"Tomorrow is another day."

[Undertoad]

I had a boss who would say that every single night. We would leave the office together, and as we'd be getting into our cars, as a way of saying goodbye, he'd say "Well, tomorrow is another day. See ya."

This is one of those statements that you make that, when logically analyzed, means nothing at all. Yes, by its very definition, tomorrow, not being today, is another day. We could not say "Tomorrow is the same day. See ya."

Unless we were Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

The only other similar phrase that comes to mind is "It is what it is," which seems to have gained popularity amongst people I come into contact with, over the last decade. "It is what it is" is even more a statement of nothing at all.

Although... maybe I've underestimated this. Maybe it's a sincere attack on nihilism, or a recognition of basic logic. A=A, Ayn Rand would remind us, and then use that as the leaping-off point for just about any other philosophical meandering.

It is what it is: hence, tomorrow is another day.

[glatt]

Context is important. Those phrases mean nothing, but in context, they can mean a lot. "Tomorrow is another day" can mean you get to pull out the eraser and erase the chalkboard to start over again tomorrow. There may be a ghost of an image here and there to remind you of yesterday, but tomorrow is a chance at a new start.

[infinite monkey]

I think they're both just part of a larger set of colloquialisms we use to remind ourselves to not sweat the small stuff, to realize that which does not kill you makes you stronger, that where there's life, there's hope (that one always made me laugh.)

We tell ourselves there's always tomorrow, the sun will come out tomorrow, and tomorrow is another day. So are Tuesday and Wednesday. But frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

I'm off to face the world with my eternal optimism, wearing my rose-colored glasses, to boldly go where no man has gone before...not since yesterday, to stop and smell the roses that would, by any other name, still smell as sweet.

It's all in a day's work, and at the end of the day (I REALLY wish people would stop using that one), everything's coming up roses.

[footfootfoot]

Word for the day: Tautology

My philosophy professor in college gave the example of his GF telling him "You shouldn't over cook the fish." Implicit in the phrase, over cook, is the the injunction against doing that, hence shouldn't.

There are other examples in the link.

In the meantime, keep on keepin' on.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Unless we were Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

Or, unless we're Gravdigr, in Kentucky.

Should be "Tomorrow is just another day.".

[DanaC]

'It is what it is' is a phrase I use often. It's a bit like saying 'that's just the way it is', and it also means that you can only deal with what it is, not what you would like it to be. And sometimes it means, 'it's ok, no biggie'.

[it]

Originally Posted by DanaC

'It is what it is' is a phrase I use often. It's a bit like saying 'that's just the way it is', and it also means that you can only deal with what it is, not what you would like it to be. And sometimes it means, 'it's ok, no biggie'.

I used to use that one too... A lot. Though usually in the context of judgement.

When I used to analyze the dynamics or social systems and people would then go "that's saying it's corrupted" or "are you saying that isn't genuine"... Sure those statements might be true but they usually weren't what I meant, which focuses on answering "what is it?".

If anything, systems and social dynamics have much better measurements then those - how consistently applicable that dynamic is & under what circumstances, how beautiful it is in it's complexity, how many layers of humor are tucked inside.. The last of which can probably be rephrased for the purpose of this topic as "how good of a sense of humor does a person need to have in order to - despite understanding it - be able to accept that it is what it is".

Only in recent years I have become a hell of a lot more fighty and judgy about ethical things, which I suppose means if I ever time traveled I might need to bring weapons to kill my older self for giving me that "it is what it is" bullshit.

Sure he might be more fit, but I am from the future so obviously I have the advantage. I mean... We have smarter phones now. I bet he wouldn't even survive in flappy bird.

[xoxoxoBruce]

'that's just the way it is'

That's seeing the folly of trying to change others, change the world.

That's the way I am.

This is questionable, you might be trying to justify things about yourself that cause you trouble, make you uncomfortable.

[it]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

This is questionable, you might be trying to justify things about yourself that cause you trouble, make you uncomfortable.

My personal favorite version of that is:

that's the way I roll

Honestly there's a whole can of worms under that sentiment that I can dedicate a few years to hack & slash through while duel wielding large trouts.

I've more or less reached the conclusion that some of the worst aspects humanity has to offer come from people who have a very static idea of who they are. Taken to the point where criticism, negative judgement - from others or their own subconscious - isn't understood as a statement about what they are doing but a complete and unacceptable threat to their moral identity, making it unthinkable and unreachable, in which people define themselves by how good they are too others but do so in spite of how they are experienced by others - since for them a perspective from which they've harmed others is not simply a statement of what they did and how they can strive to do better, it's a statement of who they are indefinitely and have no ability to change it, a perspective that becomes too ugly to consider or acknowledge. It's the worst kind of sickness, leaving no room for personal growth in how they relate to the world or themselves.

[sexobon]

Well, I'll see ya when I see ya; 'cause, it ain't over till it's over.

And that's that.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by sexobon

Well, I'll see ya when I see ya; 'cause, it ain't over till it's over.

And that's that.

"I'll see you in the future." Is one that sounds not only lazy but affected. I always treat them with:

And if I don't see you in the future, I'll see you in the pasture.

[gvidas]

I think "tomorrow is another day" is a nice workaday version of the old classic "this too shall pass." If you had a good day, that's swell and all, but you still have to plan for tomorrow. And if you had a crappy day, that sucks, but tomorrow you get to take another pass at it.

"It is what it is" is harder to defend. But the kernel of it which I appreciate is: you have to accept the basic facts of the situation you're in. You can try all the different dressings you want, but if your lettuce is rotting you'll never have a good salad.

I also appreciate that prhase in the way Dana mentioned, i.e. with the unstated preface: "I would prefer this were not the case, but it is what it is."

[infinite monkey]

Imagine it. 1939. Two major movies that would have longevity came out.

One: There's no place like home

Two: After all, tomorrow is another day


It's like there weren't spaceships or car crashes or vampires and everyone is so oblivious.

Meh

[Spexxvet]

"tomorrow is another day" is dumb, but que sera, sera.

[Gravdigr]

Whatever.