Welcome back to the daily reflection space here on Low Two Pair, where we use the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day to pause, reflect, and laugh at ourselves just enough to keep going. Today we’re talking about the futility of worrying about the future—and the equally sneaky guilt of what we haven’t done yet. One’s a leaf falling, the other is a list that never seems to shrink.
Let’s get into it.
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🌿 Thought of the Day:
“Worrying about the future is like watching a leaf fall and trying to predict where it will land.” — James Clear
When I read this, I pictured a slow-motion montage of autumn leaves dancing unpredictably through the air—just like my thoughts after 10pm.
Worry often feels like a form of control. Like if I think about it enough, stress about it just right, maybe I can stop the bad thing from happening. Or prepare myself. Or somehow earn peace in advance.
But James Clear is right: trying to predict where the leaf will land doesn’t stop the wind from blowing. All it does is keep you staring at the sky, missing what’s on the ground—what’s actually happening right now.
And yet, I still do it. I still try to guess where things are headed, even though I’ve been wrong enough times to know better. If you’re like me and need a reminder to stay in the present, maybe revisit this post about fear and laziness, or this one on embracing uncertainty instead of resisting it.
The future, it turns out, is coming whether we stare at it or not.
⏳ Question of the Day:
What’s something you’ve never done, but feel like you should have by now?
Oof. This one hits the ego right in the inbox.
There’s a growing pile of “shoulds” in my life. Should have learned to swim better. Should have taken that trip. Should have read the classics instead of just quoting them from movie versions. Should have flossed consistently before my 30s.
But the truth is: most of these “shoulds” don’t come from me. They come from comparison. From timelines that aren’t mine. From Instagram reels featuring strangers with better lighting and cleaner kitchens.
Still, there are a few “shoulds” that do feel important—like I should write that book, or I should call that old friend. Those are the ones that matter. The ones that whisper instead of scream. I’m learning to listen more closely to those.
If you’ve ever wrestled with “I should be further along by now,” you might appreciate this post about happiness in your journey.
Your turn: What’s your quiet “should”?
🗣️ Let’s Talk About It
If this post made you pause, laugh, or feel called out (lovingly), let me know. Leave a comment or better yet—sign up for the daily email so we can keep asking and answering these questions together.
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