An article in Toastmaster magazine briefly discusses using mind mapping in speechwriting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is an article by Lauren Parsons on pages 19 and 20 in the August 2026 issue of Toastmaster magazine titled Before You Write a Word. It has the following section titles:

 

Start With Your Audience, Not Yourself

From Information to Inspiration

Build Your Foundation with Research

Create a Story Bank

Map Your Speech First

Let It Percolate

 

The section on Map Your Speech First says:

 

“Before drafting a single line, understand your speech at a high level. Past International President Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS, of Conestoga Toastmasters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and four other clubs, has used mind mapping (a technique where you visually organize your ideas, words, or topics, linking them around a central subject or message) to prepare every speech since 1994, including both rounds of his Accredited Speaker presentations. ‘I rarely write out a speech word for word,’ he says. ‘I mind map it.’ ”

 

On December 14, 2025 I blogged about More about mind mapping for presentations and in education. And back on July 5, 2009 I blogged about Two types of speech outlines: speaking and preparation. I pointed out that:

 

“A speaking outline is just a brief outline used to jog a speaker’s memory during the presentation of a speech. It uses phrases or key words to state main points and sub points.”

 

A mind map also can be used for a speaking outline.

 

The American Culture mind map image by Vmarss came from Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

Actor Henry Winkler Delivered the Commencement Address to Emerson College Graduates in Boston on May 10, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Winkler graduated from Boston’s Emerson College in 1967. On May 10, 2026 he delivered a nine-minute commencement address there. The YouTube video is titled Henry Winkler Delivers Commencement Address to Emerson College 2026 Graduates.

 

At 4:16 he said that:

 

“I live by two words: tenacity and gratitude. Tenacity will get you where you want to go, and gratitude will make you enjoy the journey, no matter how bumpy.”

 

And at 7:10 he concluded:

 

“It was said in Washington not too long ago, America. The problem with America, we have too much empathy. Well, you can live a life, you can accomplish, you can accumulate a lot of stuff. You can fill your house and then fill your garage and fill your basement. But you cannot live a rich life if you don’t have empathy.

 

I will end with this. Every one of you is powerful. Some of you know your power. Some of you are scared of your power. Some of you haven’t touched it yet. You’re not aware it’s even there yet. And I want to tell you, you are powerful and in you is a great gift. And your job is to figure out what your gift is, because the world needs every single one of you, and your job is to find that gift and give it to the world. It doesn’t matter what it is, we need it. Go!”  

 

There is an article by Scott Stump at TODAY on May 19, 2026 titled The 2 Words Henry Winkler Lives By, According to the Heartfelt Commencement Speech He Just Gave.

 

A 2024 image came from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Why did Donald Trump rename Lake Ontario, whose area is the smallest of the five Great Lakes, to Lake America?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order titled Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America. Section 2 says (paragraph breaks added by me):

 

“Sec. 2.  Lake America.  (a)  The body of water currently known as Lake Ontario is a tremendous asset to the United States and part of our Nation’s heritage.  With the deepest parts of the Lake’s waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake’s volume.  

 

The Lake has long been an integral asset to American exploration, settlement, commerce, and defense.  From the colonial period through the early republic, the Lake served as a critical artery for American trade, commerce, and military logistics, including the establishment in Oswego of a historic fort and the first United States port of call from the St. Lawrence Seaway, shipbuilding and naval operations during the War of 1812 at Sackets Harbor and other New York posts, and the movement of goods, settlers, and later industrial cargoes that linked the interior of the United States to eastern markets and the Atlantic.  

 

Maritime commerce on the broader Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system — of which the Lake is the easternmost and gateway segment — continues to generate substantial economic activity for the United States, supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs and billions of dollars in annual economic output, cargo value, and related business revenue, with our  ports, carriers, and States deriving a significant share of the system’s benefits in iron ore, limestone, coal, agricultural products, and other bulk commodities.  

 

Water from the Lake is used to supply nuclear, natural gas, and oil-fired power plants and to supply municipal drinking water to nearby communities.  United States domestic and cross-border shipping activity on the Great Lakes system has historically underpinned regional manufacturing, steel production, agriculture, and energy supply chains in several States, reflecting the strategic and economic importance of these waters to the United States that continues to this day.  The Lake will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy.  

 

In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America.”

