"THIS IS WATER!" by David Foster Wallace

In a commencement speech to the Kenyon College class of 2005, David Foster Wallace speaks to how we navigate thru life and how we think and interpret the world around us.

As DFW puts it, "There is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute center of. The world as you experience it is there in front of YOU or behind YOU, to the left or right of YOU, on YOUR TV or YOUR monitor."

We unconsciously believe that our own needs and feelings should determine the priorities of the world around us. And who can blame us. "Other people's thoughts and feelings have to be communicated to you somehow, but your own are so immediate, urgent, and real."

While swimming through these waters of life, it is important not to lose track of what is really important: "love, fellowship, and the mystical oneness of all things deep down."

This can be difficult. It takes will and effort. But, if we are to be aware of what is real and essential, what has meaning and what doesn't, we can consciously choose what we pay attention to and how we construct meaning from our experiences.

When possible, try to put yourself in someone else shoes.

Give others the patience and empathy you wish others would give you.

Before getting mad and criticizing, have the awareness "that some of these people probably have harder, more tedious and painful lives than you do."

You can't control what happens in this world, but you can control your thoughts.

Chose positivity over negativity, patience over frustration, understanding over judgement, and love over hate.

We're in this together. Its going to be ok.