Colbert Tells College Graduates: Get Your Own TV Show:
He closed his speech on an apparently semi-serious note, urging the grads to learn how to say “yes.” He noted that saying yes will sometimes get them in trouble or make them look like a fool. But he added: “Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blinder, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us.
“Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow. Saying yes leads to knowledge. Yes is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say yes.
“And that’s The Word.”
Reminds me of this. I can’t think of how many times I passed up opportunities that might have made a difference in my life, but I’m trying to rectify that mistake and make sure my kids take theirs as they come up.