Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven (USN - retired)

Admiral William H. McRaven's book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World expands on his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas -Austin.  His pithy book of life lessons can be read easily in one sitting.  The lessons are hard yet familiar.  Never give up. Life is not fair. We grow stronger through adversity. We need other people to help us be successful. Stand up to bullies. Start your day by accomplishing one thing - Make Your Bed.

At the start of 2017, I have been completing at least one an unpleasant task a day. This has now become a habit. My day is lighter with one less thing to worry about. Curiously, making my bed has not been one of them. After reading this book, I will now add it to the list.

The admiral covers some of the most painful situations in life including, dismemberment, death, facing bullies (sharks and Saddam Hussein).  He also talks about rising to the occasion and giving people hope when others are giving up. He encourages us to be brave and give strength and comfort to others. As all of us experience loss we can use that experience to help others in similar circumstances dig in and do as the man who had lost parts of both legs did.  He used sign language to indicate that he was okay. This brought the Admiral to tears.

Texas commencement speech - May 17, 2014 - 19 minutes

None of us are immune from adversity. With determination and help from others we can face the misery that life with no thought to fairness dumps on us.

Mel Brooks - Bird scene from High Anxiety - Approx. 1.5 minutes