What does the Make Your Bed speech by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven and Oola have to do with each other? Well let me share an excerpt from Admiral McRaven's speech first:
"Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — that’s Navy talk for bed.
It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. 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."
In Oola we learn how taking small steps consistently move you toward your goal. (Oranges)
For weeks I have been home, no place to go. Knowing I should be doing more to move myself toward my goals and here I sat. I had moved home from a project in Houston and my suitcase sat on the floor unpacked, there were clothes and stuff all over my bed that had belonged to my friend who passed away. It was a mess. I guess I was depressed. I don't know. I just didn't have any motivation.
Then my girlfriend offered to help me paint my fence. She even offered to pay for it. Ha, God sent me an accountability partner, also very much in line with Oola. Now I have to do something!!! After the first day I felt more motivated than I had in weeks (since the "lockdown").
Making my bed was a ritual for me but lately that was impossible with all the stuff on it, so I spent a few hours and cleaned my bed, emptied drawers so I could put stuff up, started a goodwill pile, unpacked my suitcase and MADE MY BED!
SO be Grateful, Have Faith and go get your Oola Life - Start by MAKING YOUR BED! (and get an accountability partner!)