 

There an article by Deepa Shivaram at npr on August 27, 2026 titled Trump directs federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. Another article by Louis Casiano at Fox News on August 27, 2026 is titled Trump renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ amid intensifying US-Canada trade dispute. Still another article by Madison E. Goldberg at People on August 27, 2026 is titled New York Governor Slams Trump’s ‘Lake America’ Stunt, Noting Great Lakes Acronym Went From ‘HOMES’ to ‘SHAME.’

 

And there is a three-minute YouTube video at the New York Post on August 27, 2026 titled ‘It’s official’: Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario ‘Lake of America’[sic]. When he was asked what message are you sending, he bizarrely answered ‘no message.’ He should have just briefly quoted from Section 2 of his Executive Order.

 

There is a Wikipedia page titled List of lakes by area with the following information showing Lake Ontario is the smallest and least impressive (as also can be seen above in a satellite view):

 

Areas for the Great Lakes (in square miles)

Lake Superior   31,700

Lake Huron       23,000

Lake Michigan  22,300

Lake Erie             9,910

Lake Ontario       7,340

 

And there is another Wikipedia page titled List of Lakes by volume:

 

Volumes for the Great Lakes (in cubic miles)

Lake Superior   2,900

Lake Michigan  1,180

Lake Huron          840

Lake Ontario        391

Lake Erie              117

 

There is a third Wikipedia page titled List of Lakes by depth with a table of Lakes ranked by maximum depth (maximums above 1300 feet) that only shows Lake Superior as 1,332 feet and #39 in the world. Another table with Lakes ranked by mean depth only shows Lake Superior as 482 feet and #66 in the world.

 

When we look at web pages for the individual Great Lakes we can find the following:

 

Maximum Depths for the Great Lakes (in feet)

Lake Superior   1333

Lake Michigan    923

Lake Ontario       802

Lake Huron         750    

Lake Erie             210

 

Average Depths for the Great Lakes (in feet)

Lake Superior    483

Lake Ontario      283

Lake Michigan   279

Lake Huron        195

Lake Erie             63

 

Lake Ontario doesn’t come in first based on Area, Volume, Maximum Depth, or Average Depth. Lake Superior comes first in all four of those rankings! It is what we rather should have chosen to call Lake America.

 

The only reason for choosing to rename Lake Ontario is to antagonize Canada by eliminating the lake with the same name as one of their provinces. (We already have Lake Michigan which has the same name as a U.S. state).

 

 

Marlee Matlin gave the 2026 commencement address at the University of Oregon in sign language - with simultaneous translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 15, 2026 the deaf actress Marlee Matlin gave the commencement address at the University of Oregon in sign language - with simultaneous translation. There is a sixteen-minute YouTube video from the University of Oregon on June 30, 2026 titled Marlee Matlin’s 2026 Commencement Address at the University of Oregon.

 

And there is an article by Annie Aguiar at Lookout Eugene Springfield on June 15, 2026 titled Actress Marlee Matlin urged UO grads (including her daughter) to ‘be yourself’ which has a full transcript.

 

At 8:45 she says:

 

“Courage plus dreams equals success. It’s not certainty plus dreams. It’s not perfection plus dreams, it’s courage plus dreams. It is true that dreams are great, but they don’t mean much if you’re too afraid to go after them, and adding some courage is what gets you to take the chance. Courage is applying for the job you’re not sure you’re going to get. Courage is starting over when something isn’t working anymore. Courage is asking for help. Courage is accepting that sometimes you are wrong, and courage is getting back up after you fail, or when life knocks you down.”

 

And at 14:20 she says:

 

“So, as you leave here today, I hope you can remember a few things. One, be yourself when it’s hard. Two, don’t let the world tell your story for you. And three, as I said before make your bed and make sure to pay your taxes.”

 

The PBS American Masters TV series has a documentary about her titled Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. It includes a minute and a half section you can watch on YouTube titled Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler reminisce about their long friendship. Another six-minute video at Page Six on June 19, 2025 is titled Marlee Matlin reveals the famous TV star who let her live with his family for two years.  

 

Her portrait was retouched from this 2025 one at Wikimedia Commons.  

 

 

Little Pieces of Hope is a 2021 book about happy-making things in a difficult world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Doughty’s joyous book from 2021 is titled Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World. There is a preview at Google Books. Most of his one-page lists are of Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World.

