Chel Owens

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

-Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

45 thoughts on “”

  1. So true, also having broken my back twice and being told I might spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair…..that also focuses the mind to live now!
    I had the op that they said could go either way , I learned to walk again … So yes I agree with you never put off til tomorrow what you can do today.
    My Maximum is

    💜💜💜😊

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    1. I love love love this, Willow! And I love the song. I’ve been trying to remember another song by Take That called “Patience” for years now but couldn’t remember enough about it to search!

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  4. Your posting put me in mind of Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits). He was sweeping the corridor and was ask what would he do if he knew this was his last day. He replied with “I’d go on sweeping the corridor.”

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  11. Being diagnosed with stage 3 reoccurring ovarian cancer has had me face death constantly. My kind of cancer is not curable, but for a while it is treatable until it isn’t. I have these realistic discussions with my oncologist all the time. I fight like hell for months on end and endure intense treatment. Then I get some reprieve time before the cancer returns. That’s the nature of the disease. I have learned to appreciate every little thing and take nothing for granted. I Savor the good days. When I take walks I often cry at the beauty of nature around me and I drink in every sight. But I don’t live as if I’m dying. I live knowing that one of these days my cancer will end my life but I think… “Not today! Today I am alive.” I feel more deeply for everyone around me. I am less judgmental. I’m human for sure and have my moments… but mostly I’ve learned to find happiness even with a restricted life. I set goals, I push myself to continue to be creative and productive, but I allow myself to be human and not punish myself for when I don’t feel well or cant accomplishing everything I set out to do. But I never give up. And I try to stay positive most o f the time. I can’t change my diagnosis. I have wonderful doctors and as long as I’m on this earth I will try to value my life and those who I care about. And each day when wake up. I say a thank you prayer.

    My oldest son told me the other day that he was so worried when I was first diagnosed because he thought I wouldn’t be strong enough to handle it. And then he said, “ I had no idea my Mom could turn into The Incredible Hulk. You’re my hero.”
    It doesn’t get any better than that! Who knew that this little granny could become a super hero! Be well everyone. Peace and love y’all. ❤️✌️

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      1. Thank you! Actually my son knows me quite well. But 72 year old me is not the young mom of his childhood. I had him when I was 24. So I was very young while he was growing up. I played sports with him and was extremely active. He has memories of me being young and vibrant. And all his doctors and teachers would always tell him what a pretty mommy he had and that he had to take good care of me. So I think he unconsciously put himself in the role of being the “man of the house”. In his eyes he probably thought he was my protector. I remember driving in a car when he was about 6 or 7 and was sitting in the back seat. I glanced at him and saw he was making faces at the car next to us so I asked him why he was doing that. He told me,
        “ I didn’t like how the man in that car was looking at you, so I made faces at him so he’d leave you alone.I was protecting you!“
        I chuckled and thanked him. But, I think me being a single mother made him pretty overprotective. When we’d go out together from the time he was a toddler, he’d put on a superhero cape and hold my hand. I thought it was cute. But I realize now he was serious about being my protector. I think I even remember my father telling him to take good care of his mom. I didn’t think about back then but now I realize the pressure put on him by society. Of course as he grew up he knew politically I was a feminist. But growing up in the 70’s there were very few women who were divorced. So it was common back then for people to tell him to take care of his mom. I do think watching me age and then get sick was difficult for him. I don’t know that He realized how tough I was because he must have been trying to be strong himself all those years ago.Both sons are very protective of me. Hmmm . I wonder if that’s my dad’s influence. My father was a Lieutenant in the Army so he had very defined roles for boys. Whatever the reason, it’s wonderful to have loving, caring sons. ❤️💕❤️

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  12. So powerful, Chelsea. I’m going to ask myself that question every day for a week, maybe multiple times. What a motivator to live fully, and as scary as it sounds, I’ll bet there’s something freeing and joyful about being that focused on what brings us joy. Thanks!

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      1. I did it this morning, Chelsea. It didn’t actually change my hectic schedule today, but wow, did it ever change my attitude about how I’m going to approach it. I hope it works for you too.

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  13. I like living in the happy middle… I don’t like living life like today is my last nor do I want to live life like I expect to live under I’m a hundred. I think balance is key. I always think about it like this… you don’t want to save like you’re going to live to be 100 because you might not allow yourself to enjoy the finer things in life because God forbid you might leave this earth young…BUT you also wouldn’t want to spend all your money on ONLY the finer things in life because God forbid you live a LONG life and need that money to survive your long life!

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