15 strategies for good living, straight from alumni
We asked Buckeyes: What’s your best life advice? They shared their truths, and the answers prove we’re a wise bunch of nuts.
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The mantra I live by came from my doctor just after high school. Lying on the exam table, I lamented how my first-choice college (not Ohio State) had rejected me and my backup (not Ohio State) felt uninspiring. “Life is what you make of it,” the doctor said, creating a eureka moment that reset my thinking. To help spark more eurekas, alumni shared their own maxims.
“Outwork your competition.” — Donn Alspach ’53
“Travel light. That’s advice for home as well. As I downsize and watch others try to sort too much stuff, I see the error of overconsumption. I wish I had used the library more rather than buying books. Borrow, share, trade, rent. Look for alternatives to accumulations.” — Ella Mae Bard ’63, ’67
“Laugh every day.” — Mark Epstein ’66
“Don’t sweat the small stuff.” — Steve Gramm ’72
“Do it scared. We all have pivotal moments in our lives in which we choose to either move forward even though we are afraid or stay put. I’ve found that when I move forward in the face of fear, I’ve often had my most meaningful life-changing moments.” — Tabitha Miller ’96
“Be your authentic self, who you are at your very core.” — Martie Schoener ’75, ’78 MA
“Live below your means!” — Edward Phillips ’85
“Love God. Love people. You will never go wrong.” — Heidi Hamburger ’91
“Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. Thanksgiving is a way of life. Practice being thankful. The more I practice being thankful for life, the happier I am.” — Joyce Turk ’70
“Always do your best. Even if no one else knows, you will.” — James Weider ’66, ’67 MBA
“Treat everyone with kindness and respect because you never know what they might be going through or when you may need their help.” — Duane Pullins ’95
“Take your PTO. Go on vacations. Sometimes if may seem like a bad time, but you won’t regret it. The biggest regrets are the opportunities you don’t take advantage of, the ‘what if I would haves.’” — Patricia Kelly ’98, ’04 MA
“Eat healthy foods, exercise and spend time outdoors.” — Brian Fridenmaker ’01
“Take the time to do it right the first time.” — Bethany Lavins Merillat ’11
“Never stop learning.” — Marty Coombs ’22 MBOE
