuss the cultural
not here to discuss the cultural meanings behind death to describe
meanings behind death to describe
meanings behind death to describe different widget ceremonies surrounding
different widget ceremonies surrounding
different widget ceremonies surrounding death I’m not a fan tala gist or person
death I’m not a fan tala gist or person
death I’m not a fan tala gist or person who studies death they keep me way too
who studies death they keep me way too
who studies death they keep me way too busy instant activities to have a hobby
busy instant activities to have a hobby
busy instant activities to have a hobby like that
like that
like that the term fate ology comes from the Greek
the term fate ology comes from the Greek
the term fate ology comes from the Greek Santos who was the personification of
Santos who was the personification of
Santos who was the personification of death in Greek mythology the interim
death in Greek mythology the interim
death in Greek mythology the interim presentation of the Grim Reaper – the
presentation of the Grim Reaper – the
presentation of the Grim Reaper – the scythe and with angel like wings but not
scythe and with angel like wings but not
scythe and with angel like wings but not here discuss any of that this is a
here discuss any of that this is a
here discuss any of that this is a different talk entirely I would instead
different talk entirely I would instead
different talk entirely I would instead like to share what I’ve learned from
like to share what I’ve learned from
like to share what I’ve learned from losing people during my life and talk
losing people during my life and talk
losing people during my life and talk about how I’ve turned the most negative
about how I’ve turned the most negative
about how I’ve turned the most negative tragedies in my life into positive
tragedies in my life into positive
tragedies in my life into positive lessons my hope is that you leave this
lessons my hope is that you leave this
lessons my hope is that you leave this talk not sad but rather able to
talk not sad but rather able to
talk not sad but rather able to translate these lessons into positive
translate these lessons into positive
translate these lessons into positive changes for your own life in order to
changes for your own life in order to
changes for your own life in order to lay the foundation for these
lay the foundation for these
lay the foundation for these life-changing lessons I think it’s
life-changing lessons I think it’s
life-changing lessons I think it’s important that I share three significant
important that I share three significant
important that I share three significant people that I’ve lost during my life
people that I’ve lost during my life
people that I’ve lost during my life these three role models all passed
these three role models all passed
these three role models all passed during different stages of my life and
during different stages of my life and
during different stages of my life and as a result affected me in different
as a result affected me in different
as a result affected me in different ways in ninth grade Peter Goldberg was
ways in ninth grade Peter Goldberg was
ways in ninth grade Peter Goldberg was one of my best friends a fraternity
one of my best friends a fraternity
one of my best friends a fraternity brother in college Phil littleengine Jew
brother in college Phil littleengine Jew
brother in college Phil littleengine Jew air
air
air and on December 1st 2009 poppy Dave all
and on December 1st 2009 poppy Dave all
and on December 1st 2009 poppy Dave all men all represent various ideals to me
men all represent various ideals to me
men all represent various ideals to me and I found that these their lessons and
and I found that these their lessons and
and I found that these their lessons and our experience that we shared all bring
our experience that we shared all bring
our experience that we shared all bring back to these four main life-changing
back to these four main life-changing
back to these four main life-changing points one laughs and not just the big
points one laughs and not just the big
points one laughs and not just the big things but at the small things too
things but at the small things too
things but at the small things too laughter is a powerful tool some say it
laughter is a powerful tool some say it
laughter is a powerful tool some say it heals all and it’s a perfect remedy
heals all and it’s a perfect remedy
heals all and it’s a perfect remedy whether it was Pete’s outgoing and no
whether it was Pete’s outgoing and no
whether it was Pete’s outgoing and no fear personality Phil’s jokes or Poppy’s
fear personality Phil’s jokes or Poppy’s
fear personality Phil’s jokes or Poppy’s laughs my most vivid memories with these
laughs my most vivid memories with these
laughs my most vivid memories with these three gentlemen are my times we laugh
three gentlemen are my times we laugh
three gentlemen are my times we laugh together in my grandparents kitchen when
together in my grandparents kitchen when
together in my grandparents kitchen when you open the refrigerator door it blocks
you open the refrigerator door it blocks
