Thought of the Day and Question of the Day: What Gets You Out of Bed?

Let’s be honest: some mornings, the only thing getting me out of bed is a toddler screaming “DAAAAD!” in stereo. But today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day got me thinking—what if the motivation wasn’t chaos or obligation, but something closer to purpose?

In this post, we’ll explore the wisdom behind Bernadette Jiwa’s gentle reminder that we were born to try, not to succeed at everything, and we’ll take a closer look at what might make tomorrow worth waking up for. Along the way, I’ll share a few past reflections, some hard-earned lessons, and hopefully leave you with a thought or two of your own.

Thought of the Day: We are not born to succeed at every turn. We are born to try. — Bernadette Jiwa

Can we just take a moment to thank Bernadette Jiwa for this one? Because I needed to hear that. Probably yesterday. And the day before that.

There’s this unspoken pressure—especially for anyone juggling careers, relationships, parenting (hi, fellow sleep-deprived warriors)—to get it right all the time. But we weren’t built for constant victory laps. We were built to show up. To try. To mess it up a little. To try again.

I don’t know about you, but there are days when I barely cross the finish line—and some when I never even find the track. And yet, showing up with honest effort counts. Not just in the big, world-changing way, but in the tiny, quiet, deeply human way.

This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about showing up over being perfect. In Before You Worry About How to Win the Game, I wrote about choosing the right game in the first place. And in Do You Know How to Fail, we looked at the emotional fallout of mistaking effort for failure.

Today’s thought is a reminder that effort is enough. That being in the arena, muddy, unsure, maybe even slightly under caffeinated, is a win in itself.

Question of the Day: What will make you excited to wake up tomorrow?

Sometimes the answer is “a cinnamon roll.” And honestly? That’s valid.

But other times, it’s something deeper. A conversation I’ve been looking forward to. A problem I’m excited to solve. A moment I hope to witness my kid learning a new word, a sunrise on a quiet walk, the rare gift of a peaceful cup of coffee before the house explodes into chaos.

The things that make us excited to wake up don’t have to be grand. In fact, the smaller the better. Tomorrow’s joy could come from planning a date night, starting a book that’s been sitting on the nightstand for six months, or just knowing you’ll finally have 10 minutes to yourself. That’s gold.

In What Do You Love About the Night?, we explored the magic of quiet hours. This question flips the lens: What makes the morning magical?

If you don’t have an answer right now, that’s okay. Try asking yourself again tonight. It’s a question worth falling asleep with.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

What will make you excited to wake up tomorrow? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear. And if you want these daily prompts delivered right to your inbox (no alarm clock needed), sign up for the daily email here. It’s free, and it’s your daily excuse to pause, reflect, and maybe even smile.