25 Aphorisms for Life from Our Face of America Journey

Written by Tony Mussari
Photographs by Eugene Flood and 
Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Copyright 2011
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

Life is short…opportunities fleeting, experience deceptive, judgment difficult. Hippocrates

Graduation 2011

On June 22, students in the senior class at North Plainfield High School will received their diplomas, and begin their journey into the uncharted waters of life.

During the past two years, Kitch and I have worked with several of the members of this class at the high school and on the road in Philadelphia and Shanksville, PA. We attended Friday night football games and awards banquets.  We listened to their music in two different concerts. We visited their classrooms, and we screened a documentary about their visit to Shanksville in the rain.

We know them, their parents and their teachers, and we are very fond of these young men and women. For us they represent the Face of America’s tomorrow today.

For the past few days, we have been thinking about their graduation, and we decided to give them a gift that we hope will help them during the next stage of their journey. It is a summary of things we learned during our lifetime and during our recent road trip across America.

Aphorisms for Life

1. The most effective antibiotic for the things that trouble you is hope.

2. If you want to get better at something, hang out with people who will lift you up.

3. Always be positive.  It is good for your heart and your health.

4. Expect the unexpected. The most important road sign on the road of life is “Stuff Happens.”

5. The most important tool in your toolbox is common sense.

6. Happiness is found in giving to others.

7. Love is what you give away, not what you take.

8. You don’t find friendship on a wall; you find it in a caring heart and soul.

9. Not every acquaintance becomes a friendship, and not every friendship lasts forever.

10. The love of money is the root of all evil, and there is some money that “ain’t worth making.”

11. Work is more important than play, but work without play is misery.

12. You don’t learn everything in school. You learn some of the most important lessons during the moment of your greatest failure.

13. Blaming your parents for your disappointments is an easy way out, but it will never help you figure out your problems.

14. Don’t fall in love with an institution. It will break your heart and leave you standing alone.

15. The two most important words in any language are thank you. Use them often, and use them with the sincerity of a caring heart.

16. Before you can do it, you must be able to dream it. Dream often.

17. If you want to feel good about yourself, live a life of dedication, integrity and humility.

18. The most important secret to success is: “There is no easy way.”

19. If you want to have peace of mind, make time to disconnect, disengage and decompress. Push the off button frequently.

20. When you come to a fork in the road where you have more questions than answers, you have reached a destination called maturity.

21. Failure is the mother of discovery.

22. Being different is totally American. It comes with a constitutional guarantee.

23. Fear is the friend of the wise.  It trumps overconfidence every time.

24. Imagination is the morning star of creativity.

25. America is the home of opportunity, and diversity is the crown jewel of our democracy.

During the dark moments of disappointment, depression, fear and uncertainty, remember the words of your classmates:

“No matter what, we’ll always be there to catch you.” Monica Ramirez

“Life isn’t like a perfect piece of paper. It’s crumpled. There are wrinkles that represent the ups and downs of life. But that’s where the beauty lies in the wrinkles themselves…Don’t regret the mistakes…Regret won’t change the past, just get up and keep going.” Guedis Cardenas, president of the senior class.

During the bright moments of success, happiness and joy, remember the words of Nataya Johnson:

"When I help others, I feel good about myself."

On this glorious day of beginnings, Kitch and I salute you.  We will never forget you. Our wish for you is best expressed in these seven words. “May good fortune always be your friend.”

Please provide feedback to tmussari@gmail.com