Some days, the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day line up so neatly that it feels like the universe is nudging us toward reflection. September 11 is one of those days. The thought reminds us of the weight of loss, and the question challenges us to honor the promises we’ve made to ourselves. Put together, they’re less about lofty ideas and more about the practical ways we show up for one another, and for ourselves, when life feels heavy.
Thought of the Day: The weight of loss is carried best when it’s carried together.
Loss is not something anyone asks for, but it shows up anyway, sometimes suddenly, sometimes like a slow drip that wears down even the strongest stone. The truth is, loss is too heavy to carry alone. The only way we survive it is when someone else steps in and helps pick up the weight, even if just by being there.
Think of how many times you’ve tried to soldier on by yourself, telling yourself you didn’t want to “burden” anyone. But isn’t that what connection is for? My kids will sometimes try to carry way too many grocery bags at once. They’ll insist they’re fine, wobbling down the sidewalk like a circus act, until one bag rips and apples scatter across the pavement. I could have stepped in earlier, but I waited until they admitted they needed help. Isn’t that us with loss? Pretending we’re fine until the bag breaks?
Carrying loss together doesn’t remove the pain. It doesn’t make the weight disappear. But it does make it more possible to take the next step forward. That’s why shared remembrance, community vigils, or even just sitting quietly next to someone who is grieving matters so much.
This isn’t just about big losses, either. Even small disappointments, a failed project, a broken promise, a missed opportunity, feel lighter when someone else acknowledges them with us. The simple phrase, “I know it hurts, and I’m here” is sometimes the most healing thing we can offer.
If you’ve been carrying something heavy, maybe today is the day to hand one of those bags over to someone who loves you. And if you see someone struggling, maybe you’re the one who can step up and grab a handle.
For more reflections on support and connection, check out this post about what people misunderstand most about you and how being known by others can lighten your burdens.
Question of the Day: What promise to yourself needs to be kept today, not tomorrow?
This question hits differently because it’s about accountability. Not the kind where someone else is holding you to a standard, but the kind where you look yourself in the mirror and say: “Am I keeping my word to me?”
The sneaky thing about promises to ourselves is how easy they are to break. Nobody else is checking. Nobody else is grading you. Nobody is going to tap you on the shoulder and ask, “Hey, did you finally start writing that book? Did you actually drink more water like you swore you would?”
But breaking those promises adds up. Each little “I’ll do it tomorrow” becomes another quiet way of telling yourself that your own commitments don’t matter, that you don’t matter. And the longer you delay, the heavier that unkept promise feels, almost like its own form of loss.
The good news? The reverse is true, too. When you keep even the smallest promise to yourself, going for a short walk, finishing a lingering task, making that phone call, you build trust in yourself. You create momentum. And sometimes, the small promises unlock space for the bigger ones.
So what’s your “today, not tomorrow” promise? For me, it’s going to bed a little earlier so I can wake up and journal in the morning before the kids turn the day upside down. I’m a better person when I have time in the morning to sit and reflect in silence.
If you want another nudge on honoring the present moment, you might enjoy this post about whether dusk or dawn is better. Spoiler: whichever one you choose, the point is to show up for it.
Bringing It Together
The Thought of the Day and Question of the Day intersect beautifully here: loss is lighter when carried together, but the weight of unkept promises grows heavier when ignored. Both invite us to live more honestly—with each other and with ourselves.
So maybe today, the invitation is twofold: reach out to someone who needs help carrying their load, and keep one small promise to yourself without waiting for tomorrow.
Your Turn
So… what promise to yourself needs to be kept today, not tomorrow? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear what comes up for you.
And if you’d like a daily nudge to think, reflect, and maybe laugh along the way, join the free daily email here.