December 10, 2025
When I sit down to write the daily Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, I never know which direction the reflections will go. That’s part of the fun. Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day pull me into a strange mix of honesty, humor, and seasonal sentiment. We’re looking at comfort, why we chase it, why we fear losing it, and the surprisingly tiny things people do that make us feel like the world is a little warmer than it was a moment ago.
Thought of the Day: Comfort is nice but not necessary
Comfort is a tricky thing. I like comfort. I appreciate comfort. I do not reject comfort when it shows up on my doorstep in the form of a warm blanket, a quiet room, or ten uninterrupted minutes before one of my kids needs something. But I also know this: comfort is not required for growth.
Most of the meaningful things in my life started in discomfort. Waking up early. Showing up to a workout I did not want to do. Starting a new job. Sorting my house when it looked like a toy store sneezed in every direction. Even parenthood starts with a giant wave of discomfort and then keeps proving, over and over, that love thrives in chaos.
The older I get, the more I realize comfort is often a bonus and rarely the point. When I wrote about waiting it out is not a winning strategy, I knew I was talking to myself as much as anyone.
And here’s the part that makes me laugh. Comfort tricks me into thinking I need it. Then discomfort reminds me I’m capable without it.
If you have ever done anything meaningful, there is a good chance you learned how to do it while wildly uncomfortable. That’s the plot twist of adulthood. And I think it’s why holiday season nostalgia hits so hard. We crave comfort because the rest of life demands everything but.
Question of the Day: What’s the bare minimum someone has to do for you to count it as “holiday cheer”?
My bar for “holiday cheer” is hilariously low. I am not proud of this, but I also refuse to pretend otherwise. If someone smiles at me with even twenty percent more enthusiasm than usual in the month of December, my brain immediately labels them “festive.” A stranger holding the door for me? Holiday cheer. Someone letting me merge in traffic without making me feel like I stole their future? Holiday cheer. A kid singing a slightly off-key version of Jingle Bells in the cereal aisle? Peak holiday cheer.
It doesn’t take much. Maybe that’s because this time of year is heavy for most people in one way or another. We’re carrying expectations, plans, financial stress, family chaos, and the Great December Tiredness. When that much is weighing on a person, even a tiny moment of kindness feels huge.
In a past post about how small acts of kindness come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s just someone saying “Hey, have a good day” in a tone that sounds like they actually mean it.
My personal threshold this season is simple. If someone makes my day one percent lighter, I count it.
Maybe the real spirit of holiday cheer is paying attention. Looking up. Noticing people when we walk past them instead of treating the month like a sprint toward the finish line. Comfort may not be necessary, but connection might be.
Your Turn
What counts as holiday cheer for you? Leave a comment on the blog or join the daily email where we reflect on life one question and one thought at a time. If you want these reflections delivered to you each morning, you can join the free daily email
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