October 6, 2025
When I sit down to write these posts, I try to make sure the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day connect, even if only loosely. Today, Lovecraft gives us something heavy and cosmic, while my own life gives me something more down-to-earth and a little fur-covered. Somehow, they fit together: the mystery of infinity and the not-so-mysterious reality of cleaning up after a cat.
Thought of the Day
“We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.” — H. P. Lovecraft
Leave it to Lovecraft to take what could have been a peaceful island getaway and turn it into a metaphor for cosmic dread. Still, I can’t help but feel there’s truth in this one. Most of us live our lives on our little islands of routine and comfort. We don’t know much about the bigger universe out there, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
Because let’s be honest: we don’t actually want to know everything. Ignorance gets a bad reputation, but sometimes it’s the only thing keeping us sane. If I truly sat and thought about infinity, about how small and temporary we are, I’d probably never get up off the couch. And if I really understood how much chaos and mess could come with three kids and two cats, I probably wouldn’t have signed up for all five in the first place.
That’s the tension Lovecraft is pointing at: curiosity versus comfort. We want to peek into the abyss, but not fall into it. We want to know more, but not so much that it wrecks us. Maybe the placid island isn’t such a bad place to stay.
Question of the Day
What is something you like the idea of more than you actually like?
For me, the answer is pets. And yes, I say that as someone with two cats and three kids.
On paper, pets sound amazing. Loyal companions. Fluffy friends who greet you at the door. Instagram-worthy cuteness when they curl up in a sunbeam or do something weird with a cardboard box. That’s the idea of pets.
The reality? Pets are like kids who never grow up. My kids are tough enough, but at least I know one day they’ll tie their own shoes, make their own sandwiches, and (fingers crossed) clean up after themselves. The cats? Nope. Eternal toddlers. Always hungry, always demanding, and always acting personally insulted if you don’t feed them the moment they decide it’s time.
And of course, the timing of their chaos is perfect. Step in cat vomit right before work? Check. Litter tracked through the hallway just after you vacuumed? Double check. Add that to the symphony of kid messes, spilled juice, Lego mines on the floor, and epic tantrums, and you start to wonder if maybe the idea of peace and quiet is the thing you love more than the reality.
But here’s the funny thing: even though the reality is harder than the idea, I wouldn’t trade it. Pets make life messier, sure, but they also make it richer. Same with kids. Maybe the truth is that what we “like the idea of more than the reality” still has value, even when it’s harder than we imagined.
Your Turn
What’s something you like the idea of more than the reality? Be honest, I confessed about pets, and I live with two cats plus three kids. Your turn. Leave a comment below or share your answer with me. And if you’d like these reflections in your inbox every morning, join the daily email list.
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