Sex. Self-image. Social expectations. Go figure.
Available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Hail-Mary-Patti-Liszkay/dp/1684334888/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1589469057&sr=8-1
And Barnes & Nobel:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hail-mary-patti-liszkay/1136492966?ean=9781684334889
https://www.amazon.com/Hail-Mary-Patti-Liszkay/dp/1684334888/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1589469057&sr=8-1
And Barnes & Nobel:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hail-mary-patti-liszkay/1136492966?ean=9781684334889
Every year around this time I shuffle through my folder of life lessons, observations, and experience to find a few words of worldly advice to offer to the current class of high school and college graduates. In my yearly speech - shared here on my blog - I generally aim to cover a few of the practical bases that might not be covered in more lofty commencement speeches,
| ...such as how to make the perfect baked potato, |  |
 | ...or the importance of never playing with another person's heart. |
But I think I'll save that sort of advice for my 2021 commencement speech.
Because if ever there were a class of graduates in need of some words of wisdom, hope and encouragement to help soften for them the rough edges of this time they're living through, it's the class of 2020.
And though many words have already been offered to this year's graduates in virtual commencement speeches by people of such great intellect, accomplishment, and good will as
Because if ever there were a class of graduates in need of some words of wisdom, hope and encouragement to help soften for them the rough edges of this time they're living through, it's the class of 2020.
And though many words have already been offered to this year's graduates in virtual commencement speeches by people of such great intellect, accomplishment, and good will as
| Barack Obama, |  |
 | Malala Yousafzai, |
| LeBron James, |  |
 | ...and Megan Rapinoe, |
...I'll add my few words, too.
And so, to you, the class of 2020, all you young people to whom my heart goes out, here is my commencement speech:
You, the members of class of 2020, are living in a moment of history. And though no one chooses to live in times such as these, humanity manages to survive them just the same.
Survival is the key, and your goal at the moment is to survive this pandemic so that you can come out on the other side of it and pick up your future from where your life left off when all this began. And remember, you are not alone in this - as we are all the time reminded, we are all in this together. We're all in the same boat.
But the rough seas we're all sailing will calm eventually, if not right away. And though at this moment it seems as though the world has been under quarantine for an immeasurable amount of time, remember that our country has been under lock down for just two months, and that societies have been known to endure and survive turbulent times, times of hardship, wars, plagues and pandemics past, for years. But again, they survive and live to see better, happier times. And so will you.
And so, to you, the class of 2020, all you young people to whom my heart goes out, here is my commencement speech:
You, the members of class of 2020, are living in a moment of history. And though no one chooses to live in times such as these, humanity manages to survive them just the same.
Survival is the key, and your goal at the moment is to survive this pandemic so that you can come out on the other side of it and pick up your future from where your life left off when all this began. And remember, you are not alone in this - as we are all the time reminded, we are all in this together. We're all in the same boat.
But the rough seas we're all sailing will calm eventually, if not right away. And though at this moment it seems as though the world has been under quarantine for an immeasurable amount of time, remember that our country has been under lock down for just two months, and that societies have been known to endure and survive turbulent times, times of hardship, wars, plagues and pandemics past, for years. But again, they survive and live to see better, happier times. And so will you.
The important thing is, again, to see this as your moment in history, for better or worse, but at the same time to see beyond this moment, because this moment will pass.
You are a member of a special generation, a generation that will have lived through a global pandemic, the time of the COVID-19 or Coronavirus Pandemic, as it will go down in history. You will have been part of it, it will be your story. And you will tell your story to the generations that come after you. You'll tell of how things were during the time of the pandemic, how all school was cancelled, how you missed the end of your senior year and your graduation, how you couldn't see your friends because everyone was under lock down and had to stay home. And those who hear your story will be amazed and will look at you with the respect shown to those who've been through times of trial and hardship and are subsequently seen as possessing the special strength and resilience of their generation
But the most important thing now is to stay safe, to stay home, to social distance, to wear your mask out of caring for the well-being of those around you who wear their masks out of caring for your well-being. And to remember, once again, that, though we're all isolated from each other and not a little lonely, in our separation from each other we're all in this together.
Keep your head up. Get through this time, whatever it takes.
You are a member of a special generation, a generation that will have lived through a global pandemic, the time of the COVID-19 or Coronavirus Pandemic, as it will go down in history. You will have been part of it, it will be your story. And you will tell your story to the generations that come after you. You'll tell of how things were during the time of the pandemic, how all school was cancelled, how you missed the end of your senior year and your graduation, how you couldn't see your friends because everyone was under lock down and had to stay home. And those who hear your story will be amazed and will look at you with the respect shown to those who've been through times of trial and hardship and are subsequently seen as possessing the special strength and resilience of their generation
But the most important thing now is to stay safe, to stay home, to social distance, to wear your mask out of caring for the well-being of those around you who wear their masks out of caring for your well-being. And to remember, once again, that, though we're all isolated from each other and not a little lonely, in our separation from each other we're all in this together.
Keep your head up. Get through this time, whatever it takes.
And, by the way, to make the best, most delicious baked potatoes with crispy skins and the fluffiest insides, bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for two hours. Believe me.
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