In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It

by Lauren Graham

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Author: Lauren Graham

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Hardcover:
ISBN 10: 1524799599
ISBN 13: 978-1524799595

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Advice for graduates and reflections on staying true to yourself from the beloved Gilmore Girls actress and New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Talking as Fast as I Can and the novel Someday, Someday, Maybe.

“If you’re kicking yourself for not having accomplished all you should have by now, don’t worry about it. Even without any ‘big’ accomplishments yet to your name, you are enough.”

In this expansion of the 2017 commencement speech she gave at her hometown Langley High, Lauren Graham, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, reflects on growing up, pursuing your dreams, and living in the here and now. “Whatever path you choose, whatever career you decide to go after, the important thing is that you keep finding joy in what you’re doing, especially when the joy isn’t finding you.” In her hilarious, relatable voice, Graham reminds us to be curious and compassionate, no matter where life takes us or what we’ve yet to achieve. Grounded and inspiring—and illustrated throughout with drawings by Graham herself—here is a comforting road map to a happy life.

“I’ve had ups and downs. I’ve had successes and senior slumps. I’ve been the girl who has the lead, and the one who wished she had the bigger part. The truth? They don’t feel that different from each other.”

About the Author

Lauren Graham is an actor, writer, and producer best known for her roles on the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Someday, Someday, Maybe and Talking as Fast as I Can. Graham has performed on Broadway and appeared in such films as Bad Santa, Because I Said So, and Max. She holds a BA in English from Barnard College and an MFA in acting from Southern Methodist University. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.

“Congratulations! You’re giving the graduation speech at Langley High School this year,” my dad told me as we bounced down a windy Virginia road in his open-air Jeep. Windy road plus bouncy car plus hair whipping in my face had me jangled, and I wasn’t sure I was hearing him properly.
“I’m doing the—what?” I asked him. Did I apply for this? I thought to myself. Is it possible I forgot I’d said yes to giving the commencement speech at my alma mater? The way my dad put it, it seemed like the happy outcome of some contest, but it was one I didn’t remember entering.
“Remember Dick, who I play tennis with?” “No?”

“You know. Dick? From tennis.” “I—no, I don’t, Dad.”
“Well, his granddaughter Kaitlin is graduating from Langley.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you’re giving the speech! Isn’t that great?” he said, as if it was all settled. And while I was sure there was a chink in his logic somewhere— perhaps due to the potholes that kept jogging me out of my seat—I couldn’t find it, and by the time we arrived home, my hair a tangled mess, I had somehow become a commencement speaker.
As an actor, I’d performed in front of an audience many times before, but I’d never exactly “spoken” to one. So I asked for advice.
“Open with a joke,” my dad—an experienced public speaker in his capacity as president of a company for over twenty years—told me. “Don’t talk as fast as you normally do,” friends advised. “Have you seen Will Ferrell’s commencement ad-

dress? Now that’s a good speech,” said literally every other person I asked. He’d given a speech at USC that year that was, indeed, hilarious. He sang. It went viral. WHATEVER, WILL.
After I gave the speech to the Langley graduates, I was asked to publish it. “Are you going to make it funnier? Like that Will Ferrell speech?” people asked me when I told them the news.
So, this book started with the Langley speech, but grew considerably from there. I kept thinking of all the worrying I’d done when confronted with milestone moments in life, how generally unhelpful worry is, and how much admiration I have for the young people I’ve gotten to meet over the years. We desperately need your talent, your integrity, and your hope. If this book helps you worry even slightly less as you navigate your future, I’ll be thrilled.
Recently, I was asked to speak to the students at University College Dublin. They probably heard

about my Langley speech, I congratulated myself. I’m probably going to become a very big-deal world-renowned public speaker of some sort. I hope I have enough time to work on my—
Then I did some more research.
Their speaker from last year? WILL FER- RELL. He wore their national football uniform. He painted himself green from head to toe. What- ever. I’M GONNA GET YOU, WILL.
Honestly? I can’t wait to hear how funny he was from folks with that charming Irish lilt.

In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It

About the Author

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In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It