I have found myself listening to far more radio of late. There’s something quite relaxing about listening to someone talking and knowing that you’re not expected to talk back! This week I heard a story about an American Admiral who was giving a speech to a group of university graduates. He told them that to be successful in life you should always make your bed. This is what he said:
“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. 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.”
Now… I won’t give away my secret of whether I am a bed maker or not… but, what struck me about how important this speech was to these young students ready to embark on their future, was how important it is to do the ‘small things’. Making your bed reinforces the fact that little things in life matter. To some extent it teaches us that if you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
I have this week watched our children getting the little things right and I have also watched our staff working hard to get the little things right that matter at school. I have even watched from my office some of our hardworking volunteers tending to our flowerbeds, ensuring that our school is looking just right. Maybe we’re not about to change the world, but I am very sure that by being fastidious in the detail we will be reminding our children that the small things really do matter.
I wonder if you’ll make your bed from now on?
Have a fantastic weekend everyone!