you open the refrigerator door it blocks the doorway from the kitchen to the
the doorway from the kitchen to the
the doorway from the kitchen to the dining room and every once in a while
dining room and every once in a while
dining room and every once in a while when grandma was in the fridge fine
when grandma was in the fridge fine
when grandma was in the fridge fine trying to find something papi would
trying to find something papi would
trying to find something papi would stand in the doorway and as grandma
stand in the doorway and as grandma
stand in the doorway and as grandma closed the refrigerator door to reveal
closed the refrigerator door to reveal
closed the refrigerator door to reveal papi standing there he’d kind of jump
papi standing there he’d kind of jump
papi standing there he’d kind of jump out and scare a little bit and grandma
out and scare a little bit and grandma
out and scare a little bit and grandma would scream and say stop that and
would scream and say stop that and
would scream and say stop that and they’d laugh together we all have busy
they’d laugh together we all have busy
they’d laugh together we all have busy lives some of us are in school some of
lives some of us are in school some of
lives some of us are in school some of us have busy home and personal lives
us have busy home and personal lives
us have busy home and personal lives some of us were working 40 plus hours a
some of us were working 40 plus hours a
some of us were working 40 plus hours a week and some of us trying to balance
week and some of us trying to balance
week and some of us trying to balance all three of those things and then some
all three of those things and then some
all three of those things and then some but I’m willing to bet that during a
but I’m willing to bet that during a
but I’m willing to bet that during a stressful week if you’re able to laugh
stressful week if you’re able to laugh
stressful week if you’re able to laugh or joke about something even the
or joke about something even the
or joke about something even the smallest thing your day would become
smallest thing your day would become
smallest thing your day would become infinitely better if you’ve had the good
infinitely better if you’ve had the good
infinitely better if you’ve had the good fortune to come by the Student
fortune to come by the Student
fortune to come by the Student Activities office during the academic
Activities office during the academic
Activities office during the academic year
year
year it is quite busy much like many of the
it is quite busy much like many of the
it is quite busy much like many of the other offices on campus those always
other offices on campus those always
other offices on campus those always students coming in and out of the office
students coming in and out of the office
students coming in and out of the office especially on the weekends out on the
especially on the weekends out on the
especially on the weekends out on the evenings planning their various events
evenings planning their various events
evenings planning their various events getting ready for their different group
getting ready for their different group
getting ready for their different group activities needs to say it’s very
activities needs to say it’s very
activities needs to say it’s very stressful but we’re always laughing
stressful but we’re always laughing
stressful but we’re always laughing about something finding the humor and
about something finding the humor and
about something finding the humor and the smallest things and it creates a
the smallest things and it creates a
the smallest things and it creates a very positive work environment plus the
very positive work environment plus the
very positive work environment plus the student workers love and I mean love my
student workers love and I mean love my
student workers love and I mean love my jokes they’re on the rise right now to
jokes they’re on the rise right now to
jokes they’re on the rise right now to speak up say what’s on your mind reach
speak up say what’s on your mind reach
speak up say what’s on your mind reach out to a friend in need
out to a friend in need
out to a friend in need don’t wait until tomorrow to talk about
don’t wait until tomorrow to talk about
don’t wait until tomorrow to talk about it we never know what life has in store
it we never know what life has in store
it we never know what life has in store for us tomorrow we don’t know who and
for us tomorrow we don’t know who and
for us tomorrow we don’t know who and who won’t be here later who will meet
who won’t be here later who will meet
who won’t be here later who will meet tomorrow a week from now or what random
tomorrow a week from now or what random
tomorrow a week from now or what random serious events will affect us down the
serious events will affect us down the
serious events will affect us down the road based on this theory
road based on this theory
road based on this theory I encourage you to communicate with the
I encourage you to communicate with the
I encourage you to communicate with the people around you not just through your
people around you not just through your
people around you not just through your mobile devices good queue on the ring
