RAJ77
RE "... Certainly at that stage in my life, I was much more afraid of failure than of death..."

Looking back on my own experience, I agree with you 100%. Born in the UK post WW 2, playing it safe seemed the only option.

RE "What I think she's trying to do is limit the fear of failure"

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Thanks for your observation. It comes through not just in the text but even more so watching and listening to her.

Thanks for posting J.K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard. Enough with the cynicism! Regardless of the success she's achieved her articulately expressed thoughts are inspiring, even to the father of two grown children. I wished I'd had her as my commencement speaker, though I probably wouldn't have been able to really hear what she was saying back then.
Thanks for the inspiration.