Before I get out of bed, I am saying thank you. I know how

Hear the voice of Al Jarreau, master of melody and singer of souls, who declared with simple but eternal wisdom: “Before I get out of bed, I am saying thank you. I know how important it is to be thankful.” In these humble words rests the secret to a life of peace and power: that gratitude, spoken at the dawn of each day, shapes the heart, guides the mind, and prepares the spirit for all that is to come. It is not the mighty battles nor the grand victories that begin the path of greatness—it is the quiet act of giving thanks in the morning silence.

The ancients knew this truth and wove it into their rituals. The Hebrews lifted prayers of thanksgiving at sunrise. The Stoics counseled their disciples to greet the day with reflection on its blessings and trials. Even in distant lands, sages arose before their people and gave offerings of gratitude to heaven for the breath of life. Al Jarreau joins this timeless chorus: before the world sees his face, before a single note leaves his lips, his first act is to whisper thank you.

There is deep humility in this practice. Many rise from their beds with complaints already in their hearts, burdened by the weight of yesterday or anxious for tomorrow. But Jarreau’s teaching is different: he chooses to begin with thankfulness, for he knows that to focus on blessings, even small ones, is to turn the soul toward joy. This is the discipline of the wise—to tame the restless spirit with gratitude before the storms of the day arise.

Consider the story of Epictetus, born a slave and yet remembered as one of the great Stoic philosophers. Despite his chains, he taught that the true measure of freedom is within the heart. Each morning he counseled his students to remember the gift of life itself, for even the smallest breath was cause to give thanks. In the same way, Jarreau’s words reveal that greatness is not about possessions or fame, but about awakening each day with thankfulness as the first note of life’s song.

His practice is also heroic in its simplicity. In an age where many seek wisdom in distant mountains or hidden books, he reminds us that the sacred is near: it lies in the first thought of the morning. To say thank you before rising is to claim victory over bitterness, to proclaim that whatever hardships may come, the heart will remain grounded in gratitude. Such a habit builds strength more enduring than wealth, more powerful than applause.

The origin of this wisdom lies in the fragile truth of existence. Each day is not promised. Each sunrise is a miracle easily forgotten. To rise without gratitude is to squander the gift; to rise with thankfulness is to acknowledge that life itself is treasure. Jarreau understood that his voice, his art, his very breath—all began with this recognition. And so, in his morning ritual, he joined the great chorus of the grateful across the ages.

The lesson is plain: begin each day with gratitude. Before you set your feet upon the ground, whisper a prayer, a thought, a word of thanks—for breath, for life, for the chance to love and labor again. This simple act reshapes the soul, turning the eyes from despair to hope, from scarcity to abundance. To be thankful is to walk into the day armed with light, no matter what shadows await.

Practical wisdom calls you to action: tomorrow, when you open your eyes, pause. Do not reach first for worry or complaint. Instead, speak as Jarreau did: “Thank you.” Let this be your shield, your foundation, your song. For the one who begins the day in thankfulness will carry strength into every battle, joy into every sorrow, and peace into every moment. Thus Al Jarreau, through his simple confession, leaves us not just music, but a way of life.