mobile devices good queue on the ring
mobile devices good queue on the ring take your face out of the phone put away
take your face out of the phone put away
take your face out of the phone put away the snapchats
the snapchats
the snapchats stop doing the digital likes and have a
stop doing the digital likes and have a
stop doing the digital likes and have a real conversation by a show of hands
real conversation by a show of hands
real conversation by a show of hands whose text message from across their
whose text message from across their
whose text message from across their suite to the roommate or in the
suite to the roommate or in the
suite to the roommate or in the residence halls we wrap out across the
residence halls we wrap out across the
residence halls we wrap out across the house to a family member asking the
house to a family member asking the
house to a family member asking the simple question I had a college roommate
simple question I had a college roommate
simple question I had a college roommate did that back when I aim was still big
did that back when I aim was still big
did that back when I aim was still big and I never understood that by a show of
and I never understood that by a show of
and I never understood that by a show of hands who talks to their parents once a
hands who talks to their parents once a
hands who talks to their parents once a week at least once a week or goes home
week at least once a week or goes home
week at least once a week or goes home to have dinner or something something
to have dinner or something something
to have dinner or something something like that with them my fraternity
like that with them my fraternity
like that with them my fraternity brother Phil committed suicide three
brother Phil committed suicide three
brother Phil committed suicide three years after he graduated college he had
years after he graduated college he had
years after he graduated college he had so much going for him is working for
so much going for him is working for
so much going for him is working for ESPN and his dream job has a great
ESPN and his dream job has a great
ESPN and his dream job has a great family a great group of friends and to
family a great group of friends and to
family a great group of friends and to this day I’m not really sure why he did
this day I’m not really sure why he did
this day I’m not really sure why he did that I bill was a great listener he was
that I bill was a great listener he was
that I bill was a great listener he was the guy in the fraternity that younger
the guy in the fraternity that younger
the guy in the fraternity that younger guys will go to with questions and
guys will go to with questions and
guys will go to with questions and concerns we wanted to vent or complain
concerns we wanted to vent or complain
concerns we wanted to vent or complain and he just knew what to say he had such
and he just knew what to say he had such
and he just knew what to say he had such great wise words but having experienced
great wise words but having experienced
great wise words but having experienced that I would encourage you to reach out
that I would encourage you to reach out
that I would encourage you to reach out and talk to the people around you ask
and talk to the people around you ask
and talk to the people around you ask them how their day is telling if you’re
them how their day is telling if you’re
them how their day is telling if you’re mad if you’re happy if you’re sad if
mad if you’re happy if you’re sad if
mad if you’re happy if you’re sad if you’re nervous and if it’s because of
you’re nervous and if it’s because of
you’re nervous and if it’s because of them tell them and talk about it nothing
them tell them and talk about it nothing
them tell them and talk about it nothing ever got done by going to bed angry
ever got done by going to bed angry
ever got done by going to bed angry number three
number three
number three dreamers if you live forever live as if
dreamers if you live forever live as if
dreamers if you live forever live as if it died today
it died today
it died today I believe this James Dean quote which
I believe this James Dean quote which
I believe this James Dean quote which happens to be my favorite quote
happens to be my favorite quote
happens to be my favorite quote perfectly sums up the importance of
perfectly sums up the importance of
perfectly sums up the importance of experiencing life I don’t mean you have
experiencing life I don’t mean you have
experiencing life I don’t mean you have to be a thrill seeker and jump out of an
to be a thrill seeker and jump out of an
to be a thrill seeker and jump out of an airplane but get out of your comfort
airplane but get out of your comfort
airplane but get out of your comfort zone try new things
zone try new things
zone try new things perhaps ride a horse for the first time
perhaps ride a horse for the first time
perhaps ride a horse for the first time it seems so simple but often we get so
it seems so simple but often we get so
it seems so simple but often we get so racked up and what we’re doing what we
racked up and what we’re doing what we
racked up and what we’re doing what we should be doing and our work that we
