September 29, 2025
Every day, I share a Thought of the Day and Question of the Day because I believe they can spark reflection, humor, and honesty, the ingredients of a life worth living. Today’s pair hits on two things we all wrestle with: caring too much about what people think, and being afraid to let ourselves dream. Let’s dig in.
Thought of the Day: What people in the world think of you is really none of your business. — Martha Graham
When I first read this Martha Graham quote, I almost laughed. Of course it’s my business! Don’t I need to know what people think about me? But then I sat with it. And she’s right.
Other people’s opinions exist inside their heads, not mine. I can spend all day twisting myself into knots trying to manage what others might think, but that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t actually control it. It’s exhausting when you try. It’s like playing poker and worrying not just about your own hand but about what everyone else wishes you had. Spoiler alert: you’ll lose that game every time.
I’ve noticed this most when I’m writing. There are days I wonder, What will people think of me for posting this Thought of the Day? Will they think it’s too simple, too heavy, too obvious? But here’s the thing, if I stop myself every time I worry about someone else’s judgment, I end up saying nothing at all. Silence might feel safe, but it’s also a prison.
That’s why I keep writing. Because it turns out that living honestly is better than living edited. If someone judges me for it, well, that’s none of my business.
If this resonates, you might enjoy my post on knowing yourself and knowing your enemy.
Question of the Day: What are you afraid to dream about?
Dreams are strange things. Sometimes they feel so real you wake up sweating, other times they’re so bizarre you’re left wondering what your subconscious had for dinner.
If I’m being honest, I’m afraid to have a real dream, while sleeping, about an alligator riding a unicorn. Yes, you read that right. In my head, they’re chasing a little red wagon full of something (don’t ask me what, I never get close enough to see). And then, because it’s a dream, the alligator grows wings, takes off into the sky, and flies away like that’s the most natural thing in the world.
Why am I afraid of this? Because if my brain can come up with that during REM sleep, what else is it capable of? There’s a fine line between “dreaming” and “hallucinating after too much leftover pizza.”
But maybe that’s the point: dreams are supposed to be weird, uncomfortable, even scary. They stretch us. They show us corners of our imagination we’d never peek into on purpose. And maybe the dreams we’re afraid to have are the ones that will shake us into seeing life differently.
So now I’ll ask you: what are you afraid to dream about? Whether it’s something big and serious or something that sounds like a rejected children’s book idea, I want to hear it.
For more reflection on the messy overlap between fear and imagination, check out my post on your worst fears will come true.
A wide-angle shot of a person standing at the edge of a cliff at sunrise, gazing at the horizon. The image should feel hopeful but uncertain—perfect for pairing with a reflection on dreams and outside opinions.
Final Thoughts
Both today’s Thought and Question remind me of a hard truth: the biggest limits in life often come from inside our own heads. We worry about what people think. We shrink from our own dreams. But life isn’t about playing small. It’s about being willing to risk both disapproval and disappointment for the sake of living honestly.
What about you? What dream scares you enough to avoid, but excites you enough that you secretly want it anyway?
Join the Conversation
Leave your answer to the Question of the Day in the comments below—I’d love to hear it. And if you want to get a daily dose of reflection straight to your inbox, join my free email list.
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