If today was your last day?

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Hi everyone!

How are you all doing today? Is life treating you well? I hope it is, because we will talk about it today.

Recently, I thought about an important question and was very happy with my own answer. The question was: What would I wish I was doing differently if I knew it was my last day today? Would I wish to be more hard-working? Would I wish I had a different life? Would I wish to be a different person? My answer was: I would do everything the same. And I genuinely felt that. Not because I am doing everything well, because that is not true at all. But I think I know I am doing what I can and want to do at each moment and some of these moments are just spent on meaningless things.  This was my overall feeling when answering that question.

When we ask a question like this to ourselves, we can essentially assess where we are in our personal development. I believe that we can judge where we are by how satisfied we are with ourselves. Are we trying to be a different person? Are we at the mercy of other’s perception of us so we end up doing what others want and not we want? If our answer is affirmative to such questions, that means we are probably not very happy with who we are. That calls for a change. A change towards feeling more like us and less like others. When we are satisfied with who we are, then we will not want to change anything even if it is really our last day on earth.

How can we achieve this change? I think there are some crucial steps. The first step is that we need to understand ourselves better: what do we really want? So, we need to try things out and meditate. The second step is finding out ways to establish some of our findings as habits. Once we establish our own habits, that will help us be less at the mercy of others. When we establish enough habits and they become a part of us (so we can define who we are clearly), then the sense of satisfaction will find you. This step is where you feel at ease with yourself.

Have you thought about the question I asked myself? If so, what was your answer? If not, can you ask that to yourself now and tell me your answer? If you think there are things you would want to do differently, what are they? Let’s chat!

Betul

88 thoughts on “If today was your last day?

    1. This is thought provoking. I often ask myself this question and the answer used to be that I definitely wished I was someone else. But lately, I keep learning new things and picking up healthy new habits and although I am not totally where I want to be for example, I want to publish a book lol but then, I am me and I am enjoying living out the beautiful and wonderful way God has created me. I am learning new things! Finishing new meaning to life and enjoying my walk with God. Thank you for sharing this. I hope we all can grow to be the best version of ourselves there is.

      1. We are all on our way to our best. Hopefully, one day, we will get to where we now imagine we will be. And then we will see that there are better versions of us.

  1. There are a few things I would have changed in my life. However, that is the past and nothing I can do about them now. I now live in the present and only look forward to the things I have control of. Remaining positive is the best way to stay happy in your life.

    Sure there are ups and downs in life. Remaining positive helps you emotionally and physically. It is not always easy to stay positive in life. I believe we are only given things in life that we can truly handle.

    I have battled through depression, anxiety, and PTSD, to name a few. Not an easy time in life. But I have come through on the other side as a more positive person. I will still have some of those feelings along the way. it will all be on how I can cope with the struggles in life.

    1. I also had some of these, but they made me into a more positive and probably stronger person. I also don’t feel great always but that is part of life and we can accept them as part of us too.

  2. Nothing as such..just live the way I am.there is nothing which I wanted to do and have not done ..so will just enjoy the day .

  3. When I read your question, the first think came to mind was I wouldn’t change a thing. I am pretty satisfied with my progress and life atm.

  4. Whenever I ask myself this question I end up recalling a poem.

    “Recognise for what they are, the chapters of your life so far, which in themselves can justify the chances you let slip by. What the memory chooses to forget and what in time the past doesn’t show, the restless mind cannot regret and the sentimental heart will never know” – unknown

  5. We treat time is at least precious asset what it is in fact our most precious. Time is limited, once spent, it’s gone. Each day needs a purpose, which you are aware before the day starts and what you have achieved by the day’s end.

  6. I often ask myself that if my life were to end today, would I be happy with the life I lead? I don’t know what the answer is, but the question is what keeps me striving for a better life.

  7. I would spend my last day with my daughter. I want to spend every day with my daughter but I can’t because I am divorced and I don’t have nor should I have custody of her. So I am not where I want to be in life and I have no control over it . Hopefully on my last day I am with her.

  8. I really enjoyed this post. I have been thinking about these questions recently and have faced up to things I am doing that I am not feeling up to and have decided to be brave and do what is right for me. Being true to ourselves is a path of freedom!

