What does ‘at the end of the day’ and ‘it is what it is’ say about someone’s mindset? What makes a day the limiting timeframe? What if ‘it’ could be something different? Clearly, our language can limit our potential.
‘At the end of the day’ has a history in the 19th Century. ‘It is what it is’ is more recent. These phrases are passing from idiom to cliche – especially put together. There is a strong sense of resignation. Shrug. Fate.
Exhibit A. Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira has VISA and weather issues and is delayed flying from the USA to Japan for the 2019 ISA World Games. When we arrives at the beach, his heat is 10 minutes from ending. He borrows a board, sprints out – still in his jorts – wins the heat and goes on to win the event and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
I doubt Italo was thinking ‘at the end of the day, it is what it is’ as he was racing to the beach that day.
And what does he say on winning? Something chest puffing perhaps? Arrogant? No. He simply says “That was a super cool contest, I want to congratulate every surfer and country here”. An admirable mindset.