You know that saying “Live each day as if it were your last“… Well do you actually agree with it or dismiss it as some unrealistic nonsense? Do you adhere to its advice and strive each day to achieve just that?
They say that people really get the true meaning of that saying when they are diagnosed with some terminal illness and some not even then. But should we embrace it? Is it a valuable piece of advice or is it going to lead us into bankruptcy or obesity or who knows what else?
So first I want to speak to those of you who may be reading this and thinking:
“No way – not a realistic way for me to live”
My first question to you is naturally - why?
Is it a fear of letting go that prevents you from enjoying your life more each day? Are you bombarded by everyday stresses about kids, spouses, health and bills? Or do you think that way to live is just too carefree for a structured individual like yourself?
Well take yourself for a moment into a quiet place and think that it was truly YOUR LAST DAY or heck even last few days of your life here on Earth. What would you change about your life? How would you live and how would you interact with people? Think of all the things that you would say differently, do differently and feel differently…
Do you think you would be kinder and gentler? Maybe more easy going? Or would you finally tell those people who you believe made your life unpleasant what you really think? (Even though they really do not exist…we experience what we choose from others)
Now I ask you what is REALLY holding you back from doing that?
Many of us get so caught up each day with things we THINK matter like as I mentioned above, worry and stress over various aspects of our life. But if we find some stillness in our life, if we give ourselves a chance to really reflect on this, I am hoping one would see that worry or stress has never solved an issue or made it go away.
Yes you have to pay bills and probably go to work. You may have kids and since you have them, you should provide them with a safe and healthy environment, among other things. You may have a spouse and others to share your life with. But if we examine these types of everyday life tasks on a deeper level, I invite you to see them in a new light. Consider the following:
Try to see them as opportunities for expressing who you are, not as chores that fill each day…
Try to see them as gifts with which you get to know the physical world with, not as obstacles that hinder your existence…
And finally try to see every moment that becomes part of your life as the miracle that it truly is when viewed in the light of deeper awareness…
Too positive? For some perhaps. But again if you are looking for a more fulfilled way to live, for a happier and more vibrant way to exist, I simply ask you to try seeing life in this way and watching what happens. You may be amazed!
Most importantly I am not saying that this way of thinking and looking at life is easy, it isn’t as long as you find excuses and offer up resistance. Once you drop those you can start truly enjoying Heaven on Earth.
Now for those of you who already try to live this way, are you getting what you want out of this experience?
If you find yourself satisfied, fulfilled and happy with where you are in your life and who you are right now, then you are probably in the right spot.
Some people however do live by the saying and take it completely out of context.
Living your life to the fullest or as if it were your last day on Earth DOES NOT MEAN to me:
- being reckless with anything (including overeating, drinking or indulging in any other reckless behaviour)
- being heartless with people’s views or emotions
- being frivolous with money and material possessions
- being self destructive in any way, shape or form
Perhaps many of us fear the line “Live each day as if it were your last” due to the fact that we associate the above behaviour with it. But I assure you it is not meant to be that way. I mean for some perhaps yes, after all who am I to give the official definition on this. But in a general sense for those who are looking for a deeper meaning, a greater satisfaction and a more fulfilled existance in this life, this should make sense.
For me “Living life to the fullest” means:
- Living in the moment of now
- Looking beyond material objects and material derived tasks
- It is not about paying the bills, but about saying thank you for the great services I receive
- It is not about cooking dinner, but about getting creative with the fruits of the Earth
- It is not about worrying about someone, but about connecting with them in the present moment
- It is not about treating a disease, but about living in a way to prevent it
- It is about connecting with your spirit, not just your physical body
And these are just a few of some of my examples…
To conclude, it may still seem unrealistic or unimaginable to live life each day to the fullest REGARDLESS of your circumstances, but we have to remember that ultimately the power of how we are going to live and experience the world is within each one of us. And no person or situation can ever take that away from you unless you let them.
So are you living life to the fullest according to your own definition?
About the author:Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is the founder and editor of EvolvingBeings.com – an online publication featuring various topics on spirituality and metaphysics. Evita teaches consciousness expansion and heart-centered living to help people attain deep meaning, peace and happiness in their life. She is also a nutritional science and holistic health expert for optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow her on Twitter.
14 Comments to “Redefining “Living Life to the Fullest””
Living each day as if it were your last, well, I would be more extravagant in expenditures, and possibly more reckless in my activities. Knowing I will be here tomorrow to pay the bills, changes matters financially, and knowing I need to work still, cuts back on my recklessness.
It is one of those phrases that sounds good, but really cannot work in any society other than anarchy.
Barry thank you so much for your addition.
I notice that you say you still have to work and hence cannot be reckless in whatever fashion you choose unless it were your last day(s).
