I recently watched a clip of Eric Church’s 2026 commencement speech at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The beauty of how he compared life to the six strings on a guitar is one that hit deep.
I took notes and have it hanging in my bedroom where I see it every morning. As we settle into fall, perhaps these words will wrap your heart like a cozy blanket in front of the fire.
Here is my best recap.
1. Faith – The low E string of the guitar. The thickest string and what should be the foundation of your life. When life feels uncertain, return to what grounds you and gives you perspective. Tend to your faith not only when you feel broken, but when you feel whole.
2. Family – The A string. These are the people who know the real you. Perfect families don’t exist. Real families do. They are not for “holidays” only. They need to be nurtured every day. Love them, make time for them, and keep choosing them even when life gets messy.
3. Love – The D string and the heart of the instrument. Who you choose to partner with is the most important decision of your life. Find your best friend. Someone willing to walk beside you on the good and bad days, and carry you on your worst days. You don’t need to have shared
4. Purpose – This is the G string. Dream boldly. Always remember that resilience matters just as much as ambition. Keep going when the plan changes. We don’t quit when life gets hard. Some seasons will stretch you. Some will humble you. Some will surprise you. Keep your faith, find your footing, and keep going.
5. Community – The B string. This generation faces the biggest temptation any generation has ever faced with social media. They perform for everyone and belong to no one. They are globally visible and locally invisible. We must resist this. Be present where your feet are. Know names, not just usernames. Build friendships and a life that exists beyond a screen. Build what your heart and community needs, even if the internet will never see it.
6. Individuality – The high E string. This is the thinnest string, carries the whole melody and can be bent most easily by outside pressure. There is something only you can bring to the world. There will never be another person on the entire planet like you. Don’t trade your unique voice for someone else’s version of success. The world doesn’t need another cover song. It needs an original.
Isn’t that incredible?
I encourage you to find the full speech and watch it with your family.
Some days will be your lowest, and other days will be magical. Your life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. It simply needs all the parts of you to keep finding their harmony.
Happy October my beautiful souls.
Lisa Payne writes about home, food, and family. You can reach her at paynefam6@gmail.com. She also writes about Colorado’s best restaurants and spaces to gather on Substack:
