July 31, 2025
Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day deliver a one-two philosophical punch: the first reminds us it’s okay to misstep as long as we don’t run our mouths off, and the second asks if our lowest points might just hold the seed of our greatest wins. In this post, I unpack both ideas—honestly, personally, and with just enough humor to keep us from falling on our faces or biting our tongues.
Thought of the Day: Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue. — Zeno of Citium
Leave it to Zeno, founder of Stoicism and professional Ancient Greek buzzkill—to drop a line that feels tailor-made for modern life. I don’t know about you, but I’ve tripped over my own feet plenty of times. Stubbed toes, awkward curb miscalculations, rogue Legos left out by my kids. All mildly painful. All recoverable.
But tripping with the tongue? That’s a whole different kind of injury. You don’t just bruise your ego, you bruise relationships, reputations, and your own peace of mind.
I’ve said things I regretted instantly. Sarcasm that landed like a brick. Honest thoughts that could’ve used some editing. Or worse: those moments when you speak before you think and realize the silence was golden after all.
Physical stumbles teach humility. Verbal stumbles test character.
If you liked this idea, you’ll enjoy the post where I reflected on It is vain to ruminate upon our misfortunes
Question of the Day: How can we make a great fortune out of misfortune?
What a question. It feels both ancient and brand new. Like something you’d hear in a TED Talk… or a therapy session… or from a friend who’s just had the worst week ever and is trying to spin it into a sitcom.
The truth? Most of the fortune in my life, both the tangible kind and the emotional kind has grown in the compost heap of past mistakes and unexpected disasters. Misfortune feels like the end… until you zoom out.
Maybe we don’t always get to choose what happens to us. But we do get to choose what we do with it. You take the setback, study it like it’s a blueprint, and figure out how to build a staircase with it.
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