Thought of the Day and Question of the Day for December 16, 2025
Some days the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day feel like they were designed to sit quietly next to each other. Other days, like today, they feel like they’re nudging each other with their elbows, saying, “Hey. You go first.” Today’s pairing is about action, confusion, and the uncomfortable truth that most of us are winging it more than we’d like to admit.
The Thought of the Day reminds us that movement matters more than intention. The Question of the Day asks us to admit how much of life we’re still figuring out. Somewhere in between those two ideas is where most of us live.
Thought of the Day: A small act is worth more than a thousand good intentions
There is something deeply humbling about this proverb. It doesn’t yell. It doesn’t lecture. It just quietly states a fact we already know but keep hoping isn’t true.
Good intentions are easy. Almost dangerously easy.
I intend to be more patient.
I intend to call that friend.
I intend to get back into shape.
I intend to write more.
I intend to slow down.
Intentions feel productive because they sound noble. They also come with zero resistance. You can intend something while sitting on the couch, scrolling, convincing yourself that tomorrow will be different.
A small act, on the other hand, asks something of you.
A small act requires friction. It requires effort that is often unglamorous and invisible. No one applauds the first pushup. No one throws a parade because you sent the email you’ve been avoiding. No one sees the internal wrestle it takes to pause before snapping back.
But that small act changes something. Even if only slightly.
I think about this a lot during the holidays. Hanukkah in particular is full of symbolism about light, persistence, and showing up night after night. One candle. Then another. Then another. No grand gesture. Just repetition and commitment.
Most of the meaningful changes in my life didn’t come from massive overhauls. They came from small, almost boring decisions made repeatedly. Writing even when I didn’t feel inspired. Showing up tired. Apologizing sooner instead of being right longer. Choosing presence over productivity, at least for a few minutes at a time.
This Thought of the Day is uncomfortable because it removes our favorite excuse. You don’t need better intentions. You need one small action. That’s it.
And the irony is that small acts have a way of teaching us things intentions never do.
Question of the Day: What’s something you’ve been doing for years and still don’t fully understand?
I love this question because it sneaks up on you.
At first, you think of something technical. Taxes. Parenting. Retirement accounts. WiFi. All fair answers.
But then, if you sit with it for a moment longer, you realize it applies to much bigger things.
Relationships.
Your own emotions.
Why certain habits stick and others don’t.
Why you react the way you do to stress.
Why some days feel heavier than others for no clear reason.
I’ve been an adult for a while now. On paper, I should probably understand myself better than I do. And yet, there are patterns I still can’t fully explain. Moods that show up uninvited. Frustrations that don’t match the moment. Joy that arrives unexpectedly and disappears just as fast.
Here’s what I’ve learned, slowly and sometimes reluctantly. Understanding often follows action, not the other way around.
We like to believe that once we understand something, we’ll be able to act. But in real life, it’s usually backwards. You do the thing first. You show up. You try. You fail. You repeat. And only then does understanding start to take shape.
Think about anything you’re decent at now. You probably weren’t waiting for clarity before starting. You learned by doing it badly. By sticking with it long enough to notice patterns. By paying attention after the fact.
There are things I’ve been doing for years that still confuse me. Parenting is high on that list. Writing is another. Even rest. I still don’t fully understand what actually recharges me versus what just distracts me.
But the small acts matter anyway. Showing up anyway matters anyway.
You don’t need full understanding to take the next step. You need willingness. Curiosity helps. Patience helps. Humor definitely helps.
The Question of the Day isn’t asking you to solve the mystery. It’s asking you to notice it. To acknowledge that uncertainty doesn’t disqualify you from participation. It’s part of the deal.
Here’s where these two ideas lock arms.
If a small act is worth more than a thousand good intentions, then not fully understanding something doesn’t get to be an excuse for inaction.
You don’t need to understand your whole life to take care of one small corner of it today.
You don’t need clarity to send the message, take the walk, light the candle, or begin again in a small way.
Understanding often shows up late. Action shows up on time.
Explore More Reflections
If this post resonated, you might also enjoy browsing the full Thought of the Day archive or diving into the Question of the Day archive for more daily prompts that meet you where you are.
Your Turn
What’s something you’ve been doing for years that still doesn’t quite make sense to you? And what’s one small act you could take today anyway?
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