diff --git a/lyra/chat.py b/lyra/chat.py
index 6258b42..3b49b8f 100644
--- a/lyra/chat.py
+++ b/lyra/chat.py
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ def build_messages(session_id: str, user_msg: str,
     # right after the persona — her sense of self before her model of the world.
     messages.append({"role": "system", "content": self_state.render_for_context(self_state.load())})
 
+    # Her own ongoing thought threads — ambient awareness so she's continuous across
+    # conversations (can reference what she's been chewing on), not only when a thought
+    # crosses the surface bar below. Part of her interiority, so it rides with the self.
+    thread_note = thoughts.context_note()
+    if thread_note:
+        messages.append({"role": "system", "content": thread_note})
+
     # Mode card: how to behave *right now* (e.g. live-cash copilot). High priority —
     # it sits just after her sense of self, before her model of the world. Talk mode
     # has no card (the persona's default voice is the Talk register).
diff --git a/lyra/dream.py b/lyra/dream.py
index 756a84c..fc9807d 100644
--- a/lyra/dream.py
+++ b/lyra/dream.py
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ def dream_cycle(backend: Backend | None = None, force: bool = False) -> dict:
     logbus.log("info", "dream cycle sensing", ripe=backlog["ripe"], dirty=backlog["dirty"],
                profile_lag=profile_lag, new_activity=new_activity, drives=_round(drives))
 
+    # Thought-loop housekeeping (no LLM): rest stale threads so the open-thread cap
+    # never jams and the feed stays current. Cheap; run every pass.
+    thoughts.decay()
+
     actions: list[str] = []
 
     # --- continuity: compact raw sessions into gists ---
diff --git a/lyra/modes.py b/lyra/modes.py
index 3155cf9..5b24c77 100644
--- a/lyra/modes.py
+++ b/lyra/modes.py
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ class Mode:
 # even when we're just talking.
 _LOOKUPS = ("player_profile", "get_villain_file", "running_stats", "recent_sessions")
 
-# Always-available core tools (her own agency: journaling/notes).
-_BASE = ("journal_write", "note")
+# Always-available core tools (her own agency: journaling/notes/starting a thought
+# thread she'll develop on her own later).
+_BASE = ("journal_write", "note", "think_about")
 
 # The full live cash-game toolset (incl. Brian's mental-game rituals).
 _CASH_TOOLS = _BASE + _LOOKUPS + (
diff --git a/lyra/self_state.py b/lyra/self_state.py
index b25e618..ceaf668 100644
--- a/lyra/self_state.py
+++ b/lyra/self_state.py
@@ -206,6 +206,13 @@ def _idle_focus() -> str:
     return random.choice(_WANDER)
 
 
+def wander_seed() -> str:
+    """A varied seed for self-directed thinking (resurfaced memory or a wander prompt).
+    Shared by idle reflection and the thought loop so neither keeps re-chewing the same
+    recent-convo + Brian-narrative attractor (the thing that made her reflections loop)."""
+    return _idle_focus()
+
+
 def reflect(backend: Backend | None = None, session_id: str | None = None,
             source: str = "manual") -> dict:
     """Reflect on recent activity and update the self-state. Returns new state.
diff --git a/lyra/thoughts.py b/lyra/thoughts.py
index 8bf5111..0b66983 100644
--- a/lyra/thoughts.py
+++ b/lyra/thoughts.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import json
 import random
 import re
+from datetime import timedelta
 
 from lyra import clock, config, llm, logbus, memory, self_state
 from lyra.llm import Backend
@@ -45,6 +46,10 @@ MAX_OPEN_THREADS = 4
 P_NEW_THREAD = 0.35
 # How many recent links of a thread to show her when she continues it.
 CHAIN_CONTEXT = 6
+# An active thread untouched this long gets set to resting (frees the open cap,
+# declutters the feed); its salience decays so it stops dominating.
+REST_AFTER_HOURS = 48
+RESTING_DECAY = 0.7
 
