It’s graduation season, which means commencement ceremonies will soon feature the wit and wisdom of celebrity speakers ranging from late-night comedian Conan O’Brien (Harvard), Henry Winkler, a.k.a. ‘The Fonz’ (Emerson College), and actor Hugh Jackman (Ball State).

Even if you recall who addressed your graduation class, you likely can’t remember what they said unless you wrote it down. The ancient adage is true: The weakest ink is stronger than the best memory.

In honor of commencement season, I thought I would share some of the best advice that I’ve heard, read, or pondered this past year. And I only remember these pearls because I wrote them down.

1. You can reduce the number of problems in life by aiming for quality. High-quality people, products, and places produce fewer problems and generate more pleasantness, i.e., The Broadmoor Hotel.
2. The late historian David McCullough once urged students to be careful when choosing their profession. What you do will affect the person you become and the people you regularly cross paths with.
3. Uncertainty is an uncomfortable thing, yet it adds great interest to life. Embrace it.
4. You very often don’t need a psychologist or a counselor. You just need a good friend.
5. There are exceptions, but most people are not depressed – they need an adventure.
6. Set big goals that require God’s help. That’s where life gets fun.
7. Two words that are the key to success: “Get started.”
8. Take a chance. “Jeopardy!” contestants don’t succeed simply because they know the answers (or questions). They’re successful because they have the guts to be the first to buzz in before they’re sure they know.
9. The most important thing you can do for your children is to declare your faith as a family.
10. Pay less attention to what people say and more to what they do. Behavior reflects belief.
11. Admiral James Stockdale, who spent more than seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, used to start classes he taught with this seven-word statement: “Life is not fair. Get over it.”
12. You don’t have to accomplish big things every day. The key is to do the next thing and do it with excellence. The most popular entry in Christopher Columbus’ log en route to the New World: “Today, we sailed on.”
13. The seven golden words in negotiation: “Is that the best you can do?”
14. Disappointment can be a blessing: Walt Disney lost the rights to “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” – and so he went off and created Mickey Mouse.
15. The greatest waste in the world isn’t environmental or financial – it’s how far below our capacity and potential we work and create each day.
16. The greatest career in life for a man is being a husband, father, and grandfather. The greatest career in life for a woman is being a wife, mother, and grandmother.
17. Abraham Lincoln was right: People are just about as happy as they make up their mind to be.
18. Any time you spend trying to get even with someone would be better spent reading and praying.
19. Don’t skimp when you buy shoes or your mattress. You spend a lot of time in or on both.
20. Go on vacation. An Ernst & Young study found that for each additional ten hours of vacation time, year-end productivity improves by 8%.
21. A strong personal economic rule: spend 70%, give 10%, invest 10%, save 10%.
22.  Ask questions and actually listen to the person’s answers.
23.  When it comes to modesty of dress, you shouldn’t be advertising what’s not for sale.
24.  Elon Musk is right: Life cannot be merely about solving problems. It also has to be about pursuing great dreams.
25. King Solomon nailed it: “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
26. You have a divine purpose. We are all immortal until our work on earth is done. 

The late Harry Reasoner once said commencement addresses should start funny and end up sad, but there’s enough misery on the Opinion pages of the Gazette as it is. Keep smiling, keep swinging, and keep expecting great things. You will find them.

Paul J. Batura is a local writer and founder of the 4:8 Media Network. He can be reached via email Paul@PaulBatura.com or on X @PaulBatura.