The state of mind that you choose throughout life affects the kind of person you are. It allows you to have a less narrow-minded view of the world and others surrounding you. In the speech “This is Water,” David Foster Wallace uses real life examples to express to the reader the importance of thinking beyond yourself to be able to be considerate of others and lead a more meaningful life. Whether you choose to live life through “the lenses of self (xii),” Wallace wants the graduates in his audience to apply the knowledge they have gained from college into real world experiences.

Daily activities, such as going to the grocery store after a long and tiring day can affect our attitudes and how we interact with others. Wallace states that he could just “force myself to consider the likelihood that everyone else in the supermarket’s checkout line is just as bored and frustrated as I am, and that some of these people probably have harder, more tedious and painful lives than I do (Page XV).” The author uses this example to illustrate to the audience of college graduates, other attendees or readers of this speech an everyday occurrence that one can relate to. The importance of this example is that we have to be aware that our problems we face in our day that we let affect us, could something much smaller compared to what someone else around us is dealing with in their lives. It is the ability to think beyond ourselves that will allow us to be better citizens in the world if we are able to be less selfish and have more positive attitudes towards other. The implications of the example David Foster Wallace wrote in this commencement speech are significant because the help get the ideas across of how other people may be facing greater hardships in life than us. Words, such as “tedious” and “painful” from this quote are instrumental in helping the reader and audience of this speech understand the real life example Wallace is using. 

An additional example of a daily activity is waiting in traffic. Although it may seem never ending and causes many drivers “road-rage,” which is where they become increasingly agitated while driving, there may be urgent places others are waiting to get to. Wallace uses the example of a car that “just cut me off is maybe being driven by a father whose little child is hurt or sick in the seat next to him, and he’s trying to get this kid to the hospital…(XV).” This is another instance in where having the mental capacity to think outside of the daily chores that life may seem to be. By using a child in this example, Wallace is creating a sense of awareness in his audience. One needs to be aware that others could be in pain or suffering through a much worse period in their life than we are in our own lives. Wallace’s word choice of calling the child, “little,” helps the reader visualize concern of this parent trying to get out of traffic. This word choice also creates perspective by connecting an ill child needing help to someone upset in their car because they can’t home soon enough after a long day at work. The connection creates emphasis on the repeated theme of thinking of others instead of not only ourselves. 

Real-life examples were instrumental in helping the author convey this speech to the audience and readers. Wallace uses these real-life examples, combined with specific word choice along with the straightforward style of this commencement speech to captivate the graduates. Also, it is important to note that the author uses an active voice in this speech, instead of a passive voice, especially in a commencement speech. These graduates are hearing this to prepare for their future and not to reflect on the past. The significance of the message Wallace is relaying to the audience and readers of being able to think beyond ourselves and our selfish tendencies to realize the other people we are cohabitating this planet with. By doing so, we will become better citizens and treat others with a greater consideration. This ability to expand our thinking and daily habits so that we can live more positive lives, is based on what we decide to focus our lives on. 
