*a-five-minute-read*
Ah, the tale of if common sense exists strikes again. You know about common sense right? The basic set of rules we all follow without needing to be told? But if you’ve been paying attention to the world in 2025, you know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Decorum is slipping, logic feels optional, and what used to be “obvious” now sparks full-blown debates online (which I may or may not part take in, but we move).
Looking back at all the random topics I’ve covered here over the years — sports, TV shows, marriage, and yes, even shooting your shot (figuratively and literally) — I’m surprised I never touched this one. But my friends, the day has finally come. So grab your popcorn and a glass of wine (trust me, it’s a better combo than it sounds), and give me five minutes of your time while we unpack why there’s no such thing as common sense.
You’d think there was a standard way to carry yourself day to day, but trust me—decorum has become a lost art (especially with the YN’s, or young ones as we call them here in Toronto).
I’ve had conversations with people, caught wind of things being said in the streets, and honestly found myself asking—what is really going on with people today? A flood of questions always follows, and the video below captures it all perfectly.
You see, the time we are in now, there is nothing like it — for better or for worse depending on your mindset. In the spirit of staying positive at Timeless Thoughts, you have to see how there’s now abundantly more opportunities available to create the life you want.
Your path may not follow the conventions of going to school, getting a job in the field you studied in, and finding a wife & having a family all before the age of 30 (I know the African Mums want this but if you live in Toronto – best of luck!).
The set of widely accepted beliefs attached to the meaning of common sense seems to be diminishing as the days go by. The script of everyone having the basic knowledge of how to follow and act according to the rules has always been a slippery slope, but now I feel people are starting to care even less— creating this strange mix of fascination and recklessness all at once.
The Environment
Before we even get into the nitty-gritty of common sense, let’s start with the environment—because it can encapsulate everything about a person. The truth is, you can have all the education in the world and still get finessed (standard abbreviation of being taken advantage of) by someone who’s simply been in the game longer than you.
Book smarts ≠ street smarts, and life will humble you quick if you mix the two up. The environment you come from teaches you how to move, and if you haven’t learned when to apply the right kind of smarts, setbacks will come faster than you think.
You’ve got to know which type of smarts to apply in each situation — that’s how you avoid setbacks and heartbreaks, and last long enough to turn those lessons into stories on your path to greatness.
Some people face pain and struggle every single day, and through that, they build resilience and a relentless drive to keep pushing forward. Then you see others spiral the moment they face real adversity — not because they’re weak, but because they’ve never had to handle it before.
What feels small to us might feel overwhelming to them, and it makes sense: they’ve never been in the trenches, never had to fight from the ground up, never been forced to claw their way out of a life-or-death situation. You can’t fault them for that. Different environments shape us in different ways, but the key is holding onto the traits that sharpen you into your best self — not settling for the “common” ones that only keep you stuck in mediocrity.
The Sheltered Life
Don’t let this go over your head: if the environment shapes you, being sheltered reshapes you. Your ability to problem solve will be one of the most important skills in your life — develop this as early as you can.
My brother always told me, everything you experience in life is just another story to tell. Now, you all don’t need to share your life experiences and be a yapper like myself on this blog, but you know, there’s a time and place where these stories can help a brother out.
Not being exposed to certain situations can leave you a few steps behind when it comes to handling real conflict and problem-solving. If you’ve been sheltered your whole life, the moment the lights get bright, you won’t know how to move — and you might get lost in the sauce before you even realize it.
Now, being sheltered isn’t something you always control. It comes with its own list of pros and cons, and eventually, you hit a point where you’ve got to decide what you really want for yourself. Needs and wants will always shift, but here’s one piece of advice: live in the real world.
Don’t let the constant noise of online discourse and social apps corrupt, dilute, or pollute your thinking. When the streets tell you to “go touch some grass,” take it seriously — there’s way more outside than you think, and it’s only when you step into it that you grow and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
You don’t need to try everything in the world to know it’s not for you, but you do need to allow your soul to feel something before someone else will decide for you.
The Irony Of It All
Social media is the first place that comes to mind when we talk about “common sense” — not because it shows it, but because it exposes just how little of it exists. Half the content is clickbait where people purposely go against the social code, and the other half is proof that the “common way” doesn’t matter anymore when views and interactions are the real currency.
That’s the irony: for a world that talks about common sense nonstop, the receipts say otherwise. Companies slap obvious warnings on products because they already know people won’t think twice. Blind assumptions are costing people opportunities, relationships, and peace of mind — and while you can’t prepare for everything in life, you also can’t let assumptions be your downfall.
At the end of the day, common sense isn’t built by scrolling timelines, it’s built by living. Perspective, communication, problem-solving, and consistency will always carry you further than chasing validation online. Focus on sharpening those every day, and you’ll be building something real — not just another post that fades into the algorithm.
Something New
Thank you for reading and making all the way to the end. Hopefully this got you thinking about how “common sense” isn’t really common at all — it’s built from the environments we’re thrown into, the struggles we face, and the lessons we choose to keep.
At the end of the day, it’s not about following some script of how life “should” go, it’s about sharpening the traits that make you resilient, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes next.
So maybe it’s time we stop expecting people to just “have common sense” and start realizing it’s something you build — through mistakes, experiences, and living in the real world, not just online.
There is power in the tongue, so continue the positive thinking and speaking to match where you want to go and answer the question below!
Timeless Thoughts 