September 26, 2025
When I sit down to write these daily reflections, I always come back to how much the little things actually matter. That’s why today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day pairing is perfect. On one hand, William James is reminding us that our actions, yes, even the small ones, ripple outward. On the other, the Question of the Day forces us into one of life’s least glamorous thought experiments: itchy shirts versus 1 ply toilet paper. Buckle up. This one’s going to get personal.
Thought of the Day: “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James
The truth is, it’s really easy to believe the opposite. Most of us move through our days in tiny loops: wake up, feed the cats, use the bathroom, get the kids out the door, slog through work, come home, repeat. It doesn’t always feel like what we’re doing matters in some grand, universe-shifting way.
But William James is right. What you do does make a difference. Maybe you’re not curing cancer or brokering world peace (if you are, thanks, and please keep doing that), but you’re shaping the immediate world around you. You’re teaching your kids patience when you don’t lose it during the third sibling fight before 9 a.m. You’re making someone’s day easier when you let them merge on the highway instead of speeding up like a maniac. You’re creating ripples every time you choose kindness, or even just choose not to be a jerk.
I’ve written before about how choices and making a difference, and why it’s not good to ruminated on past victories.
Question of the Day: Would you rather every shirt you ever wear be kind of itchy or only be able to use 1 ply toilet paper?
Let’s be real: this is a lose-lose. But if I have to choose, I’m choosing 1 ply toilet paper all the way. Here’s why:
An itchy shirt is relentless. It doesn’t matter how good your day is going, landed a promotion, scored tickets to the game, kids are miraculously getting along, if your shirt is itchy, it ruins everything. There’s no escape. You’re stuck inside your own scratchy little prison until you peel it off.
Toilet paper, though? That’s negotiable. Sure, 1 ply is the tissue paper equivalent of a bad handshake, weak, thin, and unreliable, but at least you can use more of it. Yes, you’ll burn through rolls at a shocking rate. Yes, Costco will become your new best friend. But it’s manageable. You adapt.
This kind of ridiculous “would you rather” question actually reveals something bigger about how we approach discomfort. Some problems can be solved with creativity or sheer volume (use more TP). Other problems you just have to live with (itchy shirts). Life gets easier when you learn which category your struggles fall into.
And between you and me, I’ll happily haul bulk packs of Charmin over scratching through every workday, wedding, and family barbecue for the rest of my life.
If you enjoy these kinds of thought experiments, you might also like the time I asked, What’s the worst thing about Autumn? Or when I wrestled with What do you have a low tolerance for? Spoiler: it’s not 1 ply.
Final Thoughts
Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day remind us of two sides of the same coin. The choices we make, even the uncomfortable ones, shape our lives and the people around us. Whether it’s choosing kindness in the small moments or deciding that you’d rather adjust to flimsy toilet paper than itchy clothes, it all matters.
What about you? Which side are you on in the great Itchy Shirt vs. 1 Ply Debate? Let me know in the comments, and if you want more daily questions and reflections like this, join my email list. It’s free, it’s quick, and it might just make a difference in your day.
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