Thought of the Day and Question of the Day: Are You Happening to Life or Just Watching It Go By?

November 3, 2025

In today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, we’re talking about motion, specifically, the difference between moving through life and letting life move through you. It’s a fine line, often invisible until you find yourself asking: Wait, how did I end up here? Let’s unpack the kind of people who “make it happen,” the ones who “watch it happen,” and those who, let’s be honest—are just trying to figure out what the heck happened.

Thought of the Day

“There are 3 kinds of people: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and occasionally, someone who doesn’t know what happened.”

This quote makes me laugh because, on any given day, I could easily fall into all three categories before lunch. Some mornings, I’m the “make it happen” type, cranking out ideas, crossing tasks off my list, channeling my inner CEO of my own existence. By mid-afternoon, I might be “watching it happen,” scrolling through social media like an audience member in my own life’s movie. And by bedtime? I’m the third person entirely, wondering how the kitchen got messy again and why my to-do list has grown since I started it.

We all drift between these categories. But the truth is, the first type, the ones who “make it happen”, are the ones steering their own story. They’re the people who don’t wait for motivation to strike. They strike the match themselves.

And here’s the secret: “making it happen” doesn’t mean everything goes smoothly. It means you show up. Even when it’s messy. Even when it’s slow. Even when the “watchers” think you’re wasting your time. You’re not. You’re in the game. The watchers are in the stands.

Question of the Day

“Are you happening to life or is life happening to you?”

This one hits harder than it looks. It’s a deceptively simple question that shines a flashlight on who’s really in control. Are you choosing your path, or are you just reacting to whatever pops up?

I’ve had seasons where life was definitely happening to me. Kids, deadlines, chaos, it’s easy to slip into reaction mode. You wake up, respond to the urgent, and call that “a day.” But that’s not the same as living intentionally. That’s surviving.

When you’re “happening to life,” the energy flips. You don’t wait for opportunity; you create it. You don’t hope for better days; you design them. You don’t need every piece of the puzzle before you start; you just start.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight to shift from passive to active. Sometimes “happening to life” is as simple as choosing to reach out to a friend, say no to a draining commitment, or spend five quiet minutes thinking instead of scrolling.

It’s not about control, it’s about presence. About remembering that your life is something you’re meant to shape, not just experience.

If you want to dig deeper into this kind of reflection, check out “What happens when you shine too bright”

So, are you happening to life or just watching it unfold?

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