September 3, 2025
Every now and then, the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day line up in a way that feels like they’re conspiring to teach me something. Today’s thought reminds me how easy it is to dismiss the ordinary until it suddenly reveals itself as extraordinary. And today’s question? It takes me straight back to back-to-school jitters, sharpened pencils, and the soundtrack of the late 80s.
Thought of the Day: Exceptional looks boring until suddenly it isn’t.
The thing about greatness is that most of the time, it doesn’t look like fireworks. It looks like repetition. Boring, day-in and day-out effort. It looks like the kid shooting 500 free throws in an empty gym, or the person writing in a quiet room when nobody’s reading.
But then, suddenly, the “boring” flips into something exceptional. That athlete drains the game-winning shot. That writer hits publish on a piece that resonates with thousands. The exceptional moment only exists because of all the boring ones before it.
I’ve noticed this in my own life too. On the blog, I’ve written plenty of posts that felt small, even forgettable in the moment. But then later, a reader emails me saying that one of those posts stuck with them, or that it helped them see something in their own life a little differently. Suddenly, the boring becomes anything but.
It reminds me of another time I wrote about how some people have no idea what they’re doing. That thought, too, grew out of quiet reflection, the kind that doesn’t feel flashy, but makes all the difference later.
Question of the Day: What song instantly makes you think of back-to-school season?
For me, it’s “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama. Why? Because of The Karate Kid. If you’ve seen Daniel LaRusso trudging through the first days at his new school while that song plays, you know exactly the vibe I’m talking about.
That song nails the mix of heat, anxiety, and possibility that comes with September. Back-to-school never felt glamorous, it was sweaty bus rides, awkward cafeteria moments, and the hope that this year might just be different. Cruel Summer captures it all.
When I think of it now, it’s a little like today’s thought. Those boring September mornings, lined paper, cafeteria pizza, that one kid who always had the newest Trapper Keeper, didn’t feel exceptional. But they added up. They became memories, friendships, lessons, and even a few embarrassing stories worth retelling.
Kind of like the way I wrote about the kindness that’s mostly about your thoughts, not your actions. The ordinary routines end up shaping us more than the big dramatic moments.
Now it’s your turn: What song instantly takes you back to back-to-school season? Drop it in the comments—I want to build a whole playlist from your answers. And if you enjoy reflecting on these little prompts, join my daily email here so you don’t miss a Thought of the Day and Question of the Day.