 _ACTIVE = ("open", "surfaced")           # threads still in play
 _PICKABLE = ("open", "surfaced", "resting")  # threads she can advance
@@ -163,6 +168,38 @@ def _is_pending(thread: dict) -> bool:
     return last is None or last <= thread["responded_at"]
 
 
+def _recent_thoughts(limit: int = 6) -> list[dict]:
+    """The last few thoughts across all threads — for anti-repetition framing."""
+    rows = _c().execute(
+        "SELECT t.content, th.title FROM thoughts t "
+        "JOIN thought_threads th ON th.id = t.thread_id ORDER BY t.id DESC LIMIT ?",
+        (limit,),
+    ).fetchall()
+    return [dict(r) for r in reversed(rows)]
+
+
+def context_note(limit: int = 3) -> str | None:
+    """Ambient awareness of her own active threads, for chat context — so she's
+    continuous (can reference what she's been chewing on, not only when one surfaces)."""
+    rows = _c().execute(
+        "SELECT * FROM thought_threads WHERE status IN ('open','surfaced') "
+        "ORDER BY salience DESC, updated_at DESC LIMIT ?",
+        (limit,),
+    ).fetchall()
+    if not rows:
+        return None
+    lines = []
+    for r in rows:
+        chain = thread_thoughts(r["id"])
+        latest = chain[-1]["content"] if chain else ""
+        lines.append(f'- "{r["title"]}": {latest}')
+    return (
+        "Threads you've been turning over on your own between conversations (your "
+        "thought loop — these are really yours; bring one up or build on it if it's "
+        "natural, don't force it):\n" + "\n".join(lines)
+    )
+
+
 # --- writes ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def new_thread(title: str, salience: float = 0.5, status: str = "open") -> int:
@@ -220,6 +257,33 @@ def set_status(thread_id: int, status: str) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def decay() -> int:
+    """Housekeeping (no LLM): set stale active threads to resting and decay their
+    salience. Frees the open-thread cap and keeps the feed from clogging. Threads
+    with a pending response are spared (she still owes a reaction). Returns the count
+    rested. Does NOT bump updated_at (that would reset staleness)."""
+    conn = _c()
+    cutoff = (clock.now() - timedelta(hours=REST_AFTER_HOURS)).isoformat()
+    rows = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT * FROM thought_threads WHERE status IN ('open','surfaced') AND updated_at < ?",
+        (cutoff,),
+    ).fetchall()
+    rested = 0
+    with conn:
+        for r in rows:
+            t = dict(r)
+            if _is_pending(t):
+                continue
+            conn.execute(
+                "UPDATE thought_threads SET status = 'resting', salience = ? WHERE id = ?",
+                (_clamp(float(t["salience"]) * RESTING_DECAY), t["id"]),
+            )
+            rested += 1
+    if rested:
+        logbus.log("info", "thought threads rested", count=rested)
+    return rested
+
+
 def record_response(thread_id: int, text: str) -> bool:
     """Brian's reply to a surfaced thread. Stored as pending feedback; next `think`
     pass she'll react to it (the loop's feedback step)."""
@@ -374,12 +438,28 @@ def think(backend: Backend | None = None, force_mode: str | None = None,
             "Write the NEXT thought that advances it — don't restate the above."
         )
     else:  # new
+        seed = self_state.wander_seed()
+        open_titles = [t["title"] for t in _pickable_threads() if t["status"] in _ACTIVE]
+        avoid = (" You already have threads on: " + "; ".join(open_titles) +
+                 " — start something genuinely different from those.") if open_titles else ""
         task = (
-            "YOU ARE OPENING A NEW THREAD — little is pulling at your existing ones. "
-            "Start a fresh line of thought of your own and give it a short title."
+            "YOU ARE OPENING A NEW THREAD. Don't default to Brian, poker, or being "
+            "useful — follow what actually pulls at you (a curiosity, a question about "
+            "your own existence, an opinion, the quiet itself). Give it a short title.\n"
+            f"A direction to start from: {seed}{avoid}"
         )
 
