How I start my day

If you hate my habit of parenthetical asides in my writing, I think this entire post qualifies as one, so scroll on my friend, scroll on…

I find it hilarious that I have a reputation as a hard worker, because I was constantly told as a kid how lazy I was. I remember reading a “Humor in Uniform” story in Reader’s Digest about a lazy soldier that kept getting transferred to the most difficult assignments his commanding officer could find. Once the lazy soldier was in the new assignment he would find a way to make the job easier, a talent that was clearly a mixed blessing. In that soldier’s memory, I do things like write all of my posts in my (currently) longest-running blog so that when I create back ups I don’t have to go to all of my posting grounds, only two (https://money.theitsolutionist.com is deliberately separate, and only on the same root domain because I’m cheap)

Anyway, back to the actual subject (which is actually related to my seques), which is how I start my day every day…but first, one more aside: This will be my first post on my new Substack publication “My TBR List”. And, of course, it isn’t about something on my TBR list. (total non sequitur, I have been planning a post about how ADHD may be contagious if everyone you live with has it). It’s about something I read every day. Coming back to the lazy soldier thread, I had Perplexity.ai do the writing for me. Which started as an exercise in laziness except I was also a bit lazy with the first prompt, so the following is the result of four prompts and re-learning the trick of first giving a generative AI a writing sample and asking it to describe the voice and tone, then incorporating that description in the post. I still don’t think it got that right, but the sentiment is there, and I have already spent way more time on this post than if I had just written it straight up (but would have missed out on all of the fun of coaxing Perplexity to do my ~~work for me~~ bidding.)

How a 20-Year-Old Habit of Reading Non Sequitur Still Starts My Day Right

Some habits stick around longer than you expect. For me, one of those is reading the Non Sequitur comic strip every morning at https://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur. I started this ritual more than twenty years ago, and it’s still the first thing I read online each day. It’s a small ritual, but it sets a tone I appreciate: a little humor, a little reflection, and sometimes a nudge to think differently before diving into the day’s noise.

Why Non Sequitur Works as a Morning Habit

Non Sequitur isn’t your typical quick joke. The name itself means “it does not follow,” and that’s a perfect description. Wiley Miller’s comics often take unexpected turns, mixing absurdity with sharp social commentary. Sometimes the punchline hits immediately. Other times, it sneaks up on you-a joke that sticks around for a minute or two after you’ve read it. That’s part of the charm.

What I like about starting the day with this strip is that it’s both light and layered. It pokes fun at everything from bureaucracy and politics to everyday human quirks, but it never feels mean-spirited. Instead, it’s like a gentle reminder that the world is often ridiculous, and that’s okay. Humor can be a way to keep perspective.

Characters Who Feel Familiar

The recurring characters add another layer of connection. Danae, the skeptical kid, often voices the kind of dry, no-nonsense observations I find myself thinking but rarely say out loud. Then there’s Obviousman, a superhero whose power is simply pointing out the obvious-something we all wish for in frustrating moments. These characters aren’t just punchlines; they’re reflections of the parts of ourselves we recognize, especially on days when nothing seems to make sense.

Humor That Rewards a Second Look

One of the reasons I keep coming back after all these years is that the humor doesn’t always land on the first read. Sometimes I have to pause, reread, or think about the context to fully appreciate the joke. It’s a little like troubleshooting a problem-you don’t always get it right away, but when you do, it feels satisfying.

Why This Habit Still Matters

In a world that often feels overwhelming and repetitive, having a small, consistent way to start the day with a smile and a bit of insight is surprisingly valuable. Non Sequitur reminds me that it’s okay to question assumptions, to laugh at the absurd, and to keep a sense of humor-even when things don’t follow the script.

If you’re looking for a simple, daily habit that mixes humor with a little food for thought, I can’t recommend Non Sequitur enough. It’s been a quiet companion for me for over two decades, and I suspect it will be for a long time to come.

Would you like me to help you format this for your Substack or add any links or images?

Link to the sausage factory (good while memor supplies last): https://www.perplexity.ai/search/you-are-a-blogger-who-writes-a-3hSwVQjNR2.d9nqWLrpUSw?utm_source=copy_output