At the End of the Day

What Do We Mean?

An overworked phrase, a bedtime routine, and a few useful questions about success.

“At the end of the day, what do we have to show for it?”

“At the end of the day, how will we evaluate this process?”

“At the end of the day…”

We have heard it a lot. We have probably said it a lot. I know I have.

It often comes from commentators, prognosticators, and people evaluating something that is still unfolding. They are looking ahead to that moment when we can assess the results and pronounce the effort successful, unsuccessful, or something in between.

Recently, I heard a comic have some fun with the expression. He was lamenting, humorously, the way we use it. He got some great mileage out of taking it literally.

That got me thinking about my own end of the day.

I take my medicine. I take out my teeth. I take out my hearing aids. I fill my CPAP machine with water. I fluff my pillow.