In partnership with
Today’s Agenda
Ash Wednesday
Good Morning!
Happy Wednesday, everybody. It’s a special one, because today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent on the liturgical calendar.
It’s very fitting that this week is about the self in everyday life, as Ash Wednesday carries with it an awareness of humility, finitude, and honest self-recognition.
Today, we’re going to discuss the meaning of “Remember you are dust” with the help of Thomas Merton. Burning that off, we’re going to do a fitting reflection. Within our Book Nook, we’re going to look at a small quote from Merton that puts the whole thing into perspective.
Have a seat, Thought Breakfast is served!
Today’s Breakfast
The Self Without Performance
We’ve been building on the idea that modern identity tends to feel like something that must be built or proven. Ash Wednesday interrupts that idea. There’s no need to become impressive. We only need to become honest. The self is quieter, simpler.
The ashes that are placed on Christians aren’t about guilt, but about attention. We take a pause in our ordinary rhythm to ask: What am I actually doing with my days? And what habits shape me without reflection?
It’s really a day of reflection. We don’t need dramatic change, only small acts. Listening more carefully, slowing our reactions, and noticing our limits are all examples of what the outset of Lent is all about. The self becomes clearer when it stops pretending to be permanent.
The ashes represent that, regardless of all the happenings of life, we came from the same place we’re going. “From dust you came, and to dust you shall return.”
If Montaigne taught us how to observe the self and James showed us how habits form the self, Ash Wednesday gives everyone a chance to ask: What remains when we strip the self down to its simplest form?
Burn Those Thought Calories
The Ash Wednesday Pause
At one quiet moment today, ask:
What part of my identity feels performative?
What would remain if I stopped trying to appear impressive?
Try one small act of humility today:
Listen without correcting.
Move a little slower.
Let something be unfinished.
Book Nook
“To be nothing is to be open to everything.” — Thomas Merton
Regardless of beliefs or affiliations, Lent is spiritually meaningful beyond Christian doctrine. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we have to fast for 40 days like Jesus in the desert, but people do it anyway.
It’s a community of people supporting each other through fasting, reminding each other that they’re not the only ones suffering. Ramadan also starts today which, in Islam, is also a period of fasting and reflection.
Join the people all over the world today in setting a goal for the next month or so. Pick one area of your life that you think needs change in order to propel you forward, and make the decision.
Munch on that for today. While we’re talking about the self, it’s good to strip away whatever that is, and open yourself up to the world and all the good that’s within it. Have a great day, and come back tomorrow for another steaming hot plate of Thought Breakfast!
When it all clicks.
Why does business news feel like it’s written for people who already get it?
Morning Brew changes that.
It’s a free newsletter that breaks down what’s going on in business, finance, and tech — clearly, quickly, and with enough personality to keep things interesting. The result? You don’t just skim headlines. You actually understand what’s going on.
Try it yourself and join over 4 million professionals reading daily.
New Faces
Was this email forwarded to you?
Thank you for reading along with us today! If you enjoy this content, and want to start your days grounded in thought and mindfulness, I suggest you have a seat at our table! Smash that button below to check out more editions and subscribe!
That’s it for today.
Remember to stay mindful, smell the flowers, and take it easy.
Chef Ricky - Thought Breakfast