The idea of our “job” is another thing that I invite people to see differently through this article and that is how good would you feel if your job was actually your hobby or pleasure. I think that if we are lucky enough to have that or attain that then we see working differently. For example many people who win lots in the lottery only take a brake from their jobs for a short time and then return to do some kind of work. We are creative creatures in our essence and the secret I think to living a much more fullfilled life is finding a “job” that you do not feel you HAVE to do but LOVE to do. Most of us would not make it very far just by oh let’s say lounging around doing nothing. Our being craves to contribute and create – the secret then is to find what is it that I want to contribute to and create that I will also get paid for. Some pursue this path and hence live amazing lives and some either don’t see that as an option, don’t bother to pursue it or think that it is incapable of becoming based on some circumstance.
Living each day as if it were your last, people seem to think that should be to the extremes, shouldn’t we embrace what’s in front of us?
I too believe that life does grab hold and the grips are tough, but if we find something each day to enjoy, we are living. Why do we feel guilty sitting quiet and reading a book, or taking a stroll in the park? It’s because society has grilled into our heads about striving and earning money.
Material items are constantly on our shopping lists, and we get drug down with all of that. Truly how many rooms can we live in at one time? How many pairs of pants can we wear at one time. How many cars can we drive at one time?
We have one time on this earth, we need as a society to focus on this. My best friend died 5 years ago, watching her slowly fade away was a life altering experience, I had trouble comprehending, the words when she told me, I only have 3 weeks to live. Okay, quite honestly, I didn’t know what to do with that, but if you step back, we all are going to die, we just don’t have a date on it.
Should we take advantage of it, yes, perhaps just let someone you know, know that they are appreciated. Go to the dollar store, by a girlfriend a wind chime. Bring a cup o jo to work for someone, the little things that will warm your heart on your journey.
Living each day as if it were your last, I think would look the same as it is now – I’m writing to you now, and if I would know that’s my last comment, nothing would change in essence – my thank you would be no less hearty.
Your article is well written and thought provoking indeed, meanwhile my comment sounds… a bit strange isn’t it?
However, all the above was not the tricking but the truth. While thinking about my life, I understood that I’m living as if out of time – and that’s not my merit and not the philosophy – that’s my strange destiny. I walked on the edge of the death for a long in 1974 , but the miracle happened then and I was returned to the life again. I have no outward signs of any disability, but I am sick and jobless and hide from sense of the needlessness in writing to you (in blogging)
If today will be the last day of my life, the flowers would smell the same, and I would dream over the cup of coffee as I do that now. The last day too would have lots of minutes (hundreds of opportunities for thanksgiving – who knows how many comments I would get on my blog the last day – may be the silence will be the same as today…
Yes, your questions inspire. Awaken the thoughts what could be otherwise, and the topic allows to depict the wonderland …
Wow, I cannot thank enough you guys, Susie and Tomas for the great contribution you each added not just to this article but to me personally. As I often say there is such wealth in learning with others and sharing experiences in this life together. I was truly so moved by each of your comments as I felt each of your personal and genuine sides.
Susie as you already know I totally embrace the idea of embracing what is in front of us. So often people are so unsatisfied with what is in front of them but they do little to change it and hence feel all would be different if it really were their last day. But living this way I feel life passes us by like a blur and often without much meaning. Your questions are also so good to think about. Thank you for sharing the story about your friend and giving us all such a beautiful idea of appreciating others today in the now :)
Tomas – your story is very touching and I totally understand your comment – you seem to be an example of a person who truly lives to the fullest and of course not by society’s definition but by your own. I feel one knows they are living to the fullest when they DO NOT HAVE much if anything to change from what they are already doing right now. Tomas also always remember you are only needless if you choose to see yourself that way – simply by contributing this comment you have made yourself a very valuable and needed part of this universe and I truly feel honored that my blog was one that you commented your wisdom on.
Thank you both again for the amazing flow of energy I got from our connection together.
[...] 21, 2008 · No Comments The thought provoking article ends my day today. I have just read “Live each day as if it were your last” Evita asks us, are we living life to the fullest according to your own definition? That’s [...]
Uh… no. If a person knew with certainty that today would be his or her last, there would be no rational reason to invest in the future at all. If I knew I’d die tomorrow, I wouldn’t start learning a new language, I wouldn’t save money, and I wouldn’t start any projects.
The proper “I’m dying today” strategy would be to spend every last cent you own or can borrow, splurge on anything I want, and go out in an orgy of sex, drugs and loud music. This stuff about “creating and contributing” pales in comparison with the pleasures of the flesh… as long as we’re talking about a single-day time-frame.
Q.E.D.
Interesting view notdyingtoday. Thanks for contributing your thouhgts.
Great post!
