Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day pair up like fire and marshmallows—sweet moments and a bit of a scorch. Dive in with me to stretch that Viktor Frankl quote and journey through truly bizarre decisions our ancestors thought were perfectly fine.
💭 Thought of the Day: “What is to give light must endure burning.” — Viktor Frankl
It’s not just inspirational fluff, it’s a truth bomb. To give light, to shine your values, show up for others, create, means you burn. Literally. No two-step around it.
- Burn from within. You pour your energy into work, relationships, passion projects, and sometimes that fire feels like guilt, fatigue, loss. The people who light up the world aren’t spotless, they’re singed.
- Burn by reflection. I think of those nights journaling by lamplight, trying to process loss or doubt and feeling the edges curl. It hurts—but then you learn.
- Burn forward. You emerge wiser, warmer, kinder. That glow is never free. Authority, trust, resilience, they all come at a cost.
It echoes what I shared in daring to go far about pushing hard. But this Frankl gem is deeper—it’s the crucible of purpose. If you’re feeling cooked, consider that pain might be your own proof you’re making a difference. Or at least trying.
❓ Question of the Day: What’s something once commonplace that now seems absurd?
I’ve been watching a show called Hazardous History. It’s basically a highlight reel of “How did anyone survive the 20th century?” And I cannot stop watching.
- Radioactive science sets—kids once played with uranium-laced toys. Atomic perfumes, anyone?
- Mailing your child—snagged a stamp and dropped junior in a box? Yep, that’s real.
- Asbestos Christmas ornaments—deck the halls… with deadly heat-resistant fibers.
- Roof slides that ripped skin off—a playground staple that doubled as a skin-scraper.
- Toxic fridges & doctor-recommended smoking—lunchboxes on wheels and Nicotine as therapy.
Add to that wing-walking, lawn-darts-launching, infants dangling from overhead bins on airplanes and suddenly the 20th century looks like one giant reality stunt gone wrong.
It’s wild how comfortable people were with living dangerously—and normalizing it. But isn’t that hopeful too? We’ve come a long way from mailing kids and decorating with carcinogenic ornaments. Society does evolve—even if it’s sometimes by accident or after a few lawsuits.
And Netflix sure isn’t the only thing binge-worthy these days—I’ve been bingeing Hazardous History, morphing fear into fascination, awe, and occasional belly laughs at how absurd normal life used to be.
Consider this: right now, we’re allowing AI-generated everything, sharing privacy like lemonade at a county fair, and speeding through social media like there’s no tomorrow. Fifty years from now, I wonder what future you’ll look back on and say, “we actually did that?”
💬 Let’s keep this going
What’s the craziest norm from your childhood that today makes you go “What were we thinking?” Share in the comments! Or better yet—join our daily email for more thought-provoking reflections each morning.