It’s Earth Day, which means today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day are grounding us in some good ol’ humility… and a dash of imagination. We’re talking about our relationship with the planet (hint: we’re the guests, not the hosts), and pondering which long-lost animal we’d bring back—because honestly, who wouldn’t want to see a Dodo on a casual drive?
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🌍 Thought of the Day:
“The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth.” — Chief Seattle
This quote hits different today. We treat the Earth like a storage unit—we fill it up, forget what’s in it, and occasionally panic when something starts to leak. But Chief Seattle offers a quieter truth: this planet isn’t a thing to own, it’s something to belong to.
I’ve had moments—standing barefoot in the grass, watching my kids chase fireflies, or hearing the hush of wind through tall trees—where I felt that belonging. Like the Earth didn’t need anything from me but my attention. It’s wild how rarely we give it even that.
Want to read more about this sense of connection? Check out Why I Keep Walking Into the Woods and The Stillness of Change.
🦤 Question of the Day:
What animal would you most like to bring back from extinction?
My answer? The Dodo. Hands down.
Yes, the bird that couldn’t fly, had no natural predators, and was wiped out mostly because sailors found it both weirdly trusting and extremely edible.
But imagine this: You’re on a road trip. You’ve got snacks, a questionable playlist, the windows are down. Suddenly, you look out and say, “Hey, look at that Dodo over there.”
I mean, come on—that’s a core memory in the making.
There’s something beautifully silly about wanting the Dodo back. Maybe because we lost it before we ever really got to know it. And it’s a reminder that when we rush, we ruin. When we assume we’ve got time, we often don’t.
Also, can we talk about how funny Dodos look? They were nature’s version of comic relief, and I think we could all use a few more weird little wonders walking around.
More on this vein in What are you Losing interest in? and The Path to the Perfect Day
💬 Your Turn
If you could bring back one extinct animal, what would it be—and why?
And how does today’s Thought make you think differently about your place on this planet?
Drop your answer in the comments or sign up here to get the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day sent to your inbox every morning. Just one minute a day to reflect, smile, or say “wait, I never thought of it that way.”
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