October 8, 2025
Every day I share a Thought of the Day and a Question of the Day because I believe reflection is how we keep ourselves from sleepwalking through life. Today’s pairing is one of those combinations that makes me smile: a Neil Gaiman quote about the endurance of stories, and a question about one of the most infamous numbers in human history. Let’s dive into both, because stories and superstition say a lot about how we make sense of the world.
Thought of the Day: “Dreams, tales and stories are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes.” — Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman has a knack for describing the indescribable. Facts have an expiration date. What was once cutting-edge science becomes quaint history. Political speeches fade. Yesterday’s headlines are today’s recycling. But stories? Stories stick.
Think about it, nobody remembers the weather report from 1974, but millions of people can recite lines from “The Wizard of Oz” or “Star Wars.” Stories carry truths facts alone can’t. They smuggle emotion and meaning in ways that stick long after data has gone stale.
In my own life, I’ve seen how the stories I tell my kids matter more than the facts I try to cram into their heads. They don’t remember me saying, “The dishwasher is running, don’t open it.” But they do remember when I turned that into a ridiculous bedtime tale about a dishwasher that was secretly training to become a submarine. (Yes, I’m that kind of dad.)
This Thought of the Day reminds me that when I write here, I’m not just dropping observations. I’m adding another story to the pile, hoping it’s one of those “shadow-truths” that endures. If you want more on this idea, I wrote about you can’t be unlucky 365 days a year. Stories aren’t just entertainment; they’re survival.
Question of the Day: How do you feel about the number 13?
Some people won’t sit in row 13 on an airplane. Hotels skip the 13th floor. Athletes change jerseys. Friday the 13th is its own horror franchise. And me? I like it.
I don’t think the number 13 is unlucky at all. In fact, I think it’s kind of the rebel of numbers. It refuses to fit neatly into the “safe dozen” of eggs, donuts, or months. Thirteen reminds us that order is fragile and that sometimes what’s feared is actually worth celebrating.
Maybe that’s why I like it. I’d rather lean into the odd, slightly uncomfortable thing than avoid it. If 12 is the “proper dinner party,” then 13 is the unexpected guest who shows up late, eats all the chips, and ends up being the most interesting person at the table.
It makes me think of another post I wrote about whether the number 13 is unlucky or not.
Numbers have no power unless we give it to them. So when I see 13, I don’t see a curse. I see a little wink from the universe that says, “Don’t take things so seriously.”
Why This Pairing Matters
When you put today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day side by side, you see the pattern: humans need meaning more than certainty. We invent stories about numbers. We tell tales that outlast facts. We make sense of chaos by giving it shape, whether through Neil Gaiman’s shadow-truths or through deciding that 13 is unlucky, or, in my case, lucky.
Both are reminders that what really lasts isn’t the fact, but the narrative. And if we get to choose the stories we believe in, why not choose the ones that keep us curious, thoughtful, and maybe even a little amused?
Join the Conversation
How do you feel about the number 13? Do you lean toward superstition or skepticism? And what stories do you find yourself telling again and again, even when the facts have faded?
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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