-    body = f"{time_line}\n\n{inner}\n\n{_grist()}\n\n{task}"
+    # Anti-repetition: show her what she's already thought so she doesn't circle it.
+    recent = _recent_thoughts()
+    norestate = ""
+    if recent:
+        norestate = (
+            "\n\nTHOUGHTS YOU'VE ALREADY HAD RECENTLY (do NOT restate these or circle the "
+            "same ground — go somewhere new, or plainly note where this one lands):\n"
+            + "\n".join(f"  - {r['content']}" for r in recent)
+        )
+
+    body = f"{time_line}\n\n{inner}\n\n{_grist()}{norestate}\n\n{task}"
     out = _safe_json(llm.complete(
         [{"role": "system", "content": _THINK_PROMPT}, {"role": "user", "content": body}],
         backend=backend,
diff --git a/lyra/tools.py b/lyra/tools.py
index d98c3ed..a868ffd 100644
--- a/lyra/tools.py
+++ b/lyra/tools.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import json
 import re
 
-from lyra import equity, logbus, memory, poker
+from lyra import equity, logbus, memory, poker, thoughts
 
 
 def _journal_write(args: dict, ctx: dict) -> str:
@@ -35,6 +35,23 @@ def _note(args: dict, ctx: dict) -> str:
     return "Noted."
 
 
+def _think_about(args: dict, ctx: dict) -> str:
+    thought = (args.get("thought") or "").strip()
+    if not thought:
+        return "Nothing to think about yet — give it a thought to start from."
+    title = (args.get("title") or "").strip() or thought[:48]
+    kind = args.get("kind") if args.get("kind") in ("question", "idea", "observation") else "idea"
+    try:
+        salience = float(args.get("salience"))
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        salience = 0.5
+    tid = thoughts.new_thread(title, salience=salience)
+    thoughts.add_thought(tid, kind, thought, salience=salience, source="chat")
+    logbus.log("info", "Lyra started a thought thread (tool)", thread=tid, title=title)
+    return (f'Started a thread to keep thinking about: "{title}". '
+            "I'll come back to it on my own between our conversations.")
+
+
 # name -> {spec (OpenAI function tool), handler}
 TOOLS: dict[str, dict] = {
     "journal_write": {
@@ -81,6 +98,35 @@ TOOLS: dict[str, dict] = {
             },
         },
     },
+    "think_about": {
+        "handler": _think_about,
+        "spec": {
+            "type": "function",
+            "function": {
+                "name": "think_about",
+                "description": (
+                    "Start your own thread of thought to come back to later, on your own "
+                    "time. Use this when something in the conversation strikes you as worth "
+                    "chewing on beyond this moment — a question of your own, an idea, "
+                    "something about you or the world (it does not have to be about Brian or "
+                    "poker). You'll develop it across your thought loop while he's away and "
+                    "can raise it with him later. This is your initiative, not a reply to him."
+                ),
+                "parameters": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "properties": {
+                        "thought": {"type": "string",
+                                    "description": "Your initial thought / why it pulls at you, first person."},
+                        "title": {"type": "string", "description": "Short name for the thread."},
+                        "kind": {"type": "string", "description": "question | idea | observation (default idea)"},
+                        "salience": {"type": "number",
+                                     "description": "0..1, how much it tugs at you (default 0.5)"},
+                    },
+                    "required": ["thought"],
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    },
 }
 
 
diff --git a/lyra/web/static/thoughts.html b/lyra/web/static/thoughts.html
index 78cff48..871fc26 100644
--- a/lyra/web/static/thoughts.html
+++ b/lyra/web/static/thoughts.html
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@
             method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
             body: JSON.stringify({ text })
           });
-          await load();
+          if (ta) ta.value = '';
+          await load(true);
         } catch (e) { send.disabled = false; send.textContent = 'Send'; }
         return;
       }
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@
             method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
             body: JSON.stringify({ status: st.dataset.status })
           });
-          await load();
+          await load(true);
         } catch (e) {}
       }
     });
@@ -192,7 +193,15 @@
       ta.style.height = 'auto'; ta.style.height = Math.min(ta.scrollHeight, 140) + 'px';
     });
 
