Whatever your feelings may be about Jeff Bezos, found and CEO of Amazon, I encourage you to watch a commencement speech he gave earlier this year at Princeton in which he talks about gifts and choices. Bezos asks these questions to the graduating class of 2010, and I think they speak to us as librarians and educators as well–how will you answer these questions through your practice in 2011?

How will you use your gifts? What choices will you make?

Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?

Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?

Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?

Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?

Will you bluff it out when you’re wrong, or will you apologize?

Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?

Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?

When it’s tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?

Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?

Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?