I just listened to this 3 times and each time something different resonates within me. The essay was originally written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and published in 1997.  As an introduction to the essay Schmich writes that it is the commencement speech she would give if ever invited to speak at a graduation. A year later it was adapted by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge) in an album titled “Something for Everybody” and samples a song he used in Romeo + Juliet.

(the original animation can be seen HERE. I just liked the above better)

I think my favorite piece of advice is, “don’t worry about the future…the real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind…” oh yea, and of course, “floss.”

HERE is the original essay if you want to follow along. Although I recommend against it as all the google ads detract from the experience.

Thanks, Dad

PS My younger brother just graduated from college and is off to Vietnam for a year to teach English! I wish him all the luck, which he will not need as long as he follows this advice!

The northern island of Hokkaido is not only famous for its cows, rolling hills, excellent seafood and ice festival. It is also home to a burgeoning community of artists and artisans who get their inspiration from the aforementioned elements. Take Kouta Fukunaga for example. He creates carved vessels out of birch tree trunks and fashions them into exquisite wine chillers and sake bottles. The birch sake bottle recently won first place in the 2008 Takaoka Craft Competition.

Fukunaga first came on the radar screen in 2006 with an honorable mention nod in the Sapporo Design Competition for “logos.” Fashioned out of spruce,  “logos” is a series of smaller plates that can be combined into a larger dish for entertaining groups at parties. It has yet to be commercialized but his line of birch products are available (7,000 – 9,000 yen) through a few shops specializing in Hokkaido-based arts and crafts such as Snowwood.