Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Lean Into Life
By Jack Browne
How does your day begin?
Do you wake up excited about the opportunities ahead, or do you start the day focused on problems, obligations, and unfinished business?
I’ve experienced both. There have been seasons when every sunrise felt like an invitation to discover something new. There have also been days when doubt, disappointment, and uncertainty occupy the front seat.
I’ve learned that a meaningful life rarely happens by accident. It is built through habits, relationships, and choices that move us forward, even when conditions are less than ideal. That’s why the lessons shared by Admiral William H. McRaven in his 2014 commencement address at the University of Texas continue to resonate with me.
His famous commencement address began with a simple suggestion: make your bed. The point wasn’t housekeeping. It was about starting your day with a completed task, a small victory that creates momentum for larger accomplishments.
That first lesson reminds us that success often begins with ordinary actions performed consistently.
The admiral’s second lesson was that you can’t go it alone. Every meaningful achievement in my life has involved the encouragement, wisdom, or assistance of others. Friends, mentors, coworkers, family members, and even strangers have helped shape my journey. None of us succeeds entirely on our own.
His third lesson was that only the size of your heart matters. Titles, positions, and accomplishments may open doors, but character determines how you walk through them. Commitment, compassion, and perseverance often matter more than talent or status.
Then the lesson we all eventually encounter: life isn’t fair. We face setbacks, disappointments, and circumstances beyond our control. McRaven’s advice was simple: drive on. Complaining may provide temporary relief, but progress begins when we accept reality and continue moving forward anyway.
Closely tied to that is his reminder that failure can make you stronger. Looking back, many of my most valuable lessons emerged from situations that didn’t go according to plan. Failure is rarely final unless we refuse to learn from it. Every setback contains the seeds of future growth.
The sixth lesson challenges us to dare greatly. Too often we wait for certainty before acting. Yet growth requires risk. Whether starting a new career, launching a business, volunteering for community service, or mentoring someone who needs guidance, meaningful outcomes often require us to step outside our comfort zones.
McRaven also urged us to stand up to the bullies in his seventh lesson — not just the obvious bullies we encounter in life, but also the voices of fear, self-doubt, and negativity that attempt to limit our potential. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is moving forward despite it.
His eighth lesson speaks directly to resilience: rise to the occasion. Difficult moments reveal character. When circumstances become challenging, people look for examples of steadiness, optimism, and leadership. We may not always control events, but we can control our response.
My favorite lesson may be his ninth: give people hope. Hope is one of the greatest gifts we can offer another person. Sometimes it’s a kind word. Sometimes it’s sharing knowledge gained through experience. Sometimes it’s simply listening. Small acts of encouragement often have impacts far beyond what we can see.
Finally, McRaven’s tenth lesson is one that ties them all together: never, ever quit. Persistence has an amazing way of creating opportunities where none seemed to exist.
The people I admire most are not necessarily the most talented. They are the ones who kept showing up after everyone else had given up.
Life is not about accumulating accomplishments for ourselves. It is about investing in others, strengthening our communities, and leaving something of value behind.
We are temporary stewards of knowledge, experience, and opportunity. That is why we should lean into life.
Start the day with purpose. Build relationships. Serve others. Learn from failure. Dare greatly. Give hope. Keep going.
And when the day is over, take a moment to appreciate what you’ve accomplished and who you’ve helped along the way.
After all, life’s greatest rewards are rarely found in what we achieve for ourselves. They are found in the lives we touch and the people we encourage to move forward.
Lean into life. Someone else may find the courage to do the same because they watched you do it first.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection, service, and lifelong learning.