What do the words “unique” and “priority” have in common?

Both are meant to be a singular occurrence. When you describe something as “unique,” you are saying that nothing else like it exists. It is singular.

The word “priority” was introduced to the English language in the 1400s. No one had priorities during those first 500 years. After all, from an etymological standpoint, the word describes a first or prior thing.

There are no stages of uniqueness. Something cannot be more unique. Likewise, if something is first, how can it have an equal?

We struggle with priorities because we dilute the power of the concept. Only one thing can be unique. Only one thing can be a priority.