On a lazy July day with the outside temperature flirting with 100, inside at the computer seemed the best place to be.
Yahoo found Del Brinkman, who was dean of the KU school of journalism while Susan was there. Decades later, he spoke to a graduating class at University of Colorado in 2002, the Internet discovered, and gave them this formula for living a happy life:
“First, be great. Strive to excel in whatever you do. Set high standards for yourself and you will be surprised at how well you can perform.
“Second, be good. Strive to be ethical and have high integrity. There is enough bad in the world. Our hope is that you can make some of the bad things good. If you always do right, it will gratify many and astonish the rest.
“Third, be grateful. Recognize that it takes a lot of people and support for you to succeed. Say ‘thank you’ often along the way and you will see even more help come your way.
“Fourth, be gracious. Getting along with people involves seeing things as others see them. Being nice to people can bring many personal rewards, and, on top of that, society as a whole will be enriched.
“Fifth, be generous. Remember to support worthy causes with your time, energy and money. That includes higher education and the university and school that provided you the opportunities you celebrate today.
“Sixth, be glad. Another way of saying this is to enjoy life. Make every day count and have fun along the way. As you well know , time flies when you are having fun.
“Although retirement is far from your mind right now when you are thinking about where that first or next job will be, take it from me, that time comes quicker than you can imagine. There will be obstacles and detours in your life, but a truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
“So, be great, be good, be grateful, be gracious, be generous and be glad, and life will treat you well. And don’t be sad or cry because your college days are over. Rather, smile because they happened.”
Here’s a formula for a happy life from an expert