 

One on page 7 (with links added) is:

 

“Happy-making things in a difficult world:

 

Making friends with strangers while waiting in a long line. Dolly Parton in general, but specifically her bluegrass version of ‘I Get a Kick Out of You.’ A very small bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. The grace of Simone Biles. Your favorite old T-shirt. Le Creuset. The Meryl Streep parts of the film Julie & Julia. A really good mixtape (or playlist, for you young ones) made for you by someone else. Vintage photos of 1940s NYC.

 

Driving north on the Pacific Coast Highway on a cloudless day when the view is astounding. The smell of a cut lemon. The entire score of Guys and Dolls. That day when you realize you’re finally over someone who dumped you. Grandmothers. Plaid shirts on a crisp fall day. Red velvet cake. Adriana Trigiani’s novel Lucia, Lucia. Someone who says, ‘You were great!’ Someone who says, ‘You look great!’ Someone who says, ‘Don’t do it!’

 

A vividly bright yellow parakeet. The Chrysler Building on a rainy night. David Sedaris’s audio recording of Santaland Diaries. A good run, physically or metaphorically, Leaving a party at precisely the moment when you are having the most fun. Inge Morath’s 1957 photo of that llama in a cab (Google it), A Llama in Times Square. 

 

Four jigsaw puzzle pieces came from OpenClipArt.

 

 

The U. S. national debt now is forty trillion dollars. What does that really mean?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As shown above, we can express forty billion by different factors of a thousand, as multiples of a trillion, billion, million, or thousand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is an article by John Towfighi at CNN Business on August 23, 2026 titled The national debt just hit $40 trillion. But just how big is $40 trillion. He answers that question by asking What is my share? Divide that number by the population of the U.S. The Joint Economic Committee at the United States Congress has a Debt Dashboard with lots of statistics. As shown above, one of them is that the total gross national debt amounts to $116,480 per person.

 

And if we look at a web page from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for Real Median Personal Income in the United States, we find that the latest number from 2024 was $45,140. So, the national debt per person is about 2.6 times the median income. Thus we are not able to quickly pay it off.

 

Back on August 17, 2011 I blogged about How to make a large number incomprehensible – or comprehensible. And on And on July 12, 2016 I blogged about How to make statistics understandable. More recently on December 23, 2024 I blogged about How should we present a huge number like the two billion dollars earned by the Taylor Swift Eras tour?

 

The cartoon bag of money came from OpenClipArt.

 

 

Mustaches to Ashes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing the wording of a well-known expression can be hilarious. There is a Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic by Zack Weinersmith on June 17, 2026 with captions saying the following:

 

Clergyman (at coffin): Earth to Earth, Mustaches to Ashes, Dust to Dust. The Lord Bless Him.

 

Man (thinking): Wait, did he just say…No, it couldn’t be.

 

And the description below says:

 

There are a lot more dares among the clergy than you would guess.

 

An article by Matthew Harrison at The Lutheran Witness on April 1, 2019 titled Ashes to ashes, dust to dust describes the usual wording for burial of the dead from The Book of Common Prayer:

 

“We now commit the body of our brother/sister to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subdue all things to Himself.”

 

The mustaches came from OpenClipArt and the ashes came from Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

On May 11, 2026 Harrison Ford gave the undergraduate commencement address at Arizona State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is an article by Mary Beth Faller at ASU News on May 11, 2026 titled Harrison Ford tells ASU’s class of 2026: ‘This is your time.’ You can watch his eleven-minute speech in a YouTube video titled Harrison Ford undergraduate commencement address: Arizona State University (ASU).

 

There is another article by Ingrid Vasquez at People on May 13, 2026 titled Harrison Ford encourages ASU graduates to ‘Go change the world’ in passionate commencement speech. Yet another article by Alix Martichoux at The Hill, also on May 13, 2026 is titled Harrison Ford’s rousing commencement speech goes viral: ‘The world my generation left you is a real mess.’  Her description is:

 

“In an inspiring speech to the class of 2026, actor Harrison Ford admitted to the mistakes of his generation, before calling on young people to change the world.

He kicked off his commencement address Monday at Arizona State University by admitting he didn’t always make the best choices when he was young. ‘I was squandering my life in riotous living,’ the 83-year-old said of his college years. He found himself in a drama class looking for an easy A grade, but fell in love with acting.

‘Hiding in character, costume and makeup, I had a freedom, a bravery I had never felt before – and I got an A!’ he joked. ‘I was, I realized, present for possibly the very first time in my life. My passion had led me to community.’

