That’s a Heck of Day
My friends are on safari in Africa, and I’ve been lucky enough to see some of their photos and videos. The environment and animals are truly inspiring and remarkable. I surprised myself at the emotional response I had when I watched a video of a herd of elephants cross a river…and how the massive adults took so much care to make sure the babies safely made it to the other side. I was moved to tears witnessing their actions, which, in my mind, arose from survival instincts, intelligence, and emotion. My friend said it was a “Jimmy V” day, and I could understand why he felt that way.
Jimmy V is a reference to Jimmy Valvano, best known for coaching North Carolina State University to the 1983 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship. After retiring from coaching, Valvano became a popular broadcaster for ESPN and ABC. Valvano is also remembered for an inspirational and memorable speech delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards while terminally ill with cancer. If you haven’t seen this speech, I encourage you to do a quick online search and spend a few minutes listening to his philosophy. It is definitely worth 11 minutes of your time.
It is from this speech that he stated people should do three things every day. He said, “We should laugh. You should laugh every day.” As farmers and ranchers are gearing up for or have launched their grain harvest and haying seasons, sometimes humor runs on short supply. Long hours, equipment issues, threatening weather, and fatigue can rob us of the simple joy of laughing. There are three easy ways to make sure to keep laughter a part of our daily experience. One way is to spend time with pets. A short walk with our dog and playing with the cat helps us relax, smile and laugh, and helps us take a deep breath. Another way to keep humor in our days is to spend time with kids. They have a refreshing and honest outlook on life, and we have much to learn from them. They’ll teach us (and remind us) how necessary laughter is in daily living. Thirdly, keep humor at the forefront by listening (and dancing!) to music. Research shows that hearing music can provide our brains with a rush of dopamine, as known as the “feel-good” hormone.
Jimmy also said, “Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought.” Spending time alone in thought is usually easy for people working in agriculture. Whether we enjoy it or not, many hours can be spent alone in the field or checking on animals and fences. The important thing to remember is to not focus on the repetitive loop of worry over weather, costs, and market prices…things that are beyond our control. Instead, focus our thoughts on actionable steps. For instance, try spending 10 minutes on one small thing that you CAN control in your operation. Doing this can help us focus and channel our energy into something tangible and positive, instead of replaying the negative loop of worrying about things we can’t control.
Jimmy’s third recommendation was, “And number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.” Research shows that there are several benefits of crying. It helps restore equilibrium. It helps our brains reset after experiencing high-intensity emotions. It helps our heart rate return to normal and helps us unwind. Crying releases oxytocin and endorphins, which help ease discomfort and psychological stress. It gives the signal to those around us that we are vulnerable, which automatically builds empathy and closeness. This in turn helps strengthen social bonds when we are overwhelmed.
He went on to say, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day, that’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re gonna have something special.” It can be easy to get caught up with the hectic pace of daily living; we can forget what is truly foundational to a full life.
For those in agriculture, that message may be the most important one of all. Farming and ranching require resilience in the face of uncertainty, setbacks, and circumstances beyond our control. Near the end of his speech, Valvano introduced the Jimmy V Foundation and left the audience with a simple message that has inspired millions ever since: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
As I watched those elephants gently guide their calves across the river, I was reminded that strength is often expressed through compassion, perseverance, and caring for one another. Those same qualities have always defined our agricultural communities. May we laugh often, think intentionally, allow ourselves to feel deeply, and never lose sight of Jimmy V’s enduring reminder: Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.
For more information on the Ask In Earnest initiative, go to http://www.askinearnest.org. Darla Tyler-McSherry, Founder and Visionary of Ask In Earnest, can be reached at askinearnest@hotmail.com.