September 7, 2025
Some days the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day pair up in a way that makes me laugh at how life gives us contrasts. Today’s Thought of the Day reminds me that survival itself can be a victory, while the Question of the Day throws us into one of life’s most pressing ethical dilemmas: What would you do for a Klondike Bar? This post explores both sides—the serious and the silly—and maybe even reveals how the two aren’t that far apart.
Thought of the Day: Some days survival is victory enough
Let’s be honest: some days don’t feel like they belong on motivational posters. Not every day is about chasing dreams, hitting milestones, or crossing off big goals from the list. Some days it’s about getting out of bed without tripping over a pile of Legos or making it through bedtime without the kids asking for “one more story” for the eighth time in a row.
Survival can be heroic. It’s the parent who finally gets all three kids to school on time with shoes on the correct feet. It’s the person who shows up to work even when the world feels heavy. It’s choosing to wash the dishes instead of letting them sit until morning because you know Future You deserves a clean sink.
When I think back, there are whole stretches of life where the win wasn’t glamorous—it was just making it through. Like the week my youngest was teething, the middle one had a cold, and the oldest decided he was suddenly an expert negotiator at bedtime. My “victory” was drinking a glass of water before collapsing into bed. And you know what? That was enough.
If survival is victory enough, then maybe we don’t always need to measure ourselves against the big scoreboard. Maybe we just need to ask, “Did I keep going?” If the answer is yes, that’s a banner day.
For more reflections on celebrating small wins, read What Was a Home DIY Project You Conquered?, a reminder that even little victories deserve recognition.
Question of the Day: What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
Now we pivot from survival to the sillier, but somehow equally deep, question: What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
First off, Klondike nailed the marketing. It’s not “Would you like one?” It’s “What would you do for one?” That’s not an offer, that’s a challenge. It forces you to imagine how far you’d go for a square of chocolate-covered ice cream.
Personally, my “do” scale for a Klondike Bar depends on the day. On a rough Tuesday where survival was my victory, I’d probably do a lot less, just opening the freezer would feel like enough effort. But on a Saturday night, after the kids are asleep and the house is finally quiet? I’d probably trade a decent chunk of dignity to make sure that shiny silver wrapper was in my hand.
The question also makes me think about how we weigh our “wants” against our “costs.” It’s not really about the ice cream, it’s about what we’ll give up for small pleasures. Do we give up time? Do we give up pride? Do we give up the last bite to our kids because their pleading eyes beat out our craving?
In that way, the Klondike Bar question isn’t silly at all, it’s a reflection of the little negotiations we make every single day.
If you want to see how I’ve wrestled with other everyday trade-offs, take a look at Before You Worry About How to Win the Game, Figure Out Whether the Game Is Worth Winning or What’s the Scariest Movie You’ve Ever Seen, and What Made It So Frightening?—both explore the choices and costs of life in their own way.
Survival and Ice Cream: Maybe They’re the Same
Here’s the funny part: today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day actually overlap. Sometimes “survival” is victory enough, and sometimes survival comes in the form of little joys, like ice cream. We endure the tough stuff so that we can have the small pleasures, and sometimes those small pleasures are what get us through the tough stuff.
So maybe the answer to “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” is the same as the answer to “How do you survive hard days?” You just do what you have to, one step (or bite) at a time.
Your Turn
What about you? What’s your version of “survival is victory enough”? And, of course, what would you do for a Klondike Bar?
Drop your answers in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories. And if you want to get the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day delivered straight to your inbox each morning, join my free daily email here.