First Lady Barbara Bush – “Three Choices”

It has been over 20 years since I first listened to the speech First Lady Barbara Bush gave at the Wellesley College Commencement Address to the graduating class of 1990.  Her words pierced my heart and challenged me to take action and do great things with my life.  Her Three Choices are simple yet profound.  They are easy choices to make, but even easier not to.  If your life does not incorporate one or all of the choices below I challenge you to reconsider making some new choices.

“Decisions are not irrevocable.  Choices do come back.  And as you set off from Wellesley, I hope that many of you will consider making three very special choices.

The first is… to believe in something larger than yourself, to get involved in some in some big ideas of our time…

Early on I made another choice, which I hope you’ll make as well.  Whether you are talking about education, career, or service, you’re talking about life — and life really must have joy.  It’s supposed to be fun.  One of the reasons I made the most important decision of my life, to marry George Bush, is because he made me laugh.  It’s true, sometimes we’ve laughed through our tears, but that shared laughter has been one of our strongest bonds.  Find the joy in life, because as Ferris Bueller said on his day off, “Life moves pretty fast; and you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you’re going to miss it.”

The third choice that must not be missed is to cherish your human connections: your relationships with family and friends.  For several years, you’ve had impressed upon you the importance to your career of dedication and hard work.  And, of course, that’s true.  But as important as your obligations as a doctor, a lawyer, a business leader will be, you are a human being first.  And those human connections — with spouses, with children, with friends — are the most important investments you will ever make.

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal.  You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent.

Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house.”

First Lady Barbara Bush tells us to get involved with something larger than ourselves.  What are you investing your time and energy in that is impacting your family, your community, your state, your country or even the world we live in?

I love her second choice, joy!  Unfortunately, it took me almost three decades before I learned that joy was not determined by my circumstances, but was a CHOICE.  That’s right you can decide to experience joy even in the worst circumstances.  Let me tell you it makes those bad circumstances much more pleasant to navigate.  How are you choosing joy over the alternative?

Her third choice, human connection, I cannot agree more with.  We need to take the time to honor and cherish those individuals that are special to us.  Life is short and we never know when we will departing this earth.  When was the last time you called a friend to tell them how much they mean to you?  Or made you spouse breakfast in bed to say I love you. Or spent quiet time on a swing with a parent just to be near them. Or had a tea party with your daughter.  Or threw the football with your son.  Connections are where real wealth comes from.

Which choice do you succeed at the most?  Which choice do you need to improve?  Share with a friend or comment below on how this post spoke to you.