I just stumbled across the commencement address that Dana Gioia (NEA Chairman) gave at Stanford's 2007 graduation.
In essence, he encourages his audience to learn how to build something rather than watch someone else do it on TV. To play an instrument in addition to listening to music. Read. Draw. Create. Do.
Don't be a passive consumer... be active and socially engaged. Participate.
In a nutshell, "Trade easy pleasures for more complex and challenging ones." I think I may need to embroider that on a pillow!
If you have a few minutes, read it. It makes sense. A lot of sense. And now I need to shut the computer and heed Mr. Gioia's good advice.