I think living each day as if it’s the last day is the ONLY way to live. I think an even better way is to live every day as if it’s YOUR FIRST DAY and YOUR LAST DAY. This way you don’t know anything from the past and there is nothing from the future, and so you are entirely present in the NOW.
Ah yes Lisa you added in an excellent point as “if it were your first and last”…
I was smiling to myself as I read your comment as I fully share in your understanding of the importance and power of the moment of NOW.
I enjoyed reading all the comments on “Redefining ‘Living Life to the Fullest’”. I have pondered this thought often. Once upon a day several years ago, I tried an experiment to do just this for a day. In my thinking, what I really wanted to do was leave a legacy to my children and husband that would show them how much I loved them. As an “empty nester”, I was feeling very lonely and very worried about my children. I wrote letters to them on The Internet that I never mailed, but I poured out my heart as I penned the words, and my thoughts were full of love. I wanted them to know of my faith in GOD and wanted them to be here to share that day with me. However, they were far away in the University, and even farther away in their world view.
I called my husband at work just about an hour before closing and asked him to please come home to spend this last hour of his working day with me. I had almost convinced myself that this really was my last day, as a hugh storm was brewing, and very unusual things had happened that day. I convinced him to come home, but he did it very grudgingly. He, a hard-working, practical electrical engineer, and usually loving husband, thought I had fully lost my mind. Some people just can’t let their imagination wonder from the busy, materialistic, practical worldiness of the work day jungle, and it may be a good thing that some people can keep us imaginative people grounded.
Well, the world didn’t come to an end that day about 25 years ago. However, it will end someday. One day, it will be the last day of our lives. Will we be able to leave a legacy of love and fulfilment of our dreams to our children and grandchildren, and to all the other friends and acquaintances we come in contact with?
There are so many worthwhile projects to be done. There are too many exciting things to live for and to do, that I dare not waste any more time worrying about whether this is my last day or not. What I think about now is that here I am, a 70 year-old woman–my mother is still living at 98–and my 18 year-old grandson, Jeffrey, who was a wonderful boy, full of potential, and highly gifted in music and had earned a music scholarship in a local University, was on his way to classes only two weeks into the school year on September 11, 2007 (last Year) and a reckless teenager was on his way home from a class, and he passed three cars in a driving rain storm. Jeffrey was cleared of all wrong doing, but he was dead on arrival at the local hospital. That was Jeffrey’s last day on this earth. I wish I could have been there for him, but it wasn’t to be. If I did not have the faith to believe that there is life after death, and that he was carried to heaven in the arms of the angels to JESUS, I would not find my life worth the living, because the struggle has been great. However, I do believe that I will see him again, and be with him in eternal bliss. Yet, while I live and have breath, I know that there is work to be done to help others to know and to believe. There is still joy in living and working and caring about other people, even those like you, who are not in my local area, and like my children, may live in another world view.
I would welcome comments.
Ruby
Ruby – I feel so blessed that you took the time to share your story here! That is a marvelous thing you did that day when you chose to pretend as if it were your last day as I feel it puts a lot of things into a quick perspective…your mind was not cluttered with “what will be” but still with what is.
By writing this post I really wanted to invite some thoughts into people’s lives that living to the fullest or as if it is your last day is NOT about recklessness but about appreciating and enjoying more whatever is right there in front of you and for you that was beautiful…your kids, your spouse, etc.
And that is just that – there is such immense joy in being here right now and contributing in whatever way we choose as that is so extremely fulfilling and meaningful to our life.
You have obviously picked up a lot of life experience and wisdom throughout your years and it is a pleasure to interact with someone like you.
Thank you for caring and contributing to the greater good!
Evita, you encourage readers to distinguish between living life to the fullest in what you view as dangerous ways and living life to the fullest in ways you view as not-life threatening. Note how human beings rarely feel as though they can simply leave it up to someone to interpret a phrase like, “live life to the fullest” (whatever this means to that person). People rarely assume another person will read their mind, do what they would do, so they suggest or guide them. We mean well when we clarify our ideas, but we do not always realize we unconsciously impose our ideas of a meaningful life. We forget being human means having the freedom to think and act independently
External judgment shapes our thoughts and action unless we learn to move beyond that and think for ourselves.
Consider a smoker. You may believe living life to the fullest implies giving up smoking because your view is that living longer is better. However, a smoker may believe living less time but enjoying his cigarettes is more meaningful, more desirable. A smilar case may be made by a drug addict, alcoholic or someone with addictions you do not share. Human beings disagree as to whether living longer is more important than living as they would choose. Yet, it is free will that defines us as creatures in the physical world. As we become more aware of how we think and what our minds are actually trying to teach us, we realize different levels of awareness are in motion simultaneously and we do not know our whole selves as well as we thought.
i love your view on living life to the fullest and i love you for crafting this article