10 Years. 5 Questions. 1 Can-Opener.

Ten years ago I graduated from high school in New Jersey. One of my best friends from that time was recently asked to make the keynote speech to the senior class on “Career Day”. Looking for some brainstorming partners to develop the content, he sent out an email to three of us from our graduating class.

The question was simple: If you had a chance to talk to 100 high school seniors from Princeton Day School about “career”, what would you tell them? I have spent a fair amount of time with high school students and I liked the three people in the loop – I enjoyed the chance to respond. With thoughtful input from an international lawyer, an environmental scientist, a traveling educator and a grad student, the conversation flew around the earth from New York to China, Holland to Colorado. Each added his unique input and a collection of themes emerged. Looking at them now, I think they are questions that are applicable to me now and probably to many of you. They are themes that can keep being revisited in terms of vocation and life’s calling.

1. What is the lingering question that keeps coming back to you? How can you apply that to how you live and what you “do”?

2. When you listen at the soul-level, what do you hear?

3. What is the moral imperative in your life?

4. What will you do with the “opportunity of privilege” you’ve been given by God, your parents and your community?

5. What is the authentic you? How do you live authentically/What will your life look like if you are living authentically?

A I move into a new transition time, I welcome the questions. They prod at the can inside each of us. The can that we often don’t open up. Because we know what’s inside. It’s a million opportunities, gifts, fears, mysteries, uglies and beautifuls. All of its a bit intense. It’s daunting to think about opening it up and letting the contents of that can explode onto the canvas of life. But it’s also where the real genius lies.

Pour one out for my can-openers worldwide…one time…