  9. I just thought about this too💃💃then saw it here after writing about it.😂
    I wouldn’t change a thing though because no one even knows their last days. Even doctors are proven wrong most times

  10. Betul, This is a worthwhile exercise at any age, though the answers may be different at different stages of life.

    At age 70, there are many things I have done that I can no longer do, and there are many things I wanted to do that I will never be able to do. I am grateful that I have lived an interesting life and have many happy memories. Also, it is a relief that most of life’s hardest decisions have already been made, and I am free to apply my thoughts and efforts to creative pursuits.

    On my last day, I would like to be spending time with those I love. Since most of them live far away, maybe we would be talking on the phone or looking at emailed photos of our lives. The second thing I would like to be doing is what I am trying to do every day–doing to the best of my ability what is still in my power to do and enjoying each day.

  11. There is an apocryphal story attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire. It is said that one day some of his students paid him a surprise visit. As he was working in his garden, he had them shown in there.

    One of the students asked, “What would you do if you suddenly learned this was to be the last day on Earth?”

    The old man replied, “I think i should like to work in my garden.”

  12. I live with the belief that everything you experience is a part of you… and I like me. So I would have to do it all… and I might even toss in a bit more. Fighting for your belief in people, causes and what you consider “right”… it is eye-opening. You learn so much from taking those chances… success or failure… it really does not matter. What matters is that you did it. My biggest desire is to do things better each and every time… that’s all you can ask for.

  13. The last day means all which you know comes to an end – your relationships, your memories, your thoughts and your imaginations. When all has come to an end what should remain? Let’s keep aside physical death for a moment. Have you thought about psychological death – the ending of everything within? Will dying to all that be possible even before we encounter physical death? If that is indeed possible, what will remain afterwards? That in my view would be a wonderful question to ask!

    Nice post! Good day!

    1. These are very interesting questions to ask! I didn’t think of it that way. So I don’t have answers to any yet. Needs powerful reflection. Thank you a lot for sharing!

  14. I think if today were my last day, I’d be spending it with my husband and baby as I always do, but this time sans technology and social media <3

  15. Questions like this have the capacity to produce powerful results when we answer them genuinely because it allows us to get on the road to becoming better people.
    Good one!

  16. I would love to spend my last day with my loved ones. So far in my life, there have been more than one occasions when I felt lost or not sure about where I’m headed. Today is not that day anymore, I wish I have every day like this. 🙂

      1. Yes, absolutely! I’m very curious by nature and I keep exploring new ideas. You never know what becomes your interest and then your career. I’ve tried and failed several times, earned a good steady income, lost it to try different things, and made it decent again. Learned a lot and It’s been fun!
        I’m here to learn something I have keen interest in – writing and share what I’ve learned so far. 🙂
        Thank you for asking!

  17. Hi Betul, a lovely post. One of my philosophies is that you only regret the things you didn’t do, so I have had many rich experiences, some better than others. I am at a point in my life where I feel some sense of satisfaction and calm, I have learned to be mindful and count my blessings on a daily basis. So if today were my last (and you never know where you are in the queue 😊) hopefully I would feel peaceful and unafraid, I don’t think there are many things I would change.

  18. Great post! Very thought-provoking. A few years ago, I wrote two obituaries for myself as an exercise at a retreat. One for the life I live right now and one for if I’d lived out my full potential. It was a little morbid, but also fun and very eye-opening. It helped me see the opportunities for growth that were right in front of my face and made me want to take the scary risks and make bold moves I’d normally avoid.

  19. If it was my last day today I would like to do nothing that I am obligated to do rather just be with those I really care about and tell myself, “Maybe you were not the best, but you gave in your best and die in peace.”

  20. It is great to hear you would be as you are. Thank you for sharing about yourself. 🙂

    For me, the answer is simple, but how to make it happen is more difficult – at least it seems that way to me. I would spend more time present where and when I am, and less time hoping for things that may or may not happen in the future.

    The thing I find myself lamenting most often is that I am not yet married, and do not yet have children. No amount of worrying about this will change it. So, I work on being present, focussing on working hard where I am. Still keeping my eyes and heart open.

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