J.K. Rowling, the most popular writer of our lifetime, creator of the Harry Potter series, gave the 2008 graduation address at Harvard. She entitled her address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of imagination.”
She shared with the graduating class her own experience with failure and the insights she gained. Here is part of what she said:
“I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.”
She went on to explain in her speech how her own failures stripped away everything in her life that was not essential. She discovered that she still had some things that were really important. She was still alive. She had a daughter whom she adored. And, she had a typewriter and a “big idea.”
Then she added this important part of her story:
“I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above rubies. So, today, I can wish you nothing better than similar friendships.”
I’ve been thinking this week about my own “rubies.” Those friends who have never betrayed me. Friends who have always had my back. Friends who have my best interest at heart. You know who you are (anyone described in the last three sentences) and I want you to know that I thank my God that he wrote you into my story. Where would I be without you?
Bless you, dear ones. You help keep me sane.
Richard