September 18, 2025
When I sit down to write these posts, I always find myself amazed at how the Thought of the Day and the Question of the Day almost always play off each other. Today is no different. Seneca gives us a nudge with his reminder to never stop learning how to live, and then we’re faced with the blunt but important question: how can you be valuable to society so it gives you money? Let’s unpack both, because they belong together more than you might think.
Thought of the Day: As long as you live, keep learning how to live. — Seneca
This is one of those quotes that doesn’t really need an explanation, but I’ll give you one anyway, because I’m still learning how to live, too.
Learning how to live is not about downloading more apps or buying more “life hacks” off Instagram. It’s about figuring out what matters to you and what doesn’t, then making peace with both. It’s about stumbling through seasons where your golf clubs are gathering dust, but your toddler thinks you’re the best superhero because you opened a juice box on the first try. It’s about failing at something, but realizing you’re not a failure, you’re just in the middle of learning.
Seneca’s wisdom hits even harder in a world where we often think living is about achieving, upgrading, and monetizing. But maybe living is really about adjusting, laughing at your own missteps, and knowing that no one ever really graduates from the “how to live” course.
I wrote about this in another post where I asked, What’s the kindest thing you can do for someone? The answer wasn’t about perfection, it was about being yourself and letting that be enough. That’s part of the curriculum too.
Question of the Day: How can you be valuable to society so it gives you money?
Oof. That’s a question that sounds simple until you try answering it without rolling your eyes.
The word “valuable” is tricky. Society doesn’t always pay the most valuable people the most money. Think about teachers, nurses, parents who stay home, society needs them desperately, but the paycheck doesn’t always show it. Meanwhile, there are influencers selling shampoo on TikTok making six figures a month. So, what gives?
Being “valuable to society” in a way that earns you money comes down to two overlapping things:
- Solving problems people admit they have. People may value you emotionally for being a great listener, but they’ll pay you if you can fix their leaking roof, design their website, or make their kid actually eat broccoli.
- Telling the story of your value well. Sometimes society doesn’t see your worth until you shout it from the rooftops, or at least explain it clearly on a landing page. I’ve been thinking about this as I work on growing my newsletter. The value isn’t just in the questions and thoughts, it’s in how I frame it as “a quick daily nudge that makes you think.”
So, how do you become valuable enough for society to pay you? Keep learning (thanks, Seneca), keep solving problems, and don’t be shy about letting people know you can help. And maybe most importantly: realize that your worth is more than your paycheck, but your paycheck still matters.
I wrestled with a similar tension in a post about what people misunderstand about you. Sometimes the challenge isn’t being valuable, it’s making sure people actually see it.
A Thought and a Question, Together
Seneca tells us to keep learning how to live, and this question reminds us that part of living is figuring out how to exchange our value for money. When you put the two together, it’s a reminder that the “how to live” curriculum includes both joy and rent, laughter and bills.
Living is a balance. Some days you’ll nail it. Other days you’ll wonder if you should’ve just become a TikTok shampoo influencer. Either way, you’re learning, and that’s the point.
Join the Conversation
How are you learning to live today? And what’s one way you’re bringing value to the world that might (or might not) pay the bills? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear it.
And if you want to keep these daily nudges coming, sign up for the free daily email. One thought, one question, every day.