should be doing and our work that we
should be doing and our work that we forget to ask what we can be doing the
forget to ask what we can be doing the
forget to ask what we can be doing the idea is stopping the smell the roses
idea is stopping the smell the roses
idea is stopping the smell the roses seem so trivial but I challenge you this
seem so trivial but I challenge you this
seem so trivial but I challenge you this week to actually stop and smell a rose
week to actually stop and smell a rose
week to actually stop and smell a rose or a flower or a view that you come upon
or a flower or a view that you come upon
or a flower or a view that you come upon my friend Pete had no fear he was a
my friend Pete had no fear he was a
my friend Pete had no fear he was a class clown whether it was breaking the
class clown whether it was breaking the
class clown whether it was breaking the dance in the hallway or going rap to the
dance in the hallway or going rap to the
dance in the hallway or going rap to the girl he had a crush on that week to ask
girl he had a crush on that week to ask
girl he had a crush on that week to ask her
her
her out he wasn’t afraid to experience life
out he wasn’t afraid to experience life
out he wasn’t afraid to experience life and take chances he loved to cook and he
and take chances he loved to cook and he
and take chances he loved to cook and he loved food from young age he wanted to
loved food from young age he wanted to
loved food from young age he wanted to be a cook and open a restaurant and I
be a cook and open a restaurant and I
be a cook and open a restaurant and I think in some way he understood that
think in some way he understood that
think in some way he understood that when people break bread they share that
when people break bread they share that
when people break bread they share that experience together and can build upon
experience together and can build upon
experience together and can build upon it Plus how many ninth graders do you
it Plus how many ninth graders do you
it Plus how many ninth graders do you know will invite their crush over in
know will invite their crush over in
know will invite their crush over in middle school to cook for them it’s
middle school to cook for them it’s
middle school to cook for them it’s crazy now it might be a little biased
crazy now it might be a little biased
crazy now it might be a little biased and it might be a little arrogant when I
and it might be a little arrogant when I
and it might be a little arrogant when I say this but I happen to believe my
say this but I happen to believe my
say this but I happen to believe my fourth and final point also happens to
fourth and final point also happens to
fourth and final point also happens to be the meaning behind life and it’s okay
be the meaning behind life and it’s okay
be the meaning behind life and it’s okay if you don’t share in that opinion but I
if you don’t share in that opinion but I
if you don’t share in that opinion but I ask if you take nothing else away from
ask if you take nothing else away from
ask if you take nothing else away from this talk please remember this final
this talk please remember this final
this talk please remember this final thought life isn’t as much about what
thought life isn’t as much about what
thought life isn’t as much about what you do but rather who you share those
you do but rather who you share those
you do but rather who you share those accomplishments with these are my
accomplishments with these are my
accomplishments with these are my grandparents Dave and Jackie they’re
grandparents Dave and Jackie they’re
grandparents Dave and Jackie they’re everything I aspire to be in life they
everything I aspire to be in life they
everything I aspire to be in life they were not incredibly wealthy in the
were not incredibly wealthy in the
were not incredibly wealthy in the traditional sense they did not own their
traditional sense they did not own their
traditional sense they did not own their own airplane but they traveled the world
own airplane but they traveled the world
own airplane but they traveled the world together they don’t own a mega mansion
together they don’t own a mega mansion
together they don’t own a mega mansion by the coast but they can fill two of
by the coast but they can fill two of
by the coast but they can fill two of them with the stories and memories of
them with the stories and memories of
them with the stories and memories of their lives together of their four
their lives together of their four
their lives together of their four children their nine grandchildren and
children their nine grandchildren and
children their nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren Bo’s but they
two great-grandchildren Bo’s but they
two great-grandchildren Bo’s but they enjoyed each other the life they built
enjoyed each other the life they built
enjoyed each other the life they built and laughed a lot
because when it’s all said and done or
because when it’s all said and done or you’re left with your memories thank you
you’re left with your memories thank you
you’re left with your memories thank you [Applause]
”
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