I think all of us are thankful every day we get to put this

In the words of Jacob deGrom, master of the pitcher’s mound, we hear not only the creed of an athlete but the eternal voice of discipline and gratitude: “I think all of us are thankful every day we get to put this uniform on, and we play this game. So try not to take any days for granted. Every time you take the field, give a hundred percent and leave it all out there.” This is no casual remark; it is a declaration of reverence, for the uniform, the field, and the fleeting chance to give one’s best are sacred things that demand both humility and effort.

The uniform is not cloth alone. It is symbol, identity, belonging. To wear it is to carry the weight of history, the hopes of fans, and the legacy of those who wore it before. DeGrom’s thankfulness for it shows wisdom: he knows that such garments are not rights, but privileges. Like the armor of a soldier or the robes of a priest, the uniform demands honor. To put it on daily is to remember that one has been chosen for a task greater than oneself.

His words also guard against the poison of complacency. “Try not to take any days for granted,” he warns. For time is a thief, and the days of strength upon the field are limited. Injuries, age, and fate can strip away opportunities without warning. Thus every inning, every pitch, every chance must be embraced as though it were the last. This echoes the ancient wisdom of the Stoics, who said, memento mori—remember you must die. For in remembering the brevity of life, one learns to live each moment fully.

This teaching resounds in the tale of Achilles, the hero of the Greeks. Offered a long life without glory or a short one filled with honor, he chose to live fiercely, to “leave it all out there,” knowing his time was brief. Though his body fell, his name endures. So too does deGrom call his brothers in sport to pour out all their strength, for it is not the length of one’s career that matters most, but the devotion with which it was lived.

There is also in his statement a call to effort without reserve: “Give a hundred percent.” Not half-heartedness, not lukewarm striving, but the fullness of one’s ability. Such effort transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The samurai of old lived by this code, entering every battle as if it were their last, holding nothing back, for in the act of giving one’s all, even defeat is noble, and even failure is honorable.

What lesson then must we, the listeners, carry from these words? It is this: treat your life as the field, your roles as the uniform, and your time as the fleeting chance to give your best. Do not wait for tomorrow to show your strength. Do not hoard your effort for a later day. For tomorrow may not come, but today stands open before you. To waste it is the gravest sin; to seize it with gratitude and effort is the path to greatness.

Practically, this means to cultivate daily mindfulness of your blessings. Each morning, ask yourself: What is my uniform? What is my field today? Whether it is your job, your craft, your family, or your art, put it on with gratitude. Step onto your stage with courage. And when the day is done, let it be said that you gave all that you had, holding nothing back.

Thus the wisdom of Jacob deGrom endures: be thankful for the uniform, take no days for granted, and give everything you have each time you take the field. This is the creed not only of the athlete, but of all who live with purpose. For when we live in this way, we leave behind no regret, but only the memory of effort, gratitude, and devotion carved into the heart of time itself.