August 19, 2025
Every day here, I share a Thought of the Day and Question of the Day—two little prompts meant to stir reflection, spark conversation, and sometimes get a laugh. Today’s thought reminds us how time reshapes our perspective on problems, while today’s question invites you to share the jokes you just can’t stop telling. Let’s dive in.
Thought of the Day: The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow. — H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells didn’t just dabble in science fiction; he understood human nature. When he said the crisis of today becomes the joke of tomorrow, he was pointing to one of our greatest survival skills: perspective.
Think about your own life. The missed flights, the job interviews that tanked, the arguments you thought would end the world—most of those moments didn’t define you. In fact, they probably became stories you now tell with a grin. We rarely laugh in the middle of the storm, but given enough time, even the storm becomes part of the punchline.
This isn’t to minimize what we go through. Crises feel real because they are real. They demand something of us—courage, patience, endurance—that we don’t always believe we have. But Wells’ point is that we are wired to outlast the intensity. What hurts today might just be material for tomorrow’s comedy routine.
And isn’t that freeing? To know that the thing that has you twisted in knots right now may one day be the anecdote that breaks the ice at dinner, or the cautionary tale you share with a friend, or the moment your kids roll their eyes when you say, “Back when I was your age…”
If we could bottle that perspective in the moment, we’d suffer less. The trouble is, we can’t shortcut time. We can only remind ourselves that time does its work. Perspective always comes. The challenge is having the patience to wait for it.
If you want to keep reflecting on this idea, you might enjoy this reminder that feelings don’t last forever.
Question of the Day: What’s a joke you keep re-telling?
We all have that one joke. The one you trot out at family gatherings, in group chats, or when the silence gets too heavy. Maybe it’s corny. Maybe it’s a classic one-liner. Maybe your kids roll their eyes every time you say it, but secretly, they’d miss it if you stopped.
For me, I’m always pointing out something on the floor, followed by a good bop on your nose. I think part of the joy of a well-worn joke isn’t the punchline anymore, it’s the ritual of telling it, the way it becomes part of your identity.
So what’s yours? Drop it in the comments below, I could use some new material, just ask everyone I know.
And if you’re in the mood for more lighthearted reflection, check out this post where I asked about your least favorite candy or this one on the scariest movie you’ve ever seen.
Join the Conversation
Your turn: share the joke you can’t stop telling, or the crisis that turned into a story you now laugh at. And if you like these daily prompts, join the free daily email—it’s a quick way to pause, think, and maybe even smile.