By Libby Evans, Copy Chief
Make your bed, brush your teeth and put on a pair of jeans.
Naval Admiral William H. McRaven gave the commencement speech for the class of 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. His speech was titled “Make your bed,” and this UT alum described the rigor endured in basic SEAL training, tearing him to shreds to be rebuilt stronger. He also outlined 10 life lessons gathered from those six months. His first lesson came from the first task of each morning: a perfectly-made bed.
He laughed at the rudimentary idea of making one’s bed being an important task within the day’s daunting brutality, but McRaven highlighted his gratitude in small accomplishments. A small sense of pride creates a domino effect for a successful day.
Photo: Aliza Dutt, Marin McCudden
“By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed,” said McRaven in a YouTube video broadcasting his speech.
He said the little things in life really matter and “if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made–a bed you made–and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”
I make my bed every morning because my dad used to talk about this speech. I slacked off in high school, letting my room fill with trinkets and school outfit rejects, closing my door to hide unkempt sheets. But in college, the winds of order were less forgiving. That one task, when forgotten, starts the morning askew and the night forbidding.
Photo: Aliza Dutt, Marin McCudden
Similar to making my bed, I quickly discovered the mental capacity correlated with a pair of jeans. Discomfort paired with order drives focus. When I get ready for my day early on, choosing jeans over sweatpants or the joys of pajamas, I’m ready, and I can begin.
In high school I often took art classes, and the art room, with a high ceiling and tiled floor, was always uncomfortably cold. When students would complain, my eccentric art teacher would shout, “The cold keeps you awake!” He believed discomfort kept our brains and bodies moving. If the air was warm we would get sluggish and slow, staring too long at the cozy colors instead of racing to add layers.
Photo: Aliza Dutt, Marin McCudden
These little adjustments create order within one’s control. They are the smallest boxes to check, a small movement in a good direction. If you clean your space, clean your body and put on a pair of jeans, it’s almost impossible to waste away the day. You will be productive if you feel productive, and things we can control are things we should control.
If you don’t wear jeans… maybe you should consider getting a pair? Get comfortable jeans that fit well. Clothing should be a tool, not a distraction. In this sense, jeans are synonymous with any pair of pants that make you feel put together. How we dress alters how we feel about ourselves and about the day we step into. Our clothes are our environment, our bed, our home. If you want to be successful, make your bed, take care of yourself and put on a pair of jeans.
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