Ford pursued acting, he told the students, while working carpentry jobs to pay the bills and support his family. Even after the success [of] ‘Star Wars,’ when things got easier, something still wasn’t quite right.

 ‘The load lightened. I had freedom, opportunity, but something was still missing.’ He had found passion for acting, but not purpose in life.

 That changed in the 1980s, Ford said, when he discovered the nonprofit Conservation International. As he continued starring in episodes of ‘Star Wars,’ the ‘Indiana Jones’ series, ‘Blade Runner’ and more, he found his true purpose in activism on behalf of the environment.

 ‘Humanity is a part of nature, not above it,’ he continued, making a plea for environmental justice, social justice and protecting indigenous communities. ‘These communities have long understood that the trees, the mountain, water, soil are not commodities, they are relatives to be cherished.’

 ‘We can all play a role by embracing that wisdom in our day-to-day lives, by loving the planet, by honoring nature’s authority, her generosity, the bounty she affords us, the justice of her example,’ he said. ‘Because the world you’re stepping into, the world my generation left you is a real mess.’

‘Find a place for yourself,’ he continued. ‘Whatever talent or ambition you have, find some way to put it to work. Build something that didn’t exist yesterday. Stand up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. Bring people together that weren’t talking before. That’s leadership. That’s what moves the needle.’

‘Your generation has far more power than you may realize. And if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you.’

 He ended with a few more inspiring final words: ‘This is your time. Own it. Enjoy every second of it. Because what could be worse than getting to the end of your life and realizing that you haven’t fully lived it. Congratulations. Go change the world.’ ”

 A 2025 portrait of Harrison Ford was adapted from this one at Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

A succinct primer on delivering more effective medical presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a succinct 5-page article by Adin Nelson et al. in the Journal of Hospital Medicine for April 15, 2026 pages 946 to 950 (Volume 21, Number 8) titled Developing, designing, and delivering more effective research and didactic presentations: A primer and recommendations. Their advice applies to presentations in general, not just medical ones.

 

The article has sections titled:

 

Introduction

Learning Objectives

Explicit Organization

Slide Design

Accessibility

Public Speaking Skills

Next Steps

 

The second paragraph in their section on Learning Objectives begins by stating that:

 

“Objectives should be outcome‐focused and learner‐centered. Outcome‐focused means describing what will happen after and because of (not during) the presentation. Learner‐centered means describing what will happen to or for learners, rather than describing what the speaker will do.”

 

The third paragraph begins:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bloom's Taxonomy [Ref. 5] and the SMART framework are two useful tools that can help ensure objectives are learner‐centered, actionable, and achievable. Bloom's Taxonomy is a set of suggested keywords to use in learning objectives. The words are all action verbs (e.g., ‘list’, ‘plan’, or ‘contrast’), so using one of them ensures that the learning objective is outcome‐focused. Additionally, Bloom's Taxonomy divides the verbs into six categories, [as shown above] which are ranked in order of increasing cognitive challenge from Remembering (e.g., Recall, List, etc.) to Creating (e.g., Design, Construct, etc.). SMART is an acronym for five characteristics of effective learning objectives. They should be Specific (not overly‐broad or vague), Measurable (possible to objectively determine whether or not a learner meets them), Achievable (able to be accomplished by the targeted learners), Relevant (appropriate to the learners' needs), and Time‐bound (planned to be accomplished within a predetermined period, not open‐ended).”  

 

The second paragraph in their section on Slide Design states that:

 

“The Assertion‐Evidence framework is a more effective alternative to slide design. It consists of four core tenets: (1) Each slide should contain one key point, and multiple points should be divided across multiple slides. (2) Each slide's key point is expressed in a single declarative sentence - the assertion - in place of the slide title. (3) The remainder of the slide is devoted to visual evidence (ideally a picture or diagram) demonstrating or reinforcing the key point (see Figure 1). (4) Supporting details, background explanations, and additional context go in the oral presentation, not on the slide.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I blogged about it back on February 19, 2014 in a detailed post titled Assertion-Evidence PowerPoint slides are a visual alternative to bullet point lists. An example is shown above from a post on August 20, 2023 titled Reading a fracture surface like a road map – fractography in failure analysis.