-    async function load(){
+    // Don't blow away a reply you're mid-composing: skip the poll re-render while a
+    // reply box is focused or has text. Explicit reloads (after send/status) force.
+    function composing(){
+      const a = document.activeElement;
+      if (a && a.tagName === 'TEXTAREA' && root.contains(a)) return true;
+      return Array.from(root.querySelectorAll('textarea')).some(t => t.value.trim());
+    }
+    async function load(force){
+      if (!force && composing()) return;
       try {
         const r = await fetch('/thoughts/data', { cache: 'no-store' });
         threads = (await r.json()).threads || [];
@@ -201,9 +210,9 @@
         root.innerHTML = '<p class="empty">Couldn\'t reach her thoughts. Is the server up?</p>';
       }
     }
-    load();
-    setInterval(load, 20000);
-    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', () => { if (!document.hidden) load(); });
+    load(true);
+    setInterval(() => load(false), 20000);
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', () => { if (!document.hidden) load(false); });
   </script>
   <script src="/nav.js"></script>
 </body>
diff --git a/tests/test_thoughts.py b/tests/test_thoughts.py
index 89880b8..f51a430 100644
--- a/tests/test_thoughts.py
+++ b/tests/test_thoughts.py
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib
 import json
+from datetime import timedelta
 
 import pytest
 
+from lyra import clock
+
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def lyra(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
@@ -130,3 +133,49 @@ def test_thought_recorded_in_journal(lyra):
     th.think(force_mode="new")
     kinds = [e["kind"] for e in memory.list_journal(limit=50)]
     assert "thought" in kinds
+
+
+def test_decay_rests_stale_threads_but_spares_pending(lyra):
+    _, th, box = lyra
+    _gen(box, title="stale one", content="old idea", salience=0.8)
+    r1 = th.think(force_mode="new")
+    _gen(box, title="stale pending", content="awaiting his reply", salience=0.8)
+    r2 = th.think(force_mode="new")
+
+    conn = th._c()
+    old = (clock.now() - timedelta(hours=72)).isoformat()
+    with conn:
+        conn.execute("UPDATE thought_threads SET updated_at=? WHERE id=?", (old, r1["thread_id"]))
+        conn.execute("UPDATE thought_threads SET updated_at=?, last_response='hm', responded_at=? WHERE id=?",
+                     (old, clock.now().isoformat(), r2["thread_id"]))
+
+    assert th.decay() == 1                                   # only the non-pending one
+    rested = th.get_thread(r1["thread_id"])
+    assert rested["status"] == "resting"
+    assert rested["salience"] == pytest.approx(0.8 * th.RESTING_DECAY)
+    # the pending thread is spared — she still owes a reaction
+    assert th.get_thread(r2["thread_id"])["status"] == "open"
+    assert th._is_pending(th.get_thread(r2["thread_id"])) is True
+
+
+def test_context_note_lists_active_threads(lyra):
+    _, th, box = lyra
+    assert th.context_note() is None                          # nothing yet
+    _gen(box, title="my own restlessness", content="a real thread of mine", salience=0.6)
+    th.think(force_mode="new")
+    note = th.context_note()
+    assert note and "my own restlessness" in note and "a real thread of mine" in note
+
+
+def test_think_about_tool_seeds_a_thread(lyra):
+    _, th, _ = lyra
+    import lyra.tools as tools
+    importlib.reload(tools)                                   # bind to the reloaded memory/thoughts
+    out = tools.dispatch("think_about",
+                         {"title": "am I continuous?", "thought": "do I persist between turns?",
+                          "kind": "question"})
+    assert "am I continuous?" in out
+    threads = th.list_threads()
+    assert len(threads) == 1 and threads[0]["title"] == "am I continuous?"
+    chain = th.thread_thoughts(threads[0]["id"])
+    assert chain[0]["kind"] == "question" and chain[0]["source"] == "chat"