At the start of spring break, my mom showed me a video that she saw on Facebook, saying it held great lessons for “kids my age.” Hesitant yet intrigued, I watched it with her. The video was a commencement speech for the graduating class of 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin by a man named Admiral William H. McRaven. Admiral McRaven began his speech by reminiscing about his days training to be a Navy S.E.A.L. He spoke of the environment of stress and hardship that is typical to basic training– not unlike how many students think of life at college. He then pointed out a simple task that every candidate had to do, every morning.
The Vietnam veterans who were the instructors at the time inspected their beds at the beginning of each day. Corners had to be square, covers pulled tight, pillow centered at the headboard, the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the bed. It had to be perfect. Since these men were aspiring to be tough S.E.A.L.S., this task seemed entirely unnecessary. However, Admiral McRaven was quick to make a point: there’s wisdom to be gained about this seemingly trivial task.
“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task. And another. And another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed,” the Admiral pressed. “Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right. And if by chance, you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made. That you made. And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. So if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
Over the past week, Admiral McRaven’s philosophy for a good attitude sunk in, and I began to seriously think about how I go about my days at UMass. Since it’s my first year at college, it took me a considerable amount of time to develop a routine for myself, especially in the mornings. Some days I would be rushing to class without even a coffee, and others I would have a little time for a sit-down breakfast. Unsurprisingly, making my bed wouldn’t cross my mind.
After hearing Admiral McRaven’s speech, I took it upon myself to create a morning schedule and see how it affected my attitude for the rest of the day. During the week long break, I was sure to wake up at 7:00 AM, make my bed, eat a balanced breakfast, and consciously appreciate the beauty of the early morning. Over the course of the last few days, I can sincerely say that I’ve felt better about myself, made healthier choices about food, and felt pride in my accomplishments– no matter how small.
I encourage each and every one of you to create a routine and schedule, and stick to them. It’s truly the smallest things that make the biggest differences in day to day life; it’s those small things that make big things possible. So if you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed, just tuck in the corners and straighten out the pillow.