 

Their final section on Next Steps says:

 

“Learning to be a more effective presenter can seem intimidating, but as with any new skill, practice makes progress. In this article, we explain core concepts and key first steps for planning goals and objectives, designing slides, and optimizing your public speaking for clear and effective presentations. If adopting all of these recommendations at once feels overwhelming, pick one - maybe using assertion sentences in place of slide titles - and incorporate that into your next presentation. Then solicit feedback and continue to iterate. Making one small change at a time, every hospitalist can improve their teaching skills and become a master educator.”

 

 

Should we waste over 7.5 million dollars to paint the granite Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) white?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, of course not.  The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) is part of the White House compound in Washington, D. C. But President Donald J. Trump is upset by its gray color. He wants to create a problem where none had existed. According to an article by Brandon Fisher at Tech Times on August 8, 2026 titled Trump claims White House is above preservation law in Eisenhower paint case:

 

“The controversy began on November 12, 2025, when President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News and announced his intention to paint the EEOB's exterior bright white, dismissing its dark granite facade with the remark that gray is for funerals.”

 

Another article by Gary Fields at the Associated Press on August 18, 2026 titled Judge rules paint tests on Eisenhower Building can proceed, advancing Trump’s makeover plans for now added:

 

“Planners said the paint job would cost at least $7.5 million.”

 

Yet another article by Robert Freedman at FacilitiesDive on April 14, 2026 titled Trump plan to use ‘magic’ paint will ruin Eisenhower building, restoration experts say detailed potential problems with painting the EEOB:

 

The summary says that:

 

“ ‘Mineral silicate paints are not suited for use on granite,’ the specialists said in a Q&A prepared by preservationists seeking to stop the plan. ‘These paints do not chemically bond to granite in the manner necessary to activate their powers to strengthen and protect underlying stone.”  

 

Their detailed Q&A describes a lack of planning:

 

“They say mineral silicate paints are inappropriate for granite because granite doesn’t contain calcium carbonate. ‘Mineral silicate paints are designed to chemically bond with stone that contains calcium carbonate, such as limestone, sandstone, or marble.’

 

Other points they raise:

 

Making the paint work would require the use of a primer or other acrylic bonding agent, which would undermine the advantage of the paint. ‘The barrier layer of a primer [would block] chemical bonding between paint and stone,’ they said.

 

The granite would need to be sanded, which would permanently alter the surface. ‘Because granite is relatively smooth and non-absorbent, every surface of the … granite would need to be sanded, scarified, etched, or otherwise abraded,’ they said.

 

The paint wouldn’t protect the granite from deterioration. ‘At best, it acts only as a surface coating,’ they said. It ‘does not repair internal flaws, prevent cracking, or enhance the inherent durability of granite.’

 

It wouldn’t stop water penetration. ‘Water infiltration is driven by failings at joints, sealants, flashing, and mortar, and building movement – not by the exposed face of granite blocks,’ they said.

 

Discoloration would continue to be a problem. ‘Leaching and iron staining can pass through breathable coatings’ like silicate paint, they said. If the granite is painted white, as planned, staining would become even more noticeable, they said.

 

Removing the paint in the future would be an expensive job, and it wouldn’t be possible without damaging the granite. ‘It would require mechanical or chemical methods that further damage the stone,’ leaving a ‘hazy, filmy’ residue, they said.”       

 

An image of the EEOB came from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Jump and Find Joy is an uplifting 2025 book by Hoda Kotb about embracing change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoda Kotb was co-anchor of the morning Today show on NBC News from 2018 to 2025. In 2025 she published an uplifting book titled Jump and Find Joy: Embracing change in every season of life. There is a preview at Google Books. This book is divided into five parts, each with chapters starting on the pages shown:

 

Part 1: A Jumping-off Point  1

  Moved to Make a Change  3

  Your First Leap Won’t Be Your Last  14

  Think Before You Jump  20

  It May Not Be Broken, But It May Not Be Working  26

  Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Story  37

  Helpful Tips and Tools  44

 

Part 2: Leap of Faith  47

  A Second Chance to Make a First Impression  49

  I Never Want to Wonder What If?  57

  Surrendering Control  71

  Those Four Fabulous Words  75

  Don’t Hog Your Journey  82

  Baring It All  91

  Letting Love In  98

  Making Space for a Leap of Faith  102

  Helpful Tips and Tools  113

 

