(Courtesy of Health Promotion and Wellness)As each week passes, we have found ourselves being challenged every which way in our lives. With graduation quickly approaching, we know our seniors have many thoughts, feelings and concerns about their graduation. What typically is marked as a very celebratory and exciting time, comes at a time where we feel much angst, anger, confusion and hurt.
We want you to know it is okay to celebrate yourself. By celebrating, you are not forgetting everything else that has happened. By not celebrating, you’re ignoring the value of you. Each of you has worked incredibly hard to get to where you are right now and to be part of the class of 2020. It is a monumental and exciting time for you. We want to remind you it is okay to smile, to have hope and to be so incredibly proud of yourself. We are so proud of you!
As you move forward each day and for the rest of your life, we want to provide you with some reminders.
- Be thankful: Gratitude not only reminds us of how much we have but reminds us that the small stuff is just as important as the big stuff.
- Celebrate others: Find ways to support others and lift each other up.
- Understand that change is inevitable: The only constant in life is change. Life will whack you off course from time to time, but that’s often where the growth and magic happens. And sometimes the unplanned parts of life happen to be the best.
- Stay curious: Ask questions and understand the why. Never stop learning and growing.
- Find mentors and sponsors: Ask for advice. Listen. Accept feedback and criticism. Strengthen relationships and connect with others. You never know where the next opportunity or place to grow comes from. Reach out to others who have been there and who ultimately want to help you.
- Stay optimistic: Life is a journey and the road to your dreams may be long. But don’t forget that the ride along the way can’t be joyful or exciting as well. Take every opportunity and dream big.
- Listen to yourself: It’s great to get advice but ultimately, you have the power. Listen to your inner voice and intuition. You know what is right for you.
- Take the time to care for yourself: Yes, you knew this was on the list. Self care is the buzz word, but if you don’t start caring for yourself, you will find yourself tired, burnt out and not able to give more to yourself or others.
Take Care of Yourself, Take Care of Each Other, Take Care DePaul!