Having is good, making is better

Danny Leroux isn’t a motivational speaker by any means. He’s a journalist who writes and talks about basketball a lot, and that’s why I read his stories and listen to his podcasts.

He’s not your typical NBA writer, though. He’s more the quirky guy who pays just as much attention to your favorite team’s salary cap as he does to who’s starting games. I’ve always been interested in that stuff, which is why my gym time usually features the RealGM Radio and the Dunc’d On podcasts he co-hosts. Whenever he signs off, he goes with, “Take care and make it a great day.”

I never really thought much of that phrase, “Make it a great day.” I figured it was just a quirky “have a good day,” and paid it no mind. When a store clerk tells me to have a great day, it’s like when somebody tells me to have a safe flight — thanks for the positive thought, but that’s not entirely on me.

A few weeks ago, I came across the words of Admiral William H. McRaven. You could consider him a motivational speaker — particularly in his 2014 commencement address at the University of Texas. He talked about the university’s slogan of, “what starts here changes the world,” but said you make the change every morning.

He recalled how the simple task of making a bed was a major deal during SEAL training, and how it’s stuck with him.

“It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs, but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

“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. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never 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.

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

That’s when that Leroux phrase started making sense. Having a great day is sometimes out of your control, but making it a great day is on you.

I’ve tried to take that to heart, albeit in small ways. No matter what’s going on during the day, I do my best to make it to the gym and get in my 30-60 minutes. Sunday will make it 119 of the last 120 days; I ran some laps on that one day I couldn’t make it. I haven’t noticed much visual difference because I consider Cocoa Puffs a food group, but some of the tasks that made me catch my breath back in January aren’t a big deal in August.

Each morning, I try to make my bed ... even if I sleep on top of the blankets because summer nights aren’t very cool. I find McRaven’s words are true: I accomplish more on days that bed is made.

There are so many other things you can do to make it a great day for you or somebody else. Make that phone call to a friend, make that prep meal for a healthy lunch, make a list of other things to improve.

I like having good things. But I like making them even more.

Kevin Wilson is editor of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at:

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