Part 3: Hop, Skip, and a Jump  115

  Today’s the Day  119

  Sink or Swim  123

  Sweet Soul 129

  Finally, Yes  132

  Take a Deep Breath  141

  Face-to-Face  147

  Share the Load  150

  Forward  159

  Helpful Tips and Tools  165

 

Part 4: Jump in with Both Feet  167

  Finding My Spark

  Finding Time for Transformation  180

  The Pandemic Push  196

  Lead with Love  199

  Get Growing  209

  Helpful Tips and Tools  220

 

Part 5: Jump for Joy  221

  Room to Grow  223

  Turning Sixty and Turning the Page  237

  Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  247

  With Love  253

  My Next Big Jump  255

  The Day After Today  262

  Walking the Walk  265

  Helpful Tips and Tools  268

 

Conclusion  271

 

There are a total of 32 biographical Jumpstarts, including Anne Lamott, Bette Midler, Chip Conley, Ally Love, Thomas Rhett, Mel Robbins, etc. She has three Helpful Tips and Tools on page 113:

 

 “ 1] Treat books I’ve already read – and loved – as a touchstone when I’m feeling a bit lost. The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo is one of my favorites. It includes bite-size nuggets of wisdom you can read each morning to set a positive tone for the day. I find that a good read offers another voice, which is helpful when the one in our head is driving us crazy. (If I need some title ideas, I’ll search the go-to books of people I admire. What are they reading?)

 

 2] I’ve discovered the power of sixty minutes. When my brain is spinning and my body is dragging, I’ll shut myself down for an hour. I close the door to my office, turn off all of my devices, and just sit quietly. I need to recharge! Sometimes it takes the entire time just to feel an ounce of peace, but I never regret it. Carving out that time for yourself is the juice you need to keep pushing forward.

 

 3] Get curious. As you move toward the new direction you’ve chosen listen and learn. What can the people who’ve already arrived where you want to be teach you? I love to explore podcasts, TED talks, and commencement addresses for the motivation and information I need. Just search the curated list of topics, for example, ‘Find me a TED talk about opening a bakery.’ So fun!”

 

And there are more Helpful Tips and Tools on page 165:

 

“Even little hops and jumps require encouragement. Go, me! I love listening to music for so many reasons, but I’ll always turn to it when I need a quick boost. After all, a song is only about three minutes long! Here are some of my favorites.

(How about making a playlist just for jumping? ‘Songs That Launch Me Higher.’)

 

1]  ‘So Will I’ – Ben Platt

I find this song so reassuring and uplifting. It reminds us that no matter what happens, the world and you are going to be just fine.

 

2]  ‘May You Find a Light’ – The Brilliance

The music in this song is so ethereal and soothing, and the lyrics transport you to a place where you feel safe and grounded. You’re home.

 

3]  ‘Rainbow Connection’ – Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher

What’s more comforting than Kermit the Frog singing? His message is for dreamers and lovers and anyone with hope in their heart: wishes do come true when we believe in ourselves! (I love this song , too, because anything with rainbows reminds me of my Hopey.)”

 

An image of a girl jumping for joy was adapted from OpenClipArt.

 

 

Sundar Pichai gave the 2026 commencement speech at Stanford University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sundar Pichai (the CEO of Alphabet and Google) gave the 2026 commencement speech at Stanford University on June 14, 2026. There is a 14-minute YouTube video. That speech was published in Vital Speeches of the Day for August 2026, on pages 176 to 178 with the title Three Filters That Have Helped Me Get More Moments Right Than Wrong. Five headings from it are:

 

Very few moments in life are make or break

Choose optimism

Work on hard things

Do what excites you

Conclusion

 

The chorus from folksinger Kate Wolf’s song Here in California accurately has said:  

 

“Here in California

The fruit hangs heavy on the vine

There’s no gold, I thought I’d warn you

And the hills turn brown in the summertime”

 

Under Choose Optimism  (at 7:50)  Sundar’s seventh and eighth paragraphs instead say that:

 

“If you’re not from here, California is advertised as being really lush and green. But when I looked out the window, it was more...brown. I guess I said this out loud, I’m not sure why. My host, Mrs. Jane Earl, gently corrected me. ‘We prefer to call it golden,’ she said.

And that’s exactly what I mean by choosing optimism. It’s about reframing for the positive: Where I saw brown, she saw golden. This slight change of perspective had a huge ripple effect on how I thought about the world around me.”

A portrait of Sundar came from Wikimedia Commons.