Every now and then, the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day land together in a way that makes you pause—not just because they’re interesting, but because they touch something real. Today is one of those days. We’re talking about the kind of sorrow that hides in plain sight… and the kind of weather that makes you question your life choices.
Let’s dig into both. You might find more in common between them than you’d expect.
💭 Thought of the Day:
“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
There’s a particular kind of silence that comes with sadness. Not the peaceful kind. The kind that’s heavy and isolating. The kind that turns your voice inward and your gaze downward. People call that kind of quiet “cold.” They think you’re distant. Uncaring. Maybe even rude.
But what they don’t see is the weight you’re carrying—the energy it takes just to be.
I’ve had days where I’ve been “off,” and I know I must’ve seemed cold. But I wasn’t. I was sad. Or tired. Or in my head trying to hold it together with metaphorical duct tape and a half-hearted prayer.
And I’ve been on the other side too—quick to assume someone else was just a jerk, when maybe they were simply numb. Or grieving. Or overwhelmed in a way they couldn’t name. We make snap judgments about others without realizing we’re only seeing the surface—and surfaces lie.
If we had emotional radar, maybe we’d treat each other differently. Maybe we’d even treat ourselves differently.
🌨️ Question of the Day:
What is your least favorite type of weather?
It’s the kind of cold that bites. That scrapes against your skin like sandpaper made of ice. The wind howls so loud it drowns out your thoughts, and each snowflake feels like a tiny dagger. Not the poetic, pretty kind of snow—the bitter, freezing, merciless kind.
That’s the weather I hate the most.
It’s not just because it’s painful (though it is), or because it makes getting anywhere feel like a battle (though it does). It’s because that kind of weather makes me feel vulnerable in a way that’s hard to explain. Like nature is reminding me how small and soft I am. Like it’s laughing while I brace myself against it.
And maybe, if I’m being honest, it reminds me of times in life where I’ve felt that same kind of emotional exposure—pushed to my limit, fighting through discomfort, wishing I could just get through it and find warmth again.
Weather has a weird way of triggering our internal stuff. That post I wrote on what scares us at 3 AM but feels normal at 3 PM touched on how much context shapes our emotional state. Cold wind in December might be cozy. That same wind in March feels like betrayal.
Some people hate humidity, others despise thunderstorms, but for me, it’s that sharp, unrelenting cold that jabs into your joints and whispers, “Why do you live here?”
✨ Get These Daily
The Thought of the Day and Question of the Day are a daily rhythm for your brain and your heart. Some days they’ll make you laugh. Other days they’ll make you think. And once in a while, they’ll hit so close to home you’ll feel seen.
Join our free daily email here.
What kind of weather do you hate the most—and when have you been mistaken for cold, when really, you were just sad?
👇 Leave a comment. Let’s make this conversation warmer.
—
🔁 Keep Exploring:
- Failing Forward – How failing helps you succeed
- 3 AM Fears vs. 3 PM Logic – When your fears shift with the sun